Christmas Cheer Fund application deadline approaching; grant challenge issued

MASON CITY — The deadline for people to apply for the Christmas Cheer Fund is coming up. The program is back after a year off to help those who are struggling financially during the holiday season.

Board member Cori Frein says the deadline is next week.  “We are accepting applications until December 6th, and that’s just to allow time for the gift cards to go out and for folks to shop and do what they need to do before Christmas.”

Frein says anyone needing some help to bring joy to their family is welcome to apply.   “It’s anybody in north Iowa that could use some cheer and some financial assistance. We encourage them to find the application online, submit it, and we have a verification process that we go through just to make sure there’s no duplicates, things like that. Then we send out Target gift cards for meals, holiday presents, things like that.”

To apply, head online to the Christmas Cheer Fund’s website  or Facebook page 

== In a related note, the Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation has provided a $25,000 challenge grant to the Cheer Fund. The $25,000 is being given to challenge others to donate so the fund can reach its $100,000 goal.

The Kinney Lindstrom Foundation is named in honor of Dr. W. D. Kinney and his wife Ida Lindstrom. The Iowa natives also contributed to many local causes during their lifetimes.

You can mail in donations to PO Box 28 in Mason City with a zip code of 50402. You can also head to the Cheer Fund website to find other ways to make a donation.