The Suffolk Cheer Fund received four donations this week totaling $350. However, this amount will close the fund for the year 2002. Donations that are made in the future will go toward next year’s goal.

Contributors are The Nansemond County Training/ Southwestern Alumni Assoc., James L. McLemore Bible Class, the Chums Club and Nansemond-Isle of Wight Sunday School Union.

Every donation last Christmas season was very much appreciated by the Suffolk Cheer Fund Committee, the Toys For Tots Program and over 1,600 underprivileged children who received at least two new toys at Christmas.

As promised, no matter when a donation was made, history of your choice could accompany it.

The NCT/SAA was founded in the late ’90s and has 50 members. Reunions are held semi-annually and one is scheduled to be held this year on Saturday, July 26 at Southwestern Elementary School. J Harold Faulk is president of the association. For more information on the reunion contact Enoch Copeland at (757) 657-6179.

The Chums Club was organized in 1936 and is one of the oldest in the community with 13 members. Jessie Cross, one of its oldest members said that the club has an age range from the very young to the very young at heart.

Members are very active in the community and contribute to many projects such as the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad and preparing a Thanksgiving basket annually for an underprivileged family. It also gives a scholarship to an area high school senior and sponsors a Mother-Daughter Banquet annually. Mary Howell Reid is president of the club.

We thank these organizations for their contributions and hope that their successes will continue to prosper.

Even though the 2002 goal of $37,151 was not met, the needs of the underprivileged children were and they were blessed by a community of generous folks who cared enough to give their very best.

Volunteers who assisted the programs in any way and individual, groups and organizations’ financial contributions all came together to make the program a successful one in spite of the missed goal.

Atty. Frank Rawls, chairman of the Suffolk Cheer Fund and Bill Ashley, the coordinator of the &uot;Toys for Tots&uot; program would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the entire community for a job well done.

Balance brought forward: $28,371.66

Donations on Saturday, Feb. 8:

Nansemond CountyTraining/Southwestern Alumni Assoc.: $100

James L. McLemore Bible Class: $100

The Chums Club: $100

Nansemond-Isle of Wight Sunday School Union: $50

Total for Today: $250

Final Total on Saturday, Feb. 8: $28,721.66