Shown are recipients of funds collected during the Community Christmas Drive (front row) Doug Klinsing, Community Unity; Sharon Fellers, Castine Area Food Bank; Lisa Gasper, Ansonia Community Food Bank; Elizabeth Bolin, Salvation Army; Mike Boyer, Treasurer Community Christmas Drive and St. John Lutheran Church; (back row) Jim Morehouse, East Main Church of Christ and Community Christmas Drive; Mel Musser, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pitsburg and Community Christmas Drive; Chris Raffle, St. Mary’s Church and Community Christmas Drive; Curt Garrison, Grace Resurrection Community Center; Sharon Troutwine, Arcanum Faith United Methodist Church Food Pantry; and Frank Marchal, Community Christmas Drive.

Ryan Berry | Daily Advocate

GREENVILLE — The 2023 Darke County Community Christmas Drive was a great success with $35,855 being collected to help those in need in the county. This was one of the largest totals in the drive’s history. There was $27,369.08 collected at the various “bucket” locations while $5,850 was given in business donations and $2,635.92 was received in private donations. The Christmas Drive Committee is sincerely grateful to all of those who volunteered their time to collect donations, all the area businesses that allowed funds to be donated and the great many people who gave so generously. The steering committee is also grateful to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for providing the space and meals for their meetings.

Donations were made at 14 different locations, some of which are manned by bell ringers. In Greenville, volunteers were “bell ringing” at Eikenberry’s IGA, Kroger, Montage Cafe and both entrances of the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Contributions were also made at The Coffee Pot, Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln, SVG Chevrolet, ACE Hardware, GNB Banking Center in Ansonia and the main office of Greenville Federal Bank. Donations were also made at Casey’s in Ansonia, the Dollar General in Arcanum and the New Madison Mini Mart. Still others made contributions at the main branch of GNB Banking Centers. The work of the bank employees in counting all the proceeds is greatly appreciated.

The Christmas Drive helps support the good work of the Salvation Army, Grace Resurrection Community Center, Community Unity, Ansonia Community Food Pantry, Arcanum Food Bank at the Faith United Methodist Church and the Castine Area Food Bank.

Any questions about the drive can be directed to Co-Chairmen Frank Marchal at 937-569-1439, Reverend Mel Musser at 937-626-7100 or Reverend Jim Morehouse at 937-547-1557.