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Three Weeks Still Remain to Help The Christmas Fund Reach Its Goal
Ken Smith
Although the holiday season has ended, our Christmas Fund drive remains open until the end of this month. To date, we have received contributions that total $37,730.
Appreciative as we are, we are reminded that this amount falls considerably short of our goal of raising $50,000 to help out our less fortunate Princeton residents.
So we take this opportunity to reflect and remember the value that our fund provides throughout the year to those in need: Josephine worked as a stock room helper for two years, but due to the recent economic environment, she was laid off in July. She applied for unemployment compensation to help support herself and two teenage boys while she is looking for a new job.
The unemployment takes about six weeks to be processed. She became depressed and discouraged when her job-hunting efforts failed and the bills started piling up. She requested help from the Town Topics Christmas Fund through Family & Children Services after she received a shut-off notice from the electric company. By getting help before the utility was disconnected, Josephine was able to forestall a reconnect service fee and keep the lights on. She may need additional help when she finds a job. Employers often hold back the first pay and the employee is expected to have the means to get to work properly attired. The Town Topics Christmas Fund helps people like Josephine get back on their feet.
George and his wife have an eighteen-year-old daughter who has learning disabilities and who could benefit from special classes to help her continue in the public high school. The parents have encouraged their daughter to strive to the best of her capacity. They got support from the school for the extra help, but still needed financial help with transportation and some special learning materials.
The Town Topics Christmas Fund was able to step in to provide money for this ambitious young woman. She would like to try college next fall and the special classes will increase her chances of realizing this goal.
We can only help others if our readers help us. Every donated dollar goes directly to benefit someone in need, much like the examples described above. All administrative expenses are paid for by Town Topics.
Please consider making a donation, however modest, if you have not already done so. We are always amazed at how quickly twenty-five and fifty dollar donations add up.
Checks may be made payable to Town Topics Christmas Fund and mailed to our office located at 4 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540.
