This year’s Christmas Cheer Fund goal of 100-thousand dollars was raised.
The Mason City Globe Gazette started running the Cheer Fund in 1927, but decided last year to hand it off to a non-profit organization.
Ozzie Ohl is Vice President of the Christmas Cheer Fund Board of Directors, and tells RadioOnTheGo News that they were able to send out Target Gift Cards to 1,954 applications.
“Food for Christmas, food in general, clothes for a little child, something for my husband, something for my wife. We’re disabled, I lost my job. It just ran such a wide range of fields. It was really one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had in going through all those applications.”
Ohl says applications came from 7 North Iowa counties, including Cerro Gordo and Franklin.
“That about 90 cents out of every dollar that was donated went to purchase those Target gift cards. That other money went for post office box, a safety deposit box, insurance, printing, and postage. So by being five volunteers, we eliminate a lot of expenses. And that’s really what it’s all about is trying to maximize every donation to get it where it really needs to go and help those in need.”
Ohl says they are already thinking about the 2025 Christmas Cheer Fund.
