Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal: Christmas Eve last day to donate to children
Christmas Eve is the last day to donate to the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal, a campaign to help make the holidays a little more joyful and bright for Coastal Bend families in need.
As of Thursday, $53,080 had been raised for the Christmas Appeal this year. This time last year, the campaign raised $53,523.
Caller-Times reporters interview families in need and share their stories with readers to help raise donations. All funds raised go to the families to help buy Christmas gifts for their little ones which they otherwise could not afford.
Hearing about their hardships and hopes gives the Caller-Times staff a different perspective into what the spirit of Christmas is about.
Columnist and archivist Allison Ehrlich said interviewing Christmas Appeal families is always one of the hardest, but most rewarding assignments she does every year.
"Talking with the kids and their families makes your heart ache for their situations, but every time the families tell me how grateful they are to be with their loved ones," Ehrlich said. "And the adults are inevitably just in awe of their kids, at how resilient they've been through whatever hardship the family is struggling with. That these donations help the families overcome even a fraction of their struggles from the year is so important."
The children represent thousands who will be helped by the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal. The names of the families profiled have been changed to protect their privacy.
Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children; all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend, and participating agencies.
Participating agencies include Boys & Girls Club of Alice, Duval County Christmas Committee, the Kleberg County Welfare Department, Nueces County Department of Social Services, the Odyssey After School Enrichment Program in Rockport, Sinton for Youth Inc., and the Purple Door.
Donors as of Dec. 21, 2022
In honor of Tom and Nell Addkison
In honor of Christine Cone
In honor of Dr. Patrick Cone
In honor of Lippincott grandchildren
In honor of Nicolas, Celia and Elia Huerta
In honor of Paul Michael
In memory of Mick Addkison
In memory of David Allison
In memory of David Arevalo Jr.
In memory of Gaylord Austin
In memory of Wretha Barr
In memory of Aurelio and Rosario Barrera
In memory of Rusty Beck
In memory of Darlene Bennett
In memory of Emilia, Maximo and Victor Betancourt
In memory of Bryan Bliven
In memory of Dr. Jack L. Bradshaw
In memory of Billy Braselton
In memory of Gene Bruner
In memory of J.C. Byles
In memory of Hector Alberto Casares
In memory of Louise Cave
In memory of Carlos E. Chapa Sr.
In memory of Clarissa Chapa-Radke
In memory of Will Charba
In memory of Eleanor Chavez
In memory of Mike and Melanie Conner
In memory of Shep and Shirely Davis
In memory of Rosa Lee Day
In memory of Grace Dobson
In memory of Dean Dreiling
In memory of Mary Rose Dreiling
In memory of Larry Dreyer
In memory of Randy Eikel
In memory of Judy Forbes
In memory of Raul Garcia III
In memory of Felipe "Tino" Garcia
In memory of Jacqueline Glenn
In memory of Jeff Goodman
In memory of Marty Haibach
In memory of Elizabeth Hansen
In memory of Joe Harris
In memory of Astrid Lavinia Hathaway
In memory of Carle and Fred Heinsohn
In memory of C.W. Herber Jr.
In memory of D.C. Herschap
In memory of Nelson Hidalgo
In memory of Joe Hlavik
In memory of Martha Hlavik
In memory of Henry Houser
In memory of Harriette Howe
In memory of John and Bessie Howe
In memory of Dorothy Cabrials Inman
In memory of James and Margaret Kaylor
In memory of Jack Kellam
In memory of Howard and Ida Kennedy
In memory of Susie Kesigner
In memory of Melvin and Marietta Kronk
In memory of Malvin and Marie LeBlanc
In memory of Iris Lehrman
In memory of Santiago Longoria
In memory of Sharon Mack
In memory of Clyde and Sophie Martin
In memory of Ruben Martin
In memory of Mauricio Rene Martinez
In memory of Ruby Mauch
In memory of Pete and Margaret Mayne
In memory of Janice Kay McCarty
In memory of RC "Mac" and Edith "Jac" McCarty
In memory of Francis and Aline McDermott
In memory of Bob McKinley
In memory of Edwin E. Menn
In memory of Orine Menn
In memory of Ruth Miller
In memory of Wilton A. Miller
In memory of L.D. Mrazek
In memory of Ella Sue Nelson
In memory of Steve "Boom Boom" Nikolanci
In memory of Jose M. Nino
In memory of Jane F. Noe
In memory of Joe and Charlene Nuesch
In memory of Kaye O'Bryan
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Payne
In memory of Travis A. Peeler
In memory of Trinidad and Enrique Perez
In memory of Eli Pruitt
In memory of Robert Ramos
In memory of Loyd Rash
In memory of Jon Paul Reyes
In memory of Charles Ross
In memory of Abel, Cande and Frank Salazar
In memory of Octavio, Dorita and Chaca Salinas
In memory of Manuel Sanchez
In memory of Preston Sexton
In memory of Mary Smith
In memory of T.J. Smith
In memory of Martha Gierhart Spear
In memory of Jack Standiford
In memory of Frank F. Sumney
In memory of Steve Thompson
In memory of Rev. and Mrs. F.A. Walton
In memory of Alena Faith Watson
In memory of Lois Wells
In memory of Jarrett Ryan Whittington
In memory of Chase Wilson
In memory of Luther Young
In memory of Joseph Zelum
Adler Family
Sunil K. Ahuja
Jim Barnette
Melissa and Sam Beecroft
Rhonda Bergey and Gary Jeffress
Doris Biffle-Colby
Kathy and Rob Black
Ruben and Rosie Bonilla
Esther Read
Michael Brewer
David and Cindy Cantu
Dr. John and Nicole Carroll
Ricardo G. Castillo
Rev. Mark Chamberlin
Waconda Erenda Clayworth
Milton L. Cobb
Liz and Dale
Luis and Angie Cuevas
Ben A. Donnell
David and Gail Drown
Elizabeth DuPont
Peggy and Jose Miguel Duran
Luis Elizondo
Vale and Lorraine Elizondo
Phyllis Farmer
Ada Weil Fish
Marlis Frank
John and Sandra Garcia
Alicia S. Garza
Sally and James Gill
Gil and Martha Gomez Jr.
Dr. Mary Jane and Bob Hamilton
Patricia A. Harris
David and Carol Harvey
Tom and Dollie Hunt
Nick and Maria Jimenez
Colleen Johnson and Brian Miller
Johnson Family
Jeri and Mark Johnstone
Jim Kanz and Margaret Lawrence
Mrs. T. Killion
Annette and Mel Klein
Jacqueline Klein-Katz
Jenna Klein
Catalina and Caden Klein
Estela and Ruben Lopez
Jan and Frank Luckay
John and Linda McGowan
John S. and Mary Ann McGregor
Ron and Dylicia McKenzie
Paula McKinney
Gertrude Mickan
Mike and Janet Miller
Angela and Paul Montagna
Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Morrow
Donald K. and Dr. Vickie M. Natale
James L. Owens
Richard and Sarah Paige
Nikki Parker
Ed and Rita Reed
Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo Regino
Billy and Becky Rios
Phyllis Roseman
Cathy Scholl
John Wood and Pat Schackleford
Kim and Bernard Seger
Mary K. Sherwood and Ron George
John Shreves
Charles Smith
Bob and Mary Sorrells
Martin and Suzanne Thebeau
Henry Durward Thompson
Ben and Flora Trujillo
George Wehl
Patsy G. Whitehurst
DJ Williams
Charlie and Linda Zahn
CLK Architects & Associates
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Col. A.M. Hobby Camp 713
The Estill Foundation
Fred W. Heldenfels III
Larry and Pat McNeil Foundation
HOW TO DONATE
Here are three ways to help:
*Fill out the donation form on Page 2A. Make your check or money order payable to Children’s Christmas Appeal and mail to: United Way of Coastal Bend, 4659 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX, 78411 (designate funds to Children's Christmas Appeal)
*Donate online at www.uwcb.org. Look for the Christmas Appeal logo.
*Text ChristmasAppeal (no spaces) to 41444 to make a donation.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal: Donate before it's too late
