POULSBO — Donations to the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund total $6,626 as of Thursday.

Last year, $33,061 in donations provided 102 Christmas dinners for local families and helped more than 300 local people in crisis.

Donations can be delivered to the Herald, 19351 8th Ave. NE, Suite 205, Poulsbo; or mailed to P.O. Box 1244, Poulsbo 98370.

The fund is a proud local tradition that dates back to 1946, when Frank and Mabel Raab founded the fund as a way for local residents to help meet the needs of their neighbors. The fund is part of the Raab Foundation, but is administered by the Poulsbo Lions Club.

Bellringer Fund chairman John Macdonald, a Poulsbo CPA, said there is no overhead. Every penny goes to local needs. Contributions are tax-deductible.

The Bellringer Fund will use about $5,000 to provide those Christmas food baskets. The remainder of the funds will be distributed to North Kitsap Fishline, Kingston ShareNet and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Those organizations will use the money to help people stay in their homes, keep the lights and heat on, and meet other needs.

Week 3
— James Shoettler, $100.
— Anonymous, $1,000.
— $100, in memory of Vi & Bill Longnecker.
— $100, in memory of Irene Hagen.
— Anonymous, $100, for Mary Powers, Sharon Dexter and Marie Ramman.
— D Rand Hillier, $100.
— $226, Happy Holidays from the Scandia Pickled Herring Fest.
— $100, in honor of our mothers, Margie Schmuck & Helen Henderson.
— $100, to celebrate the Christmas Girls
— Sandy, Roseann, Kathy & Patti.
— Marion G. Hansen, $100, in memory of loved ones.
— Manny Correia, $100.
— Little Norway Grandmothers Club No. 79, $25.
— Jill and Don Day, $50, in honor of Anne Thomas.
— George B. Cox, $100.
— Bill and Brenda Houser, $100.
— Earl and Nancy Hooper, $50, in memory of Dean Hooper.
— Irving Spellman, $50.
— Adrienne and James Huffine, $100.
— Herb and Judy Jewell, $250.
— Sheila Lowthian, $500.
— Ed and Sandy Habecker, $200.
— Jay and Sandi Dahlquist, $750, in memory of Bernie and Dorothy and their buddies Buster and Thor.
— Dale and Beverly Anderson, $100.
— Lester Schmuck, $100.
— Amber Karr and Robert Fisse, $200, in memory of our wonderful brother, Joe Karr.

Week’s total: $4,701

To-date total: $6,626