Brockport Service Clubs celebrate joint venture

Above, standing left to right are: Brockport Kiwanis president Bob Reusch; Brockport Lions Club representative and past president Greg Lunn; Salvation Army Division Field Representative Rod Ballengee. Seated, Brockport Area Salvation Army coordinator and former Kiwanis president Dan Perry, statistician Mary Lynn Siciliano and Rotary president Bob Blair. Ballengee presented framed certificates of appreciation as tokens of regard for the outstanding money raising efforts during the December Bell Ringing season. Provided photo.

Brockport Service Clubs celebrate joint venture

Members of the three service clubs in Brockport attended the annual dinner to celebrate the joint bell-ringing results during the Salvation Army's Christmas 2006 fundraising campaign. Salvation Army representative Rod Ballengee stated that Brockport volunteers collected $12,570.45 during December, 50 percent more than the previous year, which also set a record.

The winner of the annual interclub contest to see which group could raise the most money was Rotary with $1,700 attributed to the club's Saturday effort. The clubs decided to also share an additional date, the last Saturday before Christmas and took in $2,200 on that day. They will continue the fourth Saturday practice for 2007.

At least 90 percent of the funds raised will be returned to the Brockport area to help the needy, the other 10 percent is kept in reserve for disasters, and emergency relief.

Thanks to Dr. Dan Perry's leadership, several other groups joined the service club members to make this the most profitable year ever. These included the Brockport Methodist Church, the Kiwanis Key Club, Cub Scouts, two Tri-County Girl's Youth Hockey teams, Lifetime Assistance, the Cornerstone Christian School, Holley Boy Scouts and two Brockport girls' soccer teams. The service clubs also recruited volunteers from the community-at-large. Thanks go to the two site businesses, Ryan's Big M and Wal-Mart. All of the above contributed to making the record amount raised possible.

Persons and groups who want to volunteer for bell-ringing duties during December 2007 can contact a service club member or contact Dan Perry at (585) 637-5398. Those interested are urged to get on the computerized lists now to be reminded of the effort next holiday season.

Those knowing of someone needing assistance can also contact Perry at the same number to see if the Salvation Army can be of help. Ballengee and Perry described some of the ways that Brockport area folks had benefited this past year from the 2006 monies. Ballengee noted that Salvation Army funds paid for 11 Brockport students to attend summer camp at Long Point on Seneca Lake (cost was $300 per child). The aid can take many other forms including a sorely needed appliance, a child's bed, basics like food and clothing, prescription medicines - and is completely confidential. Ballengee said that those receiving the aid are sincerely appreciative, needy and frequently surprised by the help they receive.