Volunteers filled a kitchen cabinet seemingly to overflowing. Cans of sweet corn, green beans and peaches were stacked up four cans high. On the counter were a loaf of bread, a platter of rolls, milk, eggs, cheese, a ham and potatoes.
The resident in the apartment just watched. Her hands were clasped in front of her chest, tears streaked her face, and her bottom lip quivered as the food was unloaded in front of her.
“I hope you know the good you do,” she said, choking slightly on the words. “I have no idea where I’m going to put all of this. But that’s a good problem to have. … This means everything for us. We’re just making it day-to-day now.”
The food was part of a Good Cheer Fund basket, one of hundreds delivered just before Christmas each year for generations.
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The economy is improving, and unemployment is at the lowest level in years. Yet hundreds of Johnson County families continue to face financial challenges, especially during the holiday season and as cold weather causes home-heating bills to rise. The food delivery will help those families stretch their budgets just a little further.
But to succeed, the charitable effort needs the public’s help. Schoolchildren donate canned and nonperishable food items. But the perishable items must be purchased, and that’s where you come in.
So once again, we are asking you to donate to this nearly century-old charitable campaign. You can mail your financial contributions to the Daily Journal or drop them off at our office in Franklin. If you wish to dedicate your gift to someone, just indicate whom it’s for. We’ll regularly publish a list of donors; but if you wish to remain anonymous, that’s fine too.
The entire undertaking is due to the efforts and generosity of the residents and organizations across Johnson County. It’s all volunteers. No one is paid.
The Good Cheer Fund campaign represents the best of the community, neighbors helping neighbors. The only payment donors and volunteers hope for is the knowledge that hundreds of families will be helped during the holiday season.
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The economy is improving, but many Johnson County families still face the upcoming holidays with limited resources.
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The Good Cheer Fund delivers baskets of food to hundreds of local families, but the effort requires support from the rest of us.
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Tax-deductible donations to the Good Cheer Fund can be sent to the Daily Journal, P.O. Box 699, Franklin, IN, 46131; or dropped off at the newspaper office, 30 S. Water St. in Franklin. Checks should be made payable to the Good Cheer Fund.
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