POULSBO — Two familiar faces visited the North Kitsap Herald this week to spread some holiday cheer.

And helped bump the 53rd annual Bellringer Fund holiday drive past the $12,000 mark on the way to its $30,000 goal.

The Poulsbo Professional Firefighters Local 2819 brought in a check for $1,120 and the Teddy Bear Coalition visited with a $1,000 donation, as well as a bunch of bears for Fishline’s Christmas Toy Shop. They were among the donors this week who are helping ensure the Raab Foundation entity, administered by the Poulsbo Noon Lions, can continue to assist North Kitsap residents.

And the need is certainly there, said Lion John Macdonald. Last week alone, the fund received calls from 19 individuals for one-time needs like emergency transportation, rent and mortgage subsidies and help with utility payments.

“The need for assistance has not decreased,” Macdonald said. “We still have a strong need for help in the community.”

Tax deductible donations can be made to the Bellringer Fund at Kitsap Bank in Poulsbo, 19725 7th Avenue or the North Kitsap Herald, 18887 State Highway 305, Suite 700.

Donations can also be mailed to the Bellringer Fund, P.O. Box 1244, Poulsbo, WA 98370 or to the North Kitsap Herald, P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA 98370.

Contributions of $250 or more receive a receipt for the donor’s records.

Families, individuals and organizations will be listed on the front page of the Herald every issue as donations are tallied.

Community members can also help the Bellringer fund by getting their vehicles washed at Mike’s Car Wash in Poulsbo Village. Now through Dec. 31, owner Mike Brooks will be donating a portion of all automatic car wash sales to the fund. Last year, a similar fund-raiser made $1,375 for Bellringer. For more information, call (360) 697-1144.

Bellringer donations through Dec. 13:

• Richard and Barbara Mitchusson $100 In memory of my sister Alta Walker

• Alice and Gervaise Brown $100 In loving memory of Jerry Brown

• Marybeth and Keith Johnson $50 In memory of Margaret Gibson and Richard Keene

• For Bellringer $200 Warren G. Harding Lodge #260 F&A.M.

• Anonymous $250

• Chris and Win Case $20

• $50 In memory of George and Kathi Wilson

• $50 Pricilla Chapter OES social club

• Poulsbo Professional Firefighters Local 2819 $1,120

• The Petersens $100

• Ken and Kaye Winslow and family $100

• Lois and Al Wilner $100

• $1,000 Merry Christmas from the Teddy Bear Coalition

• Anonymous $50

• Staff of the North Kitsap Herald $100 In appreciation of all our readers

Today’s total $3,390

Running total $12,661