COLUMBUS, Ind. — The spirit of Christmas was on glorious display Saturday morning during delivery day for the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund.
Just before the garage doors at the Cheer Fund headquarters at 2674 Verhulst St. opened for the charity’s 91st annual distribution, the line of cars and trucks volunteering to deliver gift boxes and goodie bags stretched more than six blocks.
That was quite a contrast to last year, when the fear of COVID-19 kept the line to no more that 20 vehicles at any given time.
The number of applications for assistance requested from several seasonal charities, including the Cheer Fund, totaled approximately 500 more than the 1,125 that submitted last year, Volunteer Action Center Director Alicia Monroe said. Her agency acts as a clearing house to ensure nobody attempts to take unfair advantage of the community’s generosity.
Considered Bartholomew County’s oldest charity that depends solely on public donations, the Cheer Fund “officially” assisted 989 children this year, co-chairman Ben Noblitt said. But unofficially, more than 100 additional kids scheduled to receive assistance through other programs also received gifts from the Cheer Fund
“We have the resources to help other charities (who fell short on contributions),” Noblitt said. “Our monetary and toy donations have been through the roof this year.”
For the complete story and more photos, pick up a Sunday Republic.
