The Columbus Firemens Cheer Fund is beginning the holiday season in a temporary new location and looking for more financial support for its mission to help underprivileged children at Christmas.
But even with the challenges, after 89 years, the organization has a lot of friends who are providing help.
That support is especially needed during this transitional year as the Cheer Fund adjusts to a new temporary headquarters inside the former JC Penney store at the FairOaks Mall.
Last summer, the city agreed to let the Cheer Fund use the former store as a temporary headquarters for sorting, cleaning, packaging and boxing — at no charge.
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“It’s a great facility,” Noblitt said. “It’s wide enough that we can actually spread out more than we could in the United Way.”
Cummins Inc. has always been one of the Cheer Fund’s biggest supporters. The company sent six different groups — each team with 15 to 20 members — to help the charity establish themselves at FairOaks from Oct. 15-17, Cheer Fund co-chairman Ben Noblitt said.
With the use of two semi trailers, the Cummins volunteers helped move all Cheer Fund items from the former Doug Otto United Way building to the former Penney’s loading dock, he said.
“They got everything done,” Noblitt said. “They got things sorted, brought over the portable shelves, cleaned used toys, and put bicycles together.”
The shelves Noblitt mentioned were actually paid for and constructed by volunteers from another Cheer Fund corporate friend — Faurecia.
What is too big or heavy to fit on shelves can now be placed on pallets — thanks to two new pallet jacks and an electric forklift donated by Toyota, said Cheer Fund co-chairman, Cory Hampton.
There’s also the Walmart Distribution Center in Seymour, which donated about $8,000 worth of Power Wheels and bicycles this year, Noblitt said.
The need for new toy donations was reduced a bit this year after Cheer Fund personnel acquired a substantial quantity of name-brand, high quality toys at extremely low prices, Hampton said. These are toys that had been in storage for about a year after two ToysRUs stores in Indianapolis closed, Hampton explained.
Many organizations hold fundraisers for the Cheer Fund throughout the year. Among them is the Friendship Wheels family bike ride which was held Saturday, beginning and ending at Fire Station 2.
{span}Despite the high level of community support, the Cheer Fund is now facing substantial financial challenges they have never encountered. {/span}
The biggest is paying for the construction at what will become the Cheer Fund’s permanent headquarters. Since the organization was never charged for using the United Way warehouse, the charity will rely heavily on monetary contributions to build the facility.
At the site of the new headquarters, which is adjacent to the north side of the new Evolution Training Center at 2670 Verhulst St., basic plumbing has been installed and the concrete foundation has been poured.
But the shell of the building, as well as the roof, have not yet been installed.
Although the new facility won’t be ready for occupancy prior to Delivery Day, Hampton said he’s hopeful that vehicles will have the ability to pull in and out of the new site for loading toys when the toys are picked up by volunteers and distributed on Saturday, Dec. 14.
“Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves out in the elements,” Hampton said.
Paying utility bills was something else the Cheer Fund didn’t worry about during the past eight years. But the charity will soon have to budget funds for electricity, water and sewer when the new building is completed, Columbus Fire Dept. spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson said.
Another cost that emerged in recent years are the decorative holiday boxes that contain all the gifts for each child. While these boxes were once donated, the Cheer Fund is now paying for them, Wilson said.
Also, the charity has recently received an unusually high number of used toys that don’t meet quality standards, Noblitt said.
Those toys have to be pulled and replaced with a new toy — a practice that ensures each child receives both the same quality and quantity of gifts, Noblitt said.
“But it also costs a lot of money to do that,” he said.
While Cheer Fund organizers say they are grateful for all toy donations, both Noblitt and Hampton strongly emphasized their need for tax-deductible financial contributions during this transitional year.
“We’ve already dipped into reserve money to make all of this happen,” Wilson said. “We sure could use monetary donations to help maintain a financial cushion for when toy donations are low.”
“Monetary donations also allow us to hand-pick items children want, rather than just throwing in a generic used toy,” Hampton said.
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Now through Dec. 6 – Parents or legal guardians may sign-up a child to receive holiday assistance by calling the Holiday Helpline telephone number at 812-375-2216. Families are then matched up with local agencies, including the Cheer Fund, who provide holiday assistance. Age limits apply for some programs.
Now through the end of the year – Financial donations and gently-used toys accepted at any Columbus fire station.
Nov. 1 – Cheer Fund Chili Cook-Off, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Mall. Meal prices vary from $2 to $10. Patrons are asked to arrive prior to 8 p.m.
Nov. 2 – Hoosier Pro Wrestling event includes a toy drive for the Cheer Fund. Patrons are asked to bring a new or gently-used toy. Doors for the event at the Family Arts Building of the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds open at 7 p.m., while bell-time is 7:45 p.m. Admission is $13.
Nov. 4 – Packing of holiday boxes begins in the former JC Penney store at Fair Oaks Mall. Packing will take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 6 until 9 p.m., until the packing is completed. Groups wishing to volunteer to pack for one night can email the Cheer Fund at [email protected]
Dec. 7 – Firefighters will serve hot chocolate during the Festival of Lights parade in downtown Columbus as a thank you to the community for supporting the Cheer Fund.
Dec. 14 – Delivery Day with boxes going to families.
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The Cheer Fund is seeking volunteers at the FairOaks Mall location to handle the boxing of toys.
Boxing will take place each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening from 6 until 9 p.m. until all the work is completed. However, there will be no packing on Nov. 27 and Nov. 29, since those dates fall just before and after Thanksgiving Day, Noblitt said.
The United Way 211 office that had served as a clearinghouse for holiday giving programs closed in May. How, the main United Way organization is providing the same service that ensures donors that no individual or family is seeking duplication of help from multiple charities.
Volunteers are being sought who can work two-hour shifts taking phone registrations from parents and legal guardians. Those phones will be manned weekdays, from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. For more details about this volunteer opportunity, contact Alicia Monroe at 812-376-0011.
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