SPIRIT OF GIVING

One of the letters addressed to Richmond's Christmas Mother was written by a woman who said that after supporting the Salvation Army's kettle drive and projects such as Angel Tree for most of her life, "I am on the other side of the fence."

After her position at a local bank was eliminated late last year, the woman's family was separated when she and the children moved to Texas, where she found a new job, while her husband remained in Virginia to try to sell their home. But the separation placed too great a strain on the family, and she and the children moved back, she wrote. As the family tries to live on a single income while she searches again for work, "We don't know how we will afford to keep the lights and heat on for long," she said. "I am writing because without your help, my children will not have a Christmas at all."

The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund has provided needy children and families with toys, clothing, food and other assistance during the holidays since 1935. The fund was established 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 merged in 1992.

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 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:

The Third Grade Team at CHES-------------------------$50.00
In memory of

William H. Jeffress

by his sons-------------------------1,000.00
In memory of my parents:

Mary and Hurley Cauthorn

from Ellen P. Corbett-------------------------50.00
In memory of

Clarence and Marie Nugent

and John and Louise Rogers

from the A.W. Goodes and

the J.P. Nugents-------------------------100.00
In honor of my Godparents,

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh V. White, Jr.,

love, Preston-------------------------50.00
In memory of my Daddy,

Ed Totty, Jr., from Tricia-------------------------100.00
In memory of our sweet dog Bonnie

and the joy she brought to us for 12

years Ginny, Will, Janet, John-------------------------25.00
In memory of loved ones:

Ginny, Will, Janet, John-------------------------25.00
In memory of Buck Pitt from two

Camp Virginia Boys, Father and Son---------------------25.00
In memory of Louise and John Rogers-------------------------50.00
In honor of Chris Carter,

a wonderful uncle and brother, we love you.

Russ, Faith, Trey, Alex and Gavin-------------------------25.00
Jonathan Kruse-------------------------25.00
In loving memory of Billy and Althea

from the Powell family-------------------------25.00
Dave and Dena Lindsay-------------------------100.00
In memory of Geoffrey S. Roop,

a fun and amazing guy

-- Sue Kurzman-------------------------50.00
Anonymous-------------------------100.00
In honor of Sue Tepper,

Merry Christmas, Brenda-------------------------50.00
In memory of Charles Edward Paulett

from Charles Paulett-------------------------50.00
To honor Charlotte Minor and in fondest

memory of Dr. Richard Lower . . . from

Connie Terry, Cammie, Laura

and Brooke Little-------------------------50.00
In memory of our parents, Virginia

and Frank Poehler from Gray,

Sherrill, Jimmy and Dennis-------------------------200.00
Anonymous-------------------------100.00
In honor of the Christmas Mother,

Charlotte Minor, from

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Simpson-------------------------200.00
In honor of Charlotte Minor from

Missy, Clarke, James and Sarah-------------------------100.00
In honor of

Laura Barbara Elizabeth Jensen Crowder

-- Love, Mike, Cindy, Tad, Molly,

Chase and Patrick-------------------------50.00
The Brooks Family-------------------------25.00
In memory of John and Douglas Moncure

and Mary Moncure Vaden from

Ann Moncure-Williams-------------------------25.00
In memory of Annie O., Moo and Pop Charlie

from Edmund L. Benson IV-------------------------200.00
In memory of our friend, Freddie Wells,

from Haley, Julian, Mary,

Catherine and Lucy-------------------------100.00
Robert M. Farley-------------------------100.00
In memory of Jack Kenny,

love, Anne & Kathryn-------------------------100.00
Colin A. Corbett-------------------------50.00
In loving memory of my parents,

Janie Staples Tiller and Redd Staples, Jr.,

from Buddy Staples-------------------------50.00
In loving memory of

Howard Mitchell Summerell

from Lucy P. Summerell-------------------------300.00
In honor of Charlotte Minor

from Nancy and Bruce Gottwald-------------------------500.00
In loving memory of our friend,

Janet Harvey Trivette,

"Mother to all," who continues to

inspire us. We miss you!

Hugs from the

"JHT Hen Party Society"-------------------------1,000.00
Mr. and Mrs. George L. Mahoney-------------------------200.00


TODAY'S TOTAL -------------------- $5,250.00
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED-------$124,487.66
GRAND TOTAL ------------------------- $129,737.66