Caller-Times Christmas Appeal: Donations continue to pour in, spreading holiday spirit
The Coastal Bend community's generosity is continuing to pour in this Christmas season.
Thanks for donors in South Texas, $37,375 has been raised for the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal.
This time last year, the campaign raised $46,708.
The Nueces County Department of Social Services is one of the seven agencies helping raise money for children in need.
Esther Balboa, social work supervisor, said the annual Christmas Appeal is important because everybody needs help sometimes. She said her department's clients are in need and it's heartwarming to see the Coastal Bend community step up to aid them.
Balboa said she remembers a family that was helped from the campaign.
"The children from the family received bikes and it was a really good to be that middle person to provide them," Balboa said. "A donor had personally contacted the Caller-Times to donate bikes to that specific family. It was really touching."
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.
Donations as of Dec. 14, 2023
In honor of Christine Cone
In honor of Dr. Patrick Cone
In honor of Nicolas, Celia and Elia Huerta
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 Dr. Jack L. Bradshaw
In memory of Billy Braselton
In memory of Gene Bruner
In memory of Hector Alberto Casares
In memory of Louise Cave
In memory of Clarissa Chapa-Radke
In memory of Shep and Shirley Davis
In memory of Rosa Lee Day
In memory of Dean Dreiling
In memory of Mary Rose Dreling
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 Elizabeth Hansen
In memory of Astrid Lavinia Hathaway
In memory of Carle and Fred Heinsohn
In memory of Nelson Hidalgo
In memory of Harriette Howe
In memory of James and Margaret Kaylor
In memory of Jack Kellam
In memory of Iris Lehrman
In memory of Santiago Longoria
In memory of Sharon Mack
In memory of Mauricio Rene Martinez
In memory of Ruby Mauch
In memory of Janice Kay McCarty
In memory of RC "Mac" and Edith "Jac" McCarty
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 Steve "Boom Boom" Nikolanci
In memory of Jose M. Nino
In memory of Jane F. Noe
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Payne
In memory of Travis A. Peeler
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 Marth Gierhart Spear
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 Jarrett Ryan Whittington
In memory of Chase Wilson
Adler Family
Sunil K. Ahuja
Jim Barnette
Melissa and Sam Beecroft
Gary Jeffress and Rhonda Bergey
Doris Biffle-Colby
Kathy and Rob Black
Ruben and Rosie Bonilla
Esther Read
Michael Brewer
Dr. John and Nicole Carroll
Waconda Erenda Clayworth
Luis and Angie Cuevas
Elizabeth DuPont
Peggy and Jose Miguel Duran
Phyllis Farmer
Ada Weil Fish
Marlis Frank
John and Sandra Garcia
Patricia A. Harris
David and Carol Harvey
Fred W. Heldenfels III
Tom and Dollie Hunt
Brian Miller and Colleen Johnson
Jeri and Mark Johnstone
Margaret Lawrence and Jim Kanz
Mrs. T. Killion
Annette and Mel Klein
Jenna Klein
Jacqueline Klein-Katz
Catalina and Caden Klein
Estela and Ruben Lopez
Jan and Frank Luckay
John and Linda McGowan
Ron and Dylicia McKenzie
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
Cathy Scholl
John Wood and Pat Schackleford
Kim and Bernard Seger
Ron George and Mary K. Sherwood
John Shreves
Bob and Mary Sorrells
Henry Durward Thompson
Ben and Flora Trujillo
George Wehl
Patsy G. Whitehurst
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Col. A.M. Hobby Camp 713
The Estill 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 Christmas Appeal: Keep donating to spread holiday spirit
