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Community Corner

Community Chest Distributes $25K to Help Needy Families

Five Towns Community Chest allocates funding to affiliated agencies as part of the "Neighbors in Need" program.

During their annual meeting this past Dec. 20 at the , the delivered $25,000 that they raised this past year as part of their . Started last year, this program gives money to needy families during the holiday season through local agencies that are affiliated with the Community Chest.

"We had a committee go over the most needy cases and give the money out appropriately," Community Chest Event and Youth Board Coordinator Carol Miller said. "This year, we helped 61 different families and individuals, ranging from $250 to $1000 depending on what their needs were."

They presented the checks, recognized their yearly accomplishments and featured a keynote speaker as part of their annual meeting. Leo Zisman, a Holocaust survivor, spoke this year about the importance of giving to charity.

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Everyone who received checks was represented by the agencies that work with the Community Chest. These agencies, such as the Five Towns Community Center, and the Early Learning Center, had to submit requests for certain families or individuals that needed money.

"Last year we did the program but we didn't have a fundraiser for it," Miller said. "We just took some money that we had and gave it away. This year we actually raised money and had a fund for 'Neighbors in Need."

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The two major sources of funding for the donations came from a concert held at Woodmere Country Club on Nov. 18, featuring a popular band called 'Jay and the Americas,' as well as the annual campaign for donations.

"The annual campaign all goes to the agencies," Miller said. "We have the rest of the funds allocated for emergency purposes."

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