The final week of nominations for the newspaper’s donation of more than $1,000 for Christmas drew another seven nominations. A common theme among the nominations for individuals and families, all through the weeks, has been people who have remained strong through difficult times.
Flo Rahn of rural Hillsboro nominated a single father of three children. “Raising them as a single parent with a full-time job is challenging,” Rahn wrote.
Henrietta Chestnut of Marquette mailed in a nomination for a woman who has endured abusive marriages, life on the streets of Wichita, and the death of a child and “pulled herself up out of the darkness.” Despite overcoming all of that, she is struggling financially, Chestnut wrote.
Joy Vogel of Marion nominated a single mother of three children. “She works through hardships while still striving to teach her children to put God and others first,” Vogel wrote. Vogel’s nominee volunteers with other children, as well.
Carolyn Gard and Christian Gard of Peabody each nominated the HUB youth center. Christian, now 18, said he has been going to the HUB since he was a young boy. Both said having a safe place to hang out helps keep the children who go to the HUB stay out of trouble.
Ruth Goertzen of rural Hillsboro nominated the Lucinda Goossen Scholarship Fund. Goossen was 22 when she died in a car crash at the intersection of K-15 and 150th Road. Her parents and sorority sisters from Kansas State University started a mission scholarship fund in her name, but the funds have been depleted in the past 11 years, Goertzen wrote.
The organizers of Marion County Circles of Hope nominated Families and Communities Together Inc.’s Family Financial Assistance Fund. Each year, the fund provides assistance with utilities, medical bills, or transportation expenses to between 60 and 70 Marion County families, they wrote. All of the money donated to the Family Financial Assistance Fund goes directly to assist families in need, with no overhead or administrative expenses taken out. “We are all neighbors,” the Circles organizers wrote. “What affects one child or family affects every one of us.”
Henrietta Chestnut was drawn as the winner of a gift certificate for up to $25 at certain retailers. Recipients of the donations will be announced in the special Christmas issue of the newspaper that will be published on Friday.
— ADAM STEWART