Today the Cheer Fund is solely supported by donations from the public. Donations are recognized and running totals posted in the local newspaper, The Republic. The Cheer Fund is part of the Christmas Assistance program overseen by First Call for Help, which monitors several charitable organizations in Bartholomew County, screening applicants to make sure they meet eligibility requirements. This helps reduce errors and duplication between agencies.

Volunteer opportunities to sort toys, pack gift boxes, and shop for clothes plus deliver gift and food boxes are always needed during the holiday season.  Click here to sign up to help. 

In 2007 the Cheer Fund assisted approximately 1560 children compared to 1458 in 2006.  Each child received a cheer box with one new outfit of clothes and three new toys plus three gently used toys from the annual community toy collection. Hundreds of new and refurbished bicycles were also distributed.

The Cheer Fund distributed 500 food baskets, to the needy, elderly and handicapped residents of Bartholomew County in 2007.  Each food basket contains enough food for a nourishing holiday meal.

The Cheer Fund also provided 207 working smoke detectors to county and city residents during 2007.

The faces on the Cheer Fund change as firemen retire and children receiving toys grow up, but the Cheer Fund keeps as its purpose the thoughts of the firemen “Founding” the charity in the 1930’s:

REMEMBERING THE NEEDY AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS