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Editor’s Note: This is the original editorial published on the front page of the Dec. 18, 1934 Suffolk News-Herald. The editorial would prove to be the official start of the Suffolk Cheer Fund, which celebrated its 90th anniversary this year.

 

It has come to the attention of the News-Herald today that the several charitable agencies of the city, including churches, clubs and civic organizations have found themselves unable to meet the demand. In this dilemma, with a joyless and perhaps foodless Christmas for many of our children, the News-Herald has been requested to attempt to raise a fund sufficient to take care of those who will most surely be unprovided for without this means. So we have set the goal at $500, which reliable estimate says will be required to meet the emergency.

There are probably some who are under the impression that FERA is caking care of this special situation. But the fact is, that is a national relief or rehabilitation work which takes care of none on charity lists. The government leaves such relief service to the localities whose responsibility it is in the final analysis.

A committee composed of two men and two women, one each for the Rotary, Lions, Woman’s and the Business and Professional’s Clubs will be appointed to confer with the Cooperative Charities organization in the distribution of this Christmas cheer.

One week from today will see the dawn of Christmas. Therefore only six days remain in which to raise the fund.

Send your checks of cash by mail or bring direct to the News-Herald office. There should be at least one hundred men and women who would glady give five dollars each to avert this emergency which will be the equivalent to a catastrophe. Suffolk must meet this emergency quickly and generously.

It would be nothing short of a disgrace to have it said there were hungry homes in Suffolk on this festal day. We will not believe that Suffolk, wealthy, kindly and generous, will permit such a state of affairs to exist once they know the fact as herein set forth.

This is an opportunity for real service to the underprivileged citizens of the city. The responsibility rests upon all in proportion to the ability of each donor to subscribe. Donations to the empty stocking fund will be acknowledged daily through these columns.

In the name of the Christ child, this appeal is made to a public that will close neither its heart nor its purse in the face of emergency.