Santa Fund Luncheon
November 21. 2016 11:22PM
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Annual luncheon's auctions kick-start Santa Fund for the Salvation Army
Salvation Army Capt. Armida Harper recites the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2016 Santa Fund Luncheon at the Radisson in Manchester on Monday. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
MANCHESTER — Business and civic leaders gathered Monday to launch this year’s drive for the Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army.
Some 350 people — including Gov. Maggie Hassan, Mayor Ted Gatsas and the new leaders of the Manchester Salvation Army — participated in the annual kickoff luncheon.
“We’ve all heard it takes a village to raise a child; I’ve never seen a village like Manchester,” said Armida Harper, a Salvation Army major who took over leadership of the Manchester corps earlier this year with her husband. “We feel so supported and loved.”
Manchester Salvation Army programs include the Kids Cafe meal-and-after-school program, summer camps, food baskets, winter clothing and — of course — a Toy Shop that provided a Christmas gift and Christmas meals for more than 3,000 children last year.
“I am grateful to the Salvation Army and the Union Leader for bringing us together at the onset of the holiday season,” Hassan said at the luncheon at the Radisson Hotel.
“It truly exemplifies our tradition in the Granite State, that all-hands-on-deck support,” she said.
Auctions on Monday generated $5,700 for the Santa Fund.
In a silent auction, luncheon guests bid on 38 gift baskets, which were donated by area merchants.
“It’s great to give back to the community we live in,” said Jim Martin of AmeriGas, who bid $50 for a coffee gift basket he will share with his wife.
And in a not-so-silent auction, Gatsas auctioned off two sets of four Red Sox tickets for $400 apiece.
Gatsas said he wants to push the cumulative donations for the Santa Fund, which is in its 57th year, past $8 million.
To do so, the Santa Fund will have to raise some $300,000 this season.
“It’s a challenge,” Gatsas said.
The Santa Fund raises most of its funds through donations from readers of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. The newspapers run articles about families who receive help from the Santa Fund. Donors are listed in the newspaper.
“I read every name, whether it’s anonymous, whether it’s in memory of someone, whether you just want to pay it forward,” said WZID radio personality Marga Bessette, who was the master of ceremonies.
Earlier in the day in Concord, Hassan recognized the red kettle drive, which started last week across the state.
At the Manchester event, Harper singled out two organizations for their dedication to the red kettle effort.
Merchants Automotive Group works a kettle on Fridays and Saturdays all season.
Last year, its efforts raised $22,948. Bedford Rotary, which is in its 47th year of bell-ringing, staffs the Harvest Market kettle all season; last year it raised $9,182.
Some 350 people — including Gov. Maggie Hassan, Mayor Ted Gatsas and the new leaders of the Manchester Salvation Army — participated in the annual kickoff luncheon.
“We’ve all heard it takes a village to raise a child; I’ve never seen a village like Manchester,” said Armida Harper, a Salvation Army major who took over leadership of the Manchester corps earlier this year with her husband. “We feel so supported and loved.”
Manchester Salvation Army programs include the Kids Cafe meal-and-after-school program, summer camps, food baskets, winter clothing and — of course — a Toy Shop that provided a Christmas gift and Christmas meals for more than 3,000 children last year.
“I am grateful to the Salvation Army and the Union Leader for bringing us together at the onset of the holiday season,” Hassan said at the luncheon at the Radisson Hotel.
“It truly exemplifies our tradition in the Granite State, that all-hands-on-deck support,” she said.
Auctions on Monday generated $5,700 for the Santa Fund.
In a silent auction, luncheon guests bid on 38 gift baskets, which were donated by area merchants.
“It’s great to give back to the community we live in,” said Jim Martin of AmeriGas, who bid $50 for a coffee gift basket he will share with his wife.
And in a not-so-silent auction, Gatsas auctioned off two sets of four Red Sox tickets for $400 apiece.
Gatsas said he wants to push the cumulative donations for the Santa Fund, which is in its 57th year, past $8 million.
To do so, the Santa Fund will have to raise some $300,000 this season.
“It’s a challenge,” Gatsas said.
The Santa Fund raises most of its funds through donations from readers of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. The newspapers run articles about families who receive help from the Santa Fund. Donors are listed in the newspaper.
“I read every name, whether it’s anonymous, whether it’s in memory of someone, whether you just want to pay it forward,” said WZID radio personality Marga Bessette, who was the master of ceremonies.
Earlier in the day in Concord, Hassan recognized the red kettle drive, which started last week across the state.
At the Manchester event, Harper singled out two organizations for their dedication to the red kettle effort.
Merchants Automotive Group works a kettle on Fridays and Saturdays all season.
Last year, its efforts raised $22,948. Bedford Rotary, which is in its 47th year of bell-ringing, staffs the Harvest Market kettle all season; last year it raised $9,182.