Caller-Times Christmas Appeal: Despite drop in donations, campaign helped bring families holiday joy

Despite a decline in charitable donations compared to 2021, the 2022 Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal helped provide South Texas children in struggling households a joyful holiday.

The 2022 campaign raised a total of $56,808 — a 31% decrease from the previous year's amount.

Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families to help raise money during the holiday season.

Tanya Herrera, residential services manager at The Purple Door, said the donations help South Texas families by taking one less "stressor off the table" and allowing them to buy gifts for the kids despite their circumstances.

"Families can have a bit of enjoyment during the holidays and provide something special to their children and have a little normalcy," Herrera said. "Any donation made makes a huge difference. People are experiencing so many different kinds of trauma that this just makes everything a little bit easier with Christmas. At the end of the day, all our clients are looking to be able to give their children a little bit of joy during the holidays."

Since 1973, The Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All of the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children because all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies.
Since 1973, The Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All of the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children because all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies.

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.

Campaign donors for 2022

  • In honor of Tom and Nell Addkison

  • In honor of William D. Bonilla

  • In honor of Julian Galloway

  • In honor of my Dura granddaughters

  • In honor of Jesus

  • In honor of Carson, Ethan, Caleb and Cade Ocker

  • In honor of Bacilio and Sylvia Rivera

  • In honor of Matthew and Timothy

  • In memory of Robert Mitchell Addkison

  • In memory of Ralph Alcala

  • In memory of David Allison

  • In memory of David Arevalo Jr.

  • In memory of Tim Austin

  • In memory of Elisabeth Ayala

  • In memory of Frank Ayala

  • In memory of Debbie Lynn Barnes

  • In memory of Aurelio and Rosario Barrera

  • In memory of Juan and Carmen Beltran

  • In memory of Darlene Bennett

  • In memory of Better and Jim Bookout

  • In memory of Dr. Jack L. Bradshaw

  • In memory of Clevia Braselton

  • In memory of Barry Brown

  • In memory of Evalynn Bunk

  • In memory of J.C. Byles

  • In memory of Xavier Canales

  • In memory of Hector Alberto Casares

  • In memory of Clarissa Chapa-Radke

  • In memory of Will Charba

  • In memory of John Chesshir

  • In memory of Simon Clarich

  • In memory of Mike and Melanie Conner

  • In memory of James W. Cottingham

  • In memory of Janet T. Cram

  • In memory of Ann Curry

  • In memory of Fred Curry

  • In memory of mom and dad

  • In memory of Clara and Dick Davy

  • In memory of Rosa Lee Day

  • In memory of USMC Col. Roy E. DeForest

  • In memory of Edward and Dorothy Dimond

  • In memory of Grace Dobson

  • In memory of Elinor Donnell

  • In memory of Dean Dreiling

  • In memory of Mary Rose Dreiling

  • In memory of Larry Dreyer

  • In memory of Anne Furman Dunn

  • In memory of Randy Eikel

  • In memory of Luis Elizondo

  • In memory of Cheryl Esparza

  • In memory of the Garcia, Canales and Gurjardo families

  • In memory of Armengol Farias

  • In memory of Joe R. Fulton

  • In memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Gavatos

  • In memory of Jaqueline Glenn

  • In memory of Mike Glover

  • In memory of Jeff Goodman

  • In memory of Joy Grossman

  • In memory of Marty Haibach

  • In memory of Elizabeth Hansen

  • In memory of Joe Harris

  • In memory of Carle and Fred Heinsohn

  • In memory of Jim Hensley

  • In memory of C.W. Herber Jr.

  • In memory of D.C. Herschap

  • In memory of James E. Hicks

  • In memory of Tony Hill

  • In memory of Joe Hlavik

  • In memory of Martha Hlavik

  • In memory of Henry Houser

  • In memory of Jack and Bessie Howe

  • In memory of Nicolas, Celia and Elia Huerta

  • In memory of Tom and Edwina Hunt

  • In memory of Dorothy Cabrials Inman

  • In memory of James and Margaret Kaylor

  • In memory of Howard and Ida Kennedy

  • In memory of Susie Kesinger

  • In memory of Malvin and Marie LeBlanc

  • In memory of Allen Lebowitz

  • In memory of Iris Lehrman

  • In memory of Bob and Rosemary Little

  • In memory of Clyde and Sophie Martin

  • In memory of Mauricio Rene Martinez

  • In memory of Ruby Mauch

  • In memory of Pete and Margaret Mayne

  • In memory of Edith Daniel McCarty

  • In memory of Janice Kay McCarty

  • In memory of Robert Curtis McCarty

  • In memory of Aline and Francis McDermott

  • In memory of Joe Mateo Melchor

  • In memory of Art Mena Jr.

  • In memory of Arthur Mena Sr.

  • In memory of Rudy Mena

  • In memory of Susie Mena

  • 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 Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Morrow

  • In memory of L.D. Mrazek

  • In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Munsell

  • In memory of Ella Sue Nelson

  • In memory of Jose M. Nino

  • In memory of Jane 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 Shay Pierce

  • In memory of Diana Garcia Pineda

  • In memory of Amanda R. Ramirez

  • In memory of Nolan K. Read

  • In memory of Jon Paul Reyes

  • In memory of Connie Rocha

  • In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Facundo Rodriguez

  • In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Raul S. Rodriguez

  • In memory of Rick Roekle

  • In memory of my grandson Ryan

  • In memory of Abel, Cande and Frank Salazar

  • In memory of Noemi Santana

  • In memory of Fred Smith

  • In memory of Mary Smith

  • In memory of T.J. Smith

  • In memory of Blaise Soza

  • In memory of Frank Sumney

  • In memory of Frank Tompkins

  • In memory of Frank and Carrie Veselka

  • In memory of Rev. and Mrs. F.A. Walton

  • In memory of Kevin Weber

  • In memory of Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Whitehurst

  • In memory of Jarrett Ryan Whittington

  • In memory of Bill and Marcia Wilcox

  • In memory of Chase Wilson

  • In memory of Ken Wingfield

  • In memory of Mark Stanley Wise Jr.

  • In memory of Ashley Brooke Wise

  • In memory of Chuck Wise

  • In memory of Lorna and Decker Womack

  • In memory of Dub and Dorothy Wright

  • In memory of M.G. and Ruth Wright Sr.

  • In memory of Luther Young

  • In memory of Joseph Zelum

  • Cathy and Bill Abernethy

  • Chris Adler

  • Sunil and Parveen Ahuja

  • Jim Barnette

  • Mary Ann Cavazos Beckett and family

  • Myriam and John Bell

  • Rhonda Bergey and Gary Jeffress

  • Kathy and Rob Black

  • Ruben and Rose Bonilla

  • Michael Brewer

  • Debbie Bruner

  • Julie Bush

  • Mario Capetillo

  • Dr. John and Nicole Carroll

  • Robin B. Carter

  • Linda and Felix Castillo

  • Raul and Olga Castillo

  • Ricardo Castillo

  • Linda H. Chamberlain

  • Joe and Margie Chavez

  • CLK Architects and Associates

  • Milton L. Cobb

  • Jeff and Teresa Cobbs

  • Susan Comer

  • Abby Cook Graham

  • Liz and Dale

  • Joy and Don Cramer

  • Marilyn Dazey

  • Tim Dowling

  • David and Gail Drown

  • Dr. John T. Dugan and Bonnie Dugan

  • The Estill Foundation

  • Valentin Rodriguez

  • Phyllis M. Farmer

  • Ada Weil Fish

  • Joe Flores

  • Marlis Frank

  • Mr. and Mrs. Roman Garcia

  • Alicia S. Garza

  • June Gildersleeve

  • Sally L. Goldston

  • Susan and G. Gonzales

  • Bernard and Kim Seger

  • Dr. Mary Jane and Bob Hamilton

  • Judy and Jerry Hampton

  • Ticia and Marty Hansich

  • Emmett and Nora Faye Harris

  • Ms. Patricia Harris

  • David Harvey and family

  • Fred W. Heldenfels III

  • Ken and Laurel Herring

  • Kathryn O. Hooper

  • Bill and Pamela Isaacson

  • Nick and Maria Jimenez

  • Jean Johnson

  • Mark and Jeri Johnstone

  • Harold and Karen Kane

  • David Beck and Katherin Kearley

  • Susie Killion

  • Annette G. Klein, Melvyn Klein, Jacqueline Klein, Jenna Klein and Catalina Klein

  • Helen Koether

  • Jay and Maria Leal

  • Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lecompte

  • Bob and Janie Loa

  • Estela and Ruben Lopez

  • Frank and Jan Luckay

  • Amy E. Manley

  • Sandra Mayorga

  • Lucy McCracken

  • John and Linda McGowan

  • Mary Ann and John McGregor

  • Ron and Dylcia McKenzie

  • Gertrude Mickan

  • Christine J. Middleton

  • Brian Miller and Colleen Johnson

  • John S. Miller

  • Mike and Janet Miller

  • Angela and Paul Montagna

  • Donald K. and Dr. Vickie C. Natale

  • Nikki Parker

  • Ed and Rita Reed

  • Mr. and Mrs. R. Regino

  • Desi and Olga S. Rodriguez

  • Bob and Jeanette Roper

  • Phyllis Roseman

  • Mary Ross

  • Johnny and Betty Rozypal

  • Mr. and Mrs. Roberto G. Salinas

  • Richardo Sanchez

  • Cathy and Jack Scholl

  • John Wood and Pat Shackelford

  • John Shreves

  • Tyler Smith

  • Kathleen Ruth Soch, M.D.

  • Debra Stuart

  • Harvey and Rosie Swan

  • Sue Thompson

  • H. Durward Thompson Jr.

  • L.B. and Tina Tomerlin

  • Ben and Flora Trujillo

  • Rae H. Turnbull

  • Carlos and Consuelo Valdez

  • George Wehl

  • Mike and Jen Wetz

  • Jim and Sylvia Whitworth

  • D.J. Williams

  • Katherine S. Winston

  • Charlie and Linda Zahn

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Despite drop in donations, Christmas Appeal brought families holiday joy