POULSBO — The Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund’s annual fundraising campaign is under way.

Donations to the Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund are used to provide food, emergency shelter and emergency financial assistance to North Kitsap residents in need. Annually, the fundraising goal is about $35,000.

The fund was founded in the 1940s by Frank and Mabel Raab as a vehicle for neighbors to help each other during emergencies. The Poulsbo Noon Lions Club administers the Bellringer Fund for the Raab Foundation.

North Kitsap Fishline and others periodically turn to the Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund for help providing assistance to families facing eviction, emergency assistance paying utility bills, and keeping homes supplied with heating fuel. Last year, the Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund supplied 100 Christmas food baskets to local families.

All told, the Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund and its donors assisted more than 300 families in 2011.

Donations can be dropped off at the Herald, 19351 8th Ave. NE, Suite 205, Poulsbo; and at Union Bank, 19950 7th Ave. NE, Poulsbo. Checks made out to the Bellringer Fund can be mailed to the Herald, P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA. 98370. As donations are received, they will be listed in the Herald through December. Donations may be made anonymously.

The North Kitsap Herald is also collecting toys for Fishline Food Bank. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Herald office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Here are Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund donations received as of Nov. 7:

— $500, from the Harry James Foundation.