SPIRIT OF GIVING

Today is the final day to submit requests for help to the Richmond Christmas Mother.

The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund was established in 1935 by John Stewart Bryan, publisher of The Richmond News Leader, the city's afternoon newspaper. In 1940, the Bryan family also bought the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the two newspapers ultimately merged in 1992.

The fund was designed to provide needy children and families with toys, clothing, food and other assistance during the holidays.

The Salvation Army now administers the fund as part of its citywide Christmas programs.

This year's Richmond Christmas Mother is Charlotte M. Minor, at one time co-owner and director of the Reynolds/Minor Gallery. She is the wife of G. Gilmer "Gil" Minor III, chairman of the Owens & Minor board of directors.

To apply for help:

Requests for assistance should be made in writing to the Christmas Mother Fund, P.O. Box 12400, Richmond, VA 23241, Attn: Christmas Mother.

People seeking aid must include their addresses and phone numbers in their written requests. Aid requests for children ages 15 years or younger must be made by a custodial parent or guardian.

Letters must include the reason for needing aid as well as the mailing address, phone number and the name and ages of the child or children included in the request.

To donate:

There are several ways to donate to the fund:

Online: Visit inRich.com, search keyword: Christmas Mother and use the online form to make a donation.

By mail: Monetary contributions to the fund may be sent to The Christmas Mother Fund, P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293-0001. Checks should be made payable to the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund.

In person: Monetary donations may be dropped off in The Times-Dispatch lobby at 300 E. Franklin St. -- a donation box is on the front counter -- or with the receptionist in the Media General Building at 333 E. Franklin St.

Food, new toys, new clothing and other new items may be taken to the Salvation Army Christmas Center at 1101 E. Laburnum Ave. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions about The Salvation Army's Christmas assistance program, call (804) 433-1127. For general questions, call The Salvation Army at its Richmond-area headquarters, (804) 225-7470.

Donations to the fund include:

In memory of my forever best friend,

Jane McLaughlin, who loved her family

and Christmas . . .

from Judy Arenstein-------------------------$100.00
Remembering Linda S. Thompson, and all

of our departed loved ones. From the

Pokeno Queeens: Jackie, Linda,

Lynette, Mary and Renay-------------------------50.00
In honor of my two godchildren,

Kathryn Harper & Catherine Ramsey

from Judith W. Kidd-------------------------50.00
In memory of

Marguerite and Clayton Holladay

from Frances, Penny and Phil-------------------------150.00
Austin and Jane Brockenbrough III

in honor of: Charlotte Minor-------------------------100.00
Austin and Jane Brockenbrough III

in memory of:

Holt Bullington and John Wise-------------------------50.00
In memory of Jamie Neal

from Bob and Lou Woodhouse-------------------------50.00
In memory of

Chris A. and Lucille B. Henderson

Thank you, children,

Elaine Richardson-------------------------100.00
G.L. and B.D. Crowder-------------------------25.00
Patricia and David Cosby-------------------------100.00
In honor of dear neighbors and

friends who give of themselves and

their resources

from Irene P. Benton-------------------------100.00
Russell King Jr.-------------------------5.00
In memory of Alice Bryan

a former Christmas Mother,

from Gareth and Alice Dehner-------------------------100.00
In memory of H. Hiter Harris Jr.-------------------------200.00
In honor of Libby Harris-------------------------200.00
In honor of Jil, Katie, Tyler & Hiter-------------------------200.00
In loving memory of our son, Rick,

and our parents: Dr. and Mrs. William

Lawrence Gatewood and Mr. and Mrs.

David A. Harrison Jr. and siblings:

David A. Harrison III,

Anne Harrison Brown,

Elizabeth Harrison Monroe,

James G. Harrison, Nancy Gatewood Brown

from: Dick and Virginia Harrison-------------------------150.00
In memory of my husband,

Caius M. Carpenter,

and our son, Ray S. Carpenter

from Helen Carpenter-------------------------500.00
The Hope Bonarth Class,

Grace Baptist Church-------------------------25.00
In memory of Hut Sut and Hose Nose

from Hound Dog-------------------------50.00
In loving memory of

Clow and Ranny B.

from Polly & Ranny-------------------------100.00
Murray LaDuke-------------------------100.00
American Legion Auxiliary,

Glen Allen Unit 244-------------------------50.00
In honor of Charlotte Minor

and in memory of Freddie Bocock

and Bessie Carter from

Henry and Peggy Valentine-------------------------300.00
Peter and Ethel Powell-------------------------100.00
In honor of Christmas Mother

Charlotte Minor

from Jo Kennedy-------------------------100.00
In loving memory of

Royal E. Cabell Jr. and

Roy E. Cabell III

from Mrs. R.E. Cabell Jr.-------------------------200.00
In loving memory of our parents

Clarence and Lemmie McKeel

and Warren and Myrtle Webster

from Joe and Jean McKeel-------------------------100.00
In loving memory of our

sister-in-law Linda McKeel and

our niece Susan McKeel from

Joe and Jean McKeel-------------------------100.00
In gratitude for friends and family

. . . and for hope for peace on Earth

Cary Tilton Doyle-------------------------100.00
Carolyn L. Simpson-------------------------5.00


TODAY'S TOTAL ------------------------- $3,560.00
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED------------------------$120,927.66
GRAND TOTAL ------------------- $124,487.66