HAMMOND | Giving for the Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund is on target, the fund's organizers said Monday.
“To stay on target is another story,” said John Gescheidler. “Our hope is always if we could get $1,000 a day every day of December up to Christmas.”
The fund has raised $4,612 as of Monday afternoon, including its first online donation through PayPal.
The goal is to raise $25,000 to provide Christmas dinner to local people in need. The fund works with The Salvation Army Hammond/Munster Corps to provide grocery vouchers.
On Monday, Gescheidler and his son, Dan Gescheidler, opened the first round of mail-in donations received by the fund.
The “Ted E. Bear Family,” of Highland, donated $400.
A family pet named Dusty III made a donation in honor of Dusty II with a note of “happy holidays to all of you and all of those you help!”
The Times will run coupons for the Cheer Fund throughout the holiday season for people to fill out and return with donations.
For those who don't see the coupon, checks can be sent to — Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund, The Times, 601 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321. Make checks payable to the Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund.
New for this year, donations are being accepted online via PayPal. To donate online, visit www.hammondnational.com. Scroll to the bottom of the site to “Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund Donations” and click the “donate box.”
“The founders of the fund would be astonished by the way we are able to receive donations now through the Internet,” Dan Gescheidler said.
The Cheer Fund began in the 1930s and is celebrating its 80th year of giving.
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