Pine Bluff Mayor-Elect Shirley Washington touts the Pine Bluff Commercial Christmas Card Fund for aiding children in need.
The Commercial is operating the fund for the 29th year. The newspaper collects the money and distributes it among the Dollarway, Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel and White Hall school districts based on enrollment. All of the proceeds are given to the schools, and no money is kept for administrative purposes by The Commercial.
Washington will be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1, 2017. A retired educator of 38 years, Washington recalled her former employment in the Pine Bluff School District and seeing the fund help students.
“Families are often faced with needs that they are unable to meet,” Washington said in a written letter. “These funds are a special blessing when no other resources are available. On several occasions, Christmas Card Funds were used to purchase or repair eyeglasses for visually impaired students when I served as principal. I can remember another time when funds were used to purchase shoes for a student with special orthopedic needs. Most of these purchases were made only once, but the immediate need was met until other resources could be secured.”
The newspaper asks the public to give money to the Christmas Card Fund, c/o Pine Bluff Commercial, P.O. Box 6469, Pine Bluff, AR, 71611. Donations may also be brought to the newspaper’s office at 300 S. Beech St. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Dec. 16.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“The Commercial staff should be applauded for implementing such a beneficial initiative and to do it without charging administrative fees,” Washington said. “Congratulations on your 29th anniversary of sponsoring this community project.”
The fund had raised $1,750 as of Thursday, Dec. 8.
“Year after year, the enthusiastic public support of the fund is heartwarming,” Washington said. “Donations show support of academic excellence, community service and social responsibility. Generous contributions to this fund are beautiful expressions of love for our community.”
Anyone who gives at least $1 will have his or her name placed on a “Community Christmas Card” to be published in The Commercial on Christmas Eve.