POULSBO — Two late donations bumped the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund to $28,846.

The final contributions in the 2012-13 campaign:
— Karl and Kelly Hadley,  $1,000.
— The Delaney Family, $100.
— Laurie and Craig Wilkey, $100.
— Fairwind Properties, $100.

This campaign’s total is less than the $33,061 donated in 2011-12, but more than the $25,590 donated in 2010-11. And it will make a difference in a lot of local lives.

Dennis Tesch, treasurer of the Bellringer Fund, was impressed by how North Kitsap residents stepped up to help their neighbors. He noted that as Bellringer was accepting donations, residents also raised approximately $100,000 for Ian’s Fund, to help defray the costs of young Ian Gunnell’s leukemia treatments.

Money raised by the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund will be used to help local residents with medical co-pays, gas vouchers, emergency housing, eviction prevention and utility assistance.

Grants are administered by North Kitsap Fishline, ShareNet and St. Vincent de Paul.

North Kitsap’s Bell-ringer Fund is different than the Bellringer Fund administered by the Kitsap Sun; the Lions/Raab Bellringer Fund serves only North Kitsap. It was founded in the 1940s by Frank and Mabel Raab as a way for neighbors to help each other during emergencies.

The fund helps at least 300 families a year. In addition, the fund supplies Christmas food baskets to 100 local families.

Donations are accepted year-round for the fund — P.O. Box 1244, Poulsbo 98370. Donations are tax-deductible.