November is rolling right along, and now is the time to start thinking about how to help those in need this holiday season.
With so many individuals and families in the Greater Derry and surrounding areas needing help this year, it's not too early to begin to give.
The Derry News Santa Fund kicks off its 29th year in 2009 and hopes to once again raise money to help people who need it most and one local business is jumping on the giving bandwagon to get the season started.
Rig A'Tony's Italian takeout and restaurant hopes to bring holiday cheer to a lot of people this year and offers a fun way to give while enjoying a good meal.
From now until Nov. 25, Rig A'Tony's will offer a free slice of pizza for anyone donating $1 to the Derry News Santa Fund.
In past year, the business in downtown Derry hosted fun ways to earn money to support the Santa Fund, including an annual staff pumpkin-carving contest, raising money through customers' votes for the best gourd design.
This year, Rig A' Tony's owner Lisa DeSisto decided the pizza event would be a tasty way to do something different, while helping support those in need during the holidays.
This year, with economic woes taking their toll on many more families, the Derry News Santa Fund hopes to reach out and help as many as possible. And again this year, the Santa Fund partners with the Derry Community Fund to provide food, toys, and support to hundreds of families in the area.
Referrals from area organizations like the Upper Room, Head Start and others gave the Santa Fund and Community Fund the ability to help families receive food baskets for Thanksgiving, toys for Christmas and clothing. The Community Fund has served the Derry area for more than four decades.
Area schools are also jumping into the giving mix in 2009 to collect food items to help those in need. During December, schools will also help by collecting warm mittens, personal care items and socks for those in need.
And as always, the Derry News will help get the word out about ways to help and will share stories of some of the people who need help the most — from children needing a warm, winter coat, to the elderly couple on a fixed income who can't quite make it from month to month. Life's situations will be offered through the Santa Fund stories and the Derry News hopes everyone will reach out and help this season. No act of giving or kindness is too small to make a difference.
Please consider giving this year to the Derry News Santa Fund and help make the holidays bright for those who need it most. Donations and contributors will be highlighted in future issues of the paper.
To contribute to the Santa Fund, send tax-deductible donations to Derry News Santa Fund: P.O. Box 307, Derry, NH 03038, or stop by the Derry News office at 46 West Broadway.
