Boxes and packages of food were piled up near the front door of Needham Elementary School Friday morning.
For the past few weeks, Needham students have brought in canned vegetables, packages of instant ramen noodles and instant oatmeal, soup and all kinds of other non-perishable items. A dry-erase board arranged among the food kept track of how much each classroom had donated, all meant to support the Good Cheer Fund.
One by one, students lugged baskets down the hallway Friday, adding to the total.
“(Donating food) makes me feel like I’m being a better friend, and being a better person,” said Steel McEyea, a fourth grader at Needham.
Schools such as Needham have been hard at work collecting the canned goods and other food that will make up the bulk of the Good Cheer Fund baskets this holiday season. While their contributions have been robust so far, monetary donations to the fund are lagging behind.
Supporters hope that as the Christmas season progresses, more people will be motivated to give to the annual food distribution that provides baskets for 900 households throughout the county. Families struggling to buy food depend on it.
“There is no doubt that people are challenged and need help. The cost of food is overwhelming for many families in our community,” said Jacob Sappenfield, chairman of the Good Cheer Fund. “Any donation helps as we as an organization are also challenged to fill the need as the costs of food are significantly higher than in past years.”
Last year, supporters of the annual food distribution had given more than $12,282 to the fund by Dec. 9. Contributions of $26,847 had come in by that time the year before.
As of Friday morning, only about $3,767.50 has been donated this year.
“I think giving is challenging this year. Everyone is affected by the economy and the cost of every day items like food and gas,” Sappenfield said.
The Good Cheer Fund is an annual charity drive raising money and food to help the hungry during the holiday season. The fund was founded in 1921. That first year, $169 was donated to help feed 110 families. Now, organizers plan to serve at least 900 households during the delivery on Dec. 17, due to the high demand organizers are seeing, Sappenfield said.
Food for the baskets comes from non-perishable items such as soup, boxed meals and peanut butter collected by area schools. Donations from the community are used to buy fresh food, such as produce, potatoes, meat, cheese and milk, as well as additional items to ensure families have food to eat for days after Christmas.
Though the fresh food for this year’s baskets have already been ordered and paid for, donations that come in through the end of 2021 ensure that organizers can plan and prepare for next year’s distribution, Sappenfield said.
There is reason for optimism, despite the slow start this year, Sappenfield said. On Dec. 1, Franklin Rotary Club held its Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast, which raises money to split between the Good Cheer Fund and the Interchurch Food Pantry.
Hundreds of people came to the hog roast, and organizers expect a significant amount was raised again this year.
And as Christmas approaches, people have always gotten around to making their contributions to the fund in the past. People are still able to donate to the Good Cheer Fund through the end of the year, and Sappenfield is confident the current numbers are going to rise, he said.
“I am not surprised. Typically people give more the closer it gets to Christmas,” Sappenfield said. “Also, (former chairman) Eddy Teets would always state that we need a good snow to remind people that it’s Christmas time. I think there is some truth to that.”
Despite contributions being lower this year, the community has been hard at work supporting the Good Cheer Fund the past few weeks. Schools throughout the county have been hard at work gathering canned food for the baskets; Sappenfield doesn’t have a count of how much has been collected, but many schools have asked for additional baskets to hold all that’s been donated.
At Needham, the students have been in heated competition to see who can donate the most. The results are updated on social media, allowing everyone in the school community to see where they stand. As of Nov. 9, the students had brought in 863 items and Aly Werner’s second-grade class was in the lead with 111 items donated.
“It gives them an opportunity to do something to give back that they might not have somewhere else. We’re giving them that opportunity here at school to give to others,” said Crystal May, Needham counselor.
While the promise of a popcorn and movie party for the winning classroom is good motivation, the opportunity to do good is more important, students say.
”It makes me happy to help other people,” said Vanessa Herald, a fourth grader at the school.
Fourth grader Leilani Toves added, “It makes me feel good.”
GOOD CHEER FUND
What: An annual effort to pass out holiday food baskets to the needy throughout Johnson County. Baskets include a mix of nonperishable foods and fresh items, such as a ham or chicken, eggs, milk and cheese.
How many: About 900 baskets
When is delivery: Baskets will be distributed around the county on Saturday
How to give: Monetary donations will be accepted until the end of December. Donations can be mailed to the Daily Journal, P.O. Box 699, Franklin, IN 46131.
