Despite a flailing economy, Suffolk residents have pitched in to raise $34,083 for the Suffolk News Herald’s Cheer Fund.

“In this economy, I think people have been tremendously generous,” said Frank Rawls, a Cheer Fund board member. “It’s well short of the $45,000 we need to raise in order to meet our goal, but I’m very, very grateful for the individuals, businesses, and clubs that have given so generously.”

The Cheer Fund has existed since the 1930s to raise donations that are used to purchase toys of the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots.

This year, Cheer Fund donations purchased approximately 4,500 toys for Toys for Tots.

“This is the second year we haven’t met our goal in though,” said Rawls. “Last year, we made $43,000, because we had national media coverage after facilities were broken in to, but each year directly affects the bottom line.”

It’s never too late to add to the pot.

The Cheer Fund would like to especially thank our donors who gave $1,000 or more:

$5,000 John C. Holland Enterprises, Inc.

$4,000 The Rotary Club of Suffolk

$3,500 The Pruden Foundation

$1,600 The Blair Bros. Inc.

$1,000 WalMart

$1,000 Frank and Sally Rawls, In memory of J. Lewis Rawls, Jr., Mary Helen Rawls and Lawrence C. Blanchard, Jr.

$1,000 Richard Bennett Trust

$1,000 Sysco Hampton Roads

$1,000 Birdsong Peanuts