CHRISTMAS CARD FUND MAKES 2008 DEBUT

By Wes Clement/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Without The Commercial’s Christmas Card Fund, schools would have a difficult time helping students in need, a White Hall School District principal said.

Each year, the newspaper sponsors the fundraiser especially for schools to help students with their everyday needs.

Beth Joslin, Moody Elementary School principal, said the use of school funding is so restricted she and other educators would be unable to help students as needs arise without the use of the Christmas Card Fund.

“There’s just no other fund we can use to do things like that,” Joslin said.

The fund is also beneficial for students who face unexpected circumstances.

“Almost every year we have a student whose family’s house burns down and we use the fund to buy the student some new clothes and a pair of shoes,” Joslin said.

For the 21st year, The Commercial is sponsoring its annual Christmas Card Fund.

Joslin recalled how the fund has helped over the years.

“We’ve had cases in the past where I’ve told a parent to go ahead and take the student to the dentist or doctor and have them send the bill to us,” she said.

Each year, people are asked to give donations to this fund, which is collected and divided among the Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, Dollarway and White Hall school districts.

All proceeds are given to the districts. The newspaper doesn’t keep any portion of the fund for administrative costs.

The Commercial kicked off this year’s fundraiser on Thanksgiving Day. As of Tuesday, the fund total was $643.

Anyone who gives at least $1 to the fund by Dec. 19 can have a name placed on a Christmas Card to be printed in The Commercial on Christmas Day.

Donations may be mailed in care of The Christmas Card Fund, Pine Bluff Commercial, P.O. Box 6469, Pine Bluff, AR, 71611, or brought to our business offices at 300 Beech St., weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.