Franklin volunteer Brooke Feyerabend, right, carries a crate full of bread to deliver as part of the annual Good Cheer Fund food distribution effort on Dec. 17. About 900 households received food during this year’s distribution, while the community donated more than $35,000 to the fund.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
In mid-December, as contributions to the Good Cheer Fund lagged, organizers of the annual food distribution avoided panic.
Certainly, donations were lower at that point than they had for years, coming in slightly above $3,700 on Dec. 10. But those in charge of the fund were confident the holiday spirit would kick in and the money would start flowing.
They were right.
As of Jan. 4, supporters have given more than $35,000 to this year’s Good Cheer Fund. Though less than the record-setting donations of 2020 and 2021, the generosity of the community has set the fund up for another successful food distribution in the coming year, said Jake Sappenfield, chairman of the fund.
“It speaks volumes about our community,” he said. “Johnson County is growing. We’re getting new people into the community, and I think when they see the example of what Good Cheer Fund does and the reaction from the community to fund this program, especially when we need extra money to help more people, it speaks volumes to anyone who is new to the area on how we help our neighbors.”
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. This year, volunteers were able to distribute 900 baskets for families in need, while also providing gift cards to about 20 families who did not get a basket, Sappenfield said.
Food for the baskets comes from non-perishable items such as canned 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.
The total donations this December to the Good Cheer Fund came to $35,127.50. The total falls short of the $56,892 contributed to the fund in 2020 and the $47,463 given in 2021 — which are the two highest amounts ever brought in through the fund. But the amount is in line with the years prior to the COVID pandemic, and will set up the fund for a successful 2023 distribution, Sappenfield said.
Donations that come in this year ensure that organizers can plan and prepare for next year’s food delivery. Inflation led food costs to rise this year to near $50,000; even with an increase of 50 more food baskets than this year, the cost per basket still rose about $10, Sappenfield said.
“From an inflation standpoint, you can tell the impact,” he said. “It’s the same food, but it cost us more.”
In addition to the donations that have already come in, Good Cheer organizers received about $17,000 in funding from the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast. The annual community event, organized by the Franklin Rotary Club, splits donations given during the meal between the Good Cheer Fund and the Interchurch Food Pantry.
“We’re in a good position. People gave, and the hog roast went really well,” Sappenfield said. “Things are looking good for next year.”
