It’s just two weeks until Christmas, and families are making plans for big dinner celebrations. Kids can’t wait to find out what Santa Claus will leave under their trees.
For some families, there won’t be much of a feast on Dec. 25. And some kids will get little to nothing under their trees, if they can even afford a tree.
Yet, there is hope.
For the last 58 years, needy families have been able to count on the kindness of fellow Northeast residents. The Times coordinates the Eleanor Smylie Community Fund, which identifies those in need and relies on the middle-class folks of the Northeast to send in donations to help them have a merry Christmas.
At the start of the week, the Times had received dozens of requests for help from people.
Among them are a disabled Port Richmond woman caring for her son; an elderly Morrell Park couple supporting their daughter and three grandchildren in Catholic schools; a disabled Holmesburg man raising his two sons; a Wissinoming father of two who can find only part-time work; a woman concerned about a co-worker, a Tacony mother struggling to provide for her three children; and a Port Richmond father unable to work because of serious medical issues.
Also arriving in the mail are many contributions from readers who want to help the needy. We gratefully accept each donation, no matter how big or small. All of the money goes directly toward gift cards for the less fortunate. These gift cards will be mailed, starting this week.
For those who donate, the Times will print the name and contribution of each person or group in the paper, or we will honor your request to remain anonymous.
If you’d like to donate, or if you’d like to make a request for help, write to Eleanor Smylie Community Fund, 2512 Metropolitan Drive, Trevose, PA 19053. Or, you can email pronews@bsmphilly.com
If you are asking for help for yourself or if you know of someone who needs assistance, please include the name and contact number of an agency or friend who can verify the information.
Here are some of the contributors to this year’s fund:
• In memory of Frank & Elva Kister $50
• In honor of Alex Kister $20
• An anonymous donor $21
• Anton and Nancy Jereb $25
• An anonymous donor $25
• Richard Huber $25
• An anonymous donor $3
• An anonymous donor $5
• In memory of Edna Luczejko $50
• In memory of Bill $50
• In memory of Mary E. McKay $50
• In memory of Mikey and Steffie Deren $100
• An anonymous donor $25
• In memory of EWL $50
• An anonymous donor $5
• The Stecher Family $50
• Bachmann/All Saints Rhawnhurst $25
• An anonymous donor $50
• Sophie Snyder $25
• Home Public Adjusters Inc. $200
• An anonymous donor $25
• An anonymous donor $500
• Far Northeast Senior Citizens Inc. $50
• Jean Kolb $25
• Louis Farrell School’s 7th grade $202
• In memory of Elaine Cole and Peter Slusser $25 ull;•
