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Northern Berkshire Santa Fund Kicks Off Annual Fund Drive
12:19PM / Friday, November 21, 2014
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Santa Fund is kicking off its annual campaign drive to ensure no child in the region goes without a toy this Christmas.

iBerkshires is teaming up with the Santa Fund to help it reach this year's goal of $25,000.

It's easy to donate: Just go to the Northern Berkshire Santa Fund page and (once the fund's Paypal account is set) click the green button to pay online. Checks can also be mailed to: Landmark Federal Credit Union, Attn: Nancy Roy / Santa Fund, 131 Ashland St., North Adams, MA 01247.

Applications will be accepted until Dec. 5 and can be made out online by pushing the red button or downloaded and mailed to: True North Financial, 85 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.

"There is a need in the county," said Brendan Bullett, treasurer of the Santa Fund board. "Last year, we served more than 600 kids."

The fund drive provides eligible families in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown with a $40 gift certificate to buy toys for each child up to age 13.

The fund was established by Sprague Electric employees and later was sponsored by the former North Adams Transcript for some years.

The last few years have seen some changes at the fund with the closure of the newspaper and Cariddi Sales Co., a local toy distributor that for years provided a place for parents to "shop" for presents.

Walmart has stepped in to provide the toys and iBerkshires has become the new sponsor. Landmark Credit Union, formerly the Sprague Electric Credit Union, has continued its support for the toy drive begun more than a half-century ago.

"We are pleased that we can help continue a tradition that has been serving the community for more than 50 years," Osmin Alvarez, publisher of iBerkshires, said. "Every child should have a present to open on Christmas morning and the Northern Berkshire Santa Fund plays an important role in ensuring that happens."

iBerkshires is hosting the Northern Berkshire Santa Fund page, which will also list the donors and show the progress of the fund drive.

Bullett, whose grandfather served on the first Northern Berkshire Santa Fund board, said he feels a personal responsibility for making sure the fund is successful.

"We need to do everything we can to keep it going," he said.

A Holiday Gift Shopping Extravaganza to benefit the fund will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Houghton Mansion on Ashland Street.

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