Published November 26, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Our 31st annual Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund (NHNF) has started off with a bang. Imagine our surprise when the first donation we received was a check for $10,000 from an anonymous donor.
It was a wow moment. This $10,000 donation will go a long way toward easing the burdens felt by many townspeople through uncertain economic times, especially during this pandemic.
Since 1990, the Transcript’s NHNF has served as the single largest source of income for Christian Community Service (CCS), enabling the all-volunteer nonprofit organization to provide crucial services and financial relief to our North Reading neighbors in need.
We welcome donations of any amount because it all adds up; no amount is too insignificant.
How to donate
As promised, the Transcript will acknowledge each donation received in print and pass them on to CCS. All donations are tax deductible as CCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Those who donate $250 or more will be automatically mailed a tax receipt. CCS will provide receipts upon request for donations under $250 if the donor provides a name and address.
Donors are welcome to dedicate their donations to a loved one; simply include a note with your check.
And you can be assured that if you wish to remain anonymous your donation will truly remain so as confidentiality is guaranteed both in our handling of donations received and in the way in which donations are handled by CCS. Over the years there have been many donors who have consistently made anonymous donations and that choice is always respected. To help keep the weekly tally straight we may add a word like “anonymous snowman” to differentiate between anonymous donors.
Please make checks payable to “Christian Community Service” or “CCS,” not to the newspaper. Checks may be mailed to the North Reading Transcript “NHNF” at 26 Albion St., Wakefield, MA 01880. You may also drop donations off in person at our office at the above address in downtown Wakefield (a night drop box is located opposite the front door for contactless donations).
Those who wish to drop off their donation in person closer to home may also do so at the North Reading branch of the Reading Cooperative Bank, 170 Park St. (next to Ryer’s Store). Please specify to the bank teller your intention to donate to the Transcript’s “Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund” to ensure it is recorded on the tally sheet as you would like it to appear in print. The bank forwards these sheets to us for acknowledgement in the newspaper.
2020 NHNF donor list, week 1:
• Anonymous Angel— $10,000
• In loving memory of Paul Horan— $100
Total, week 1: $10,100
