The 111th annual Cheer Certificate campaign kicks off today with a goal to raise $20,000 for local families in need during the holidays.
Organized by the Crawfordsville High School Sunshine Society and Tri Kappa sorority, the program solicits financial donations from the community and awards the funds to families in the form of cheer certificates. The certificates, which range in value based on family size, can be redeemed for groceries at Kroger in Crawfordsville.
Last year’s campaign raised $15,769 and benefited 201 families.
Colleen Fuller, Sunshine Society co-sponsor, said organizers expect demand to remain high due to the current economic conditions.
“There are a lot of families in need, especially this year,” she said. “But we also know that this community always responds to help meet the need.”
Fuller said First United Methodist Church has already donated $500 before the campaign officially kicked off. She is appreciative of their help and optimistic that other groups, organizations, businesses and individuals will follow suit.
Families and individuals are nominated through referral requests. Deadline to make a referral is Dec. 2. All referrals must be on an official form or a form that contains all of the same information. The official form appears in today’s edition of the Journal Review and can be found online at www.journalreview.com. The form also will be published throughout the week-long referral phase.
All of the information included on the form should be printed or typed clearly and correctly. A person may submit up to four referrals. Completed referral forms may be mailed to P.O. Box 368, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, and must be postmarked by Dec. 2.
The referral forms are sorted into a list of eligible recipients and the campaign begins raising money and issuing certificates.
“It really feels good to help people and just knowing that you are making a positive difference for those who are in unfortunate circumstances gives a true sense of accomplishment,” said Nivek Witt, a junior and Sunshine Society president.
Donation forms will appear regularly in the Journal Review and are available online as well at www.journalreview.com. Donations may be made in honor of or in memory of family or friends, or the donations may be made anonymously.
Donations should be mailed to the CHS Sunshine Society, P.O. Box 243, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Be sure to write “CHS” in the “Pay to the Order Of” line on the check. All donor names will be printed in the Journal Review.
All donations remain in the community. Donations are accepted through mid-January and the final day to redeem the certificates is Jan. 31.
“Knowing that this program has existed for so many years is truly amazing,” said Jada Moore, a junior and Sunshine Society vice president.
Olivia Biddle, a senior and Ideal Lady chair for Sunshine Society, is excited to be a part of the student team working on this year’s campaign. Her mother also was a Sunshine Society member and she is proud of that connection.
Witt and Moore also have had family members who served in Sunshine Society while students at Crawfordsville High School.
“It feels great to know that not just us, but high school students for the past century, have been able to successfully help people in need of assistance,” Witt said.
