The Helpers Fund's
2009 Annual Holiday Drive

This could be a particularly difficult holiday period for a great number of people, some of them neighbors, or people in the community we know. With the financial markets in disarray, unemployment reaching new heights each month, and retirement accounts under fire, we may be entering a period of time none of us could imagine. Most of us know that in spite of some of these difficulties, we will still be able to have the family gather round and enjoy the holidays even if the "horn of plenty" has been reduced this year. But there will be many more families this year who will be unable to see any brightness during the holiday period. In most of these cases these individual and families find themselves in situations not due to their own making, but because of an accident, a serious illness, a debilitating situation, a cutback in the number of employees the company they were working for needs, or a sudden event which shattered the family's unity.

We will attempt again this year to lend a helping hand to as many of these families in the area that we can. In the past, counting individuals, and children in a family as well as the adults, we average between 90-120 people that we assist during the holiday season. In many cases the assistance continues into the months of January and February, particularly with heating costs and food assistance. The Fund is planning on facing a rather difficult season this year what with the recession, heating costs, increased food costs and the reduction of the number of people employed. The Fund will again sponsor three programs.

We will continue our "Adopt-A-Family" program, which assists those families most in need with food, adequate clothing for the season, heating assistance, or other special needs of the family including medical assistance not covered by any program. If you wish to help with a donation to this program, check the appropriate box on our donation form. The Fund will make sure your donation assists those families most in need.

Our "Food Program" will make sure enough food is available throughout the holiday period for those individuals, or families, most in need. Because of your generosity in the past we have been able to continue this assistance to some families for additional months. If you check that box, we will make sure your donation goes directly to a family's food needs or to a family being assisted by the Food Pantry.

And, we will again have our "Stuffed Animal" program which will make sure those children at the earliest ages to age five will receive something special during this time. Some of these stuffed animals will be sent to Glens Falls Hospital for children in the Oncology Ward. You may attach a message to the child with your donation.

All items, other than food, will be wrapped appropriately for the season.

Please take a moment to decide how you would like to assist someone in the area for this holiday period, then make your donation online or by mail.

If you would like to include a message, or your name, with the stuffed animal order, please fill in the appropriate lines on the form. If you have checked the "Food Program" box and would like to attach a message, write that message and return it with the other papers. We will try to attach your message to the food package.

Or, if you would like to have the Fund choose where your donation should be directed, just check the box "Discretionary" and the Fund will use your donation in the area it feels it can best be used. If you would like to include a note or message it will also be sent to the receiving individual or family.

• Contributions to the Helpers Fund Holiday Drive can now be made online, using our secure form.

• You may print our form to indicate your choice(s) and return your donation by mail.

The Helpers Fund is a 501(c)3 charity under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service and is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and listed with the New York State Bureau of Charities.

Annual Holiday Drive
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