Published December 3, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Generous donors continue to contribute to the success of the Transcript’s 31st annual Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund (NHNF). Over the holiday weekend, an additional $1,710 in donations was received bringing the two-week total to $11,810.
Every donation of any amount makes an impact. This week, two tribute donations stood out. The first was an anonymous donation of $500 “in memory of the deceased members of the North Reading Knights of Columbus.”
The second was a tribute donation of $250 given by the Hastings family in honor of “first responders and front-line workers in all professions who continue to put themselves at risk, placing the health and welfare of their community neighbor ahead of their own.” We second their sentiment.
Do something nice, twice
The Horseshoe Grille, 226 Main St., continues to offer its patrons a chance to give back to the Transcript’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund for those who “do something nice, twice.” This program is offered by Pat and Kathi Lee, owners of the Horseshoe. This is how it works: Those who purchase $100 in gift cards to their restaurant during the holiday season are eligible to receive a $20 gift certificate for themselves to use at the restaurant. However, upon request, the Lees will donate the $20 face value of the give-back certificate to the NHNF and CCS.
At the conclusion of their holiday gift card sales, the Horseshoe will write a check representing the funds raised, and the Lees will also match those funds. The Transcript will acknowledge the total donation from the challenge when we conclude the fund for the season just after the new year.
Additionally, the Horseshoe just wrapped up its November dessert fundraiser to benefit the Food Pantry on Monday. One dollar from every dessert sold during the month was donated to the Food Pantry. The final tally was $706 donated to the pantry, which includes $100 donated by a Horseshoe employee.
“We had a contest in-house on wine sales and the woman who won the $100 bought a $100 gift card to Market Basket. She donated it back (to the Food Pantry) so we will write a check for $606 and also donate the $100 gift card for a total of $706 for the Food Pantry,” Lee said.
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 such as “anonymous snowman” to differentiate between various anonymous donors, especially if the amounts are the same.
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.
Transcript 2020 NHNF donor list, week 2:
• In memory of the deceased members of the North Reading Knights of Columbus— $500
• In memory of Donald G.W. & Irene A. Donald, Love, Don Daniel — $250
• In honor of first responders and front-line workers in all professions who continue to put themselves at risk, placing the health and welfare of their community neighbor ahead of their own — $250
• Dick and Pat Panaro — $150
• In loving memory of Mike Lally — $100
• In memory of Robert P. Howard, Jr. — $100
• Dana & Marlene Freeman — $100
• Jeff & Jean LeGrow — $100
• In loving memory of Karen St. Pierre — $50
• In memory of Dick Smith — $50
• Stephen A. Hartwell — $50
• In memory of GiGi Benjamin —$10
Week 2 subtotal — $1,710
Previously acknowledged — $10,100
New total — $11,810
