Charities hope readers will again be generous

No matter what shape the economy is in, there always will be those who need a roof over their heads, food for the pantry or just a helping hand, especially during the holidays.

For more than 80 years, readers of The Post and Courier have recognized those needs and contributed generously to the Good Cheer Fund to help make the season brighter for the less fortunate among us.

The fund was established in 1927 by Thomas P. Lesesne, former managing editor of The News and Courier, and more than $5.5 million has been raised since its inception. Every penny has been used to aid families in crisis, shelter the homeless and feed the hungry of the community at holiday time.

The six local agencies that benefit from the Good Cheer Fund are hoping that our readers will find it in their hearts -- and pocketbooks -- to be as generous this year as they have in the past.

D. Jermaine Husser, executive director of the Lowcountry Food Bank, sees hunger in South Carolina's 10 coastal counties every day and feels that the 2010 census will show even more people living at or below the poverty level. He's working hard to alleviate some of that hunger through his agency's

programs and said it would be almost impossible to carry out the food bank's mission without the support of what he calls "the best of America. And I'm not talking about big government but people like you and me who give of their time and talent to help other Americans get back on their feet."

Last year's Good Cheer Fund allowed the food bank to distribute 85,875 pounds of nutritious food during the holidays to 3,000 senior citizens living in poverty.

"It's been tough this year," said Kiki Cooper, development and public relations director for the Salvation Army's Lowcountry unit. "We've seen a 30 percent increase in needs while we've had a 10 percent decrease in funding, so we are trying to be more purposeful in what we are doing with our money."

Last Christmas, thanks to the Good Cheer Fund, the Salvation Army provided several thousand Lowcountry families with food gift cards, as well as presents for some 6,100 children.

Demand for Catholic Charities' services is way up this year as well, according to regional coordinator Helen O'Leary.

"Nine years ago, the agency offered just emergency assistance, writing checks for utility bills and such," O'Leary said. "When I came here four years ago, I could see that there was a lot more that could and should be done."

Among other things, last year's donations allowed Catholic Charities to help seniors with utilities, rent, transportation and medical assistance during the holidays and to provide Christmas food vouchers for the disabled and mothers with young children.

The Rev. William Christian, executive director of the Star Gospel Mission's 25-bed transitional housing facility for men, also helps women and children in the community at the holidays. Christian said that last year he was able to distribute $65,000 in food gift cards to 1,300 members of the community thanks to money he received from the Good Cheer Fund.

Not all of our area's needs relate to hunger or homelessness per se, as Kate Lloyd, director of development for Charleston Youth Development Center, can attest. Many of the 600 children the center serves have homes but cannot live with their families due to abuse, neglect or emotional problems.

Good Cheer Fund contributions provided holiday gifts and activities for the center's residential clients last year, as well as a holiday party for 100 participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters.

People seeking help from the Association for the Blind have a unique set of problems and "as the economy worsens, the need for assistance is huge," said Nicole Harvey, marketing/program director for the association.

Last year, donations to the Good Cheer Fund allowed the association to hold a Christmas party for its clients, catered by a legally blind chef just making his re-entry into the community. In addition, more than 110 people received help with utility bills and a disabled woman got special shoes to compensate for differences in the length of her legs.

From now until Christmas, The Post and Courier will publish daily stories featuring real examples of how the Good Cheer Fund can make a difference in people's lives.

Donations can be mailed to Good Cheer Fund, c/o The Post and Courier, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403-4800. Contributions also may be dropped off in person.

This year, for the first time, donations also can be made online at www.postandcourier.com.

All of the money collected goes directly to the six agencies, with no overhead or administrative costs.

Christine W. Randall can be reached at 937-4831 or randall@postandcourier.com.