The Christmas Cheer Fund is back this year after the non-profit organization did not hold a fundraising drive last year.
The Christmas Cheer Fund had been under the Mason City Globe-Gazette since 1927, but the newspaper no longer wanted to oversee it, so the fund is back with a new board of directors for 2024.
Ozzie Ohl is Vice President of the Christmas Cheer Fund Board.
“Going to be getting target gift cards. The amount could be $35. It could be $70. It could be $100. That depends on the size of the family and criteria that we look at. So we want to get that out to people as soon as possible after the application’s closed so that they have it, so they can go out and get what they might need for Christmas or the help that they’re looking for.”
The deadline to apply for funding is December 6th.
“They’ll be mailed out in a plain white security envelope. Nothing about the Christmas Cheer Fund will be on it. So if somebody gets it in the mail, somebody else, if they’re at the post office and somebody else looks at it, nobody knows that that person got help from the Christmas Cheer Fund. We’re going to preserve their dignity. You know, I’ve always said this, there but for the grace of God go I. So I want to make sure that we treat those that need some help with as much dignity as we can.”
The Christmas Cheer Fund covers 7 north Iowa counties this year, including Franklin and Cerro Gordo. For more information, go to christmascheerfund.org, or check out the Christmas Cheer Fund page on Facebook.
