It's a strong statement from our readers and friends in the community, but the need is great, so we hope the response continues to be as generous as we move closer and closer to the end of the holiday season.

The 2012 fund drive is for the benefit of the people in our community who turn to 10 local charities during their time of need.

If you haven't already given, please consider a donation. No amount is too small, and the Gazette covers all administrative costs of the fund, so every penny goes to people who need a hand.

To donate, look for the donation coupon with this story or go to wvgazette.com and click on the Christmas Fund logo.

Here's a list of this week's donations:  

* Mildred V. Baldwin, in memory of Aubrey Baldwin and Megan Baldwin, $25

* Anonymous, in memory of Gov. William C. Marland, $10

Mr. & Mrs. John F. McGee, $500

Park Chapman, $100

Anonymous, in memory of Harold R. Fix, $100

Emma L. Kennedy, in honor of Sandra & Chris, $100

Terry Johnson, in honor of the Johnson, Morris, Reisch & Tekelenbueg families. Also, in memory of Ruth & Bob Johnson, $500

Lorena Ammar, in memory of Mary E. Ammar, $100

Ms. Karen Jenkins, in memory of Alma & Harold Bronaugh, $100

Joel Metz, $20

Jerome Curry, in honor of a majority of Americans who support humane Democratic Party values and returned President Obama to the White House for another four years, $100

Truist - Johnson & Johnson, $33

Larry Levak, $100

Luther Daniel, in honor of Mr. Samuel F. Daniel, $50

Kemp Littlepage McElwee, in memory of Collett Smith, $100

Anonymous, in memory of Bobby & Oliver, $50

Fred Ferri Jr., $50

Teresa Canterbury, $50

William Chambers, in memory of Carolyn Perry, $500

Anonymous, in honor of Jesus Christ, $50

Ms. Elizabeth Hoskins, in memory of Sgt. Hosko, $100

Ms. Elizabeth Hoskins, in memory of Trecia Peterson, $100

John Burkard, in memory of Helen, $100

Marie Oxley, in memory of Bill Oxley, $200

Donna J. Shaver, in memory of my parents, Don and Vida Shaver, $100

Carolyn J. Lucas, in memory of John Harris Lucas, $1,000

Dan Knight, in honor of Karin Fuller and Alyce Faye Bragg, $25

Evelyn Borio, in memory of Jane Johnson, $25

Roger & Marsha O'Dell, $50

Kenneth & Brenda Dosier, $100

Anonymous, in memory of Monica Lee, $50

June Robinson, $50

Debi Conrad, in memory of my parents, $150

Sandra Martin, in memory of Howard & Evelyn Cole, $100

Sandra Martin, in memory of Callie Nicole Sergent, $50

Barry Myers, in memory of Ollie Ward Prichard, $30

Elizabeth Chilton, in memory of WEC III, $500

Ellyn Goldberg, in memory of Rob's Fund B'nai Jacob Synagogue, $100

Lee Hill, in memory of Randy Cox, $300

Anonymous (combined), $2,370

* Donation received after deadline for 2011 Christmas Fund

Week 1 total: $8,103