The William Hall Rodgers Christmas Basket Fund has received $2,950 in donations to bring its total to $18,100. This is still short of the $24,000 goal set for the basket fund.

The Basket Fund is still accepting donations.

The Basket Fund has been providing staple foods for the holidays for the needy in the community for almost 90 years. The goal is to ensure as many people as possible have not only a meal for Christmas, but food to sustain them throughout the holiday season. This year, the boxes of food contained a ham and a baking hen, as well as potatoes, flour, sugar and other items.
Some 750 families received basket this year.

The William Hall Rodgers Basket Fund is organized and distributed completely by volunteers. All the money collected goes toward the food. Since the fund is a 501(c)(3) charity, donations are tax-deductible.

Donations were received from Robert and Catherine Marcum, $800; E. Conrad and Nancy Duke, $100; in memory of Don Ervin, $500; Judith L. Fisher in memory of Randall Fisher, $500; Betty Harper, $100; anonymous, $250; Bettie B. Cooke, $100; Mr. and Mrs. Roger Jenne, $250; FB&J Enterprises, $250; and in honor of Beecher Hunter, from Sunday School class, $100.

If you would like to help your neighbors by contributing to the William Hall Rodgers Christmas Basket Fund you may mail or drop off the donation at First Tennessee Bank (P.O. Box 3566, Cleveland TN 37320-3566, or 3870 Keith St. N.W., Cleveland TN 37312); Cooke’s Food Store (3400 Keith St. N.W., Cleveland TN 37312); or, United Way of the Ocoee Region (85 Ocoee St. S.E., Cleveland TN 37311).