Bank of Cheer completes 66th successful year

Pictured: The Northampton  Middle and High School Honor Society students helped to deliver Bank of Cheer boxes filled with food to needy families on the Eastern Shore. The advisors were Rebecca Lusk and Karen Wells. 

By Bill Sterling

The 66th Bank of Cheer went smoothly last week as 115 deliveries of food to needy families were completed by a group of volunteers that included employees of the Accomack Parks and Recreation Department, students and retired teachers from Northampton High school, a group from the Pungoteague Ruritan Club, members of the Eastern Shore Christian Businessmen’s Association and other volunteers.

Laura Trala, who has coordinated the deliveries for over 30 years, provided detailed instructions and directions to the volunteers after spending countless hours ordering the food, shopping for hams and turkeys and working with local organizations and other area leaders to establish a list of families in need of help at Christmas.

The day prior to the delivery, volunteers packed assorted canned vegetables, meats, soup, fruit and staples such as sugar, flour, rice and cornmeal at the Moose Lodge in Belle Haven. Boxes were provided once again by Dublin Farms of Horntown.

“I am constantly amazed at the generosity of Eastern Shore of Virginia residents when confronted with the needs of their less-fortunate neighbors,” said Trala. “I also appreciate the group of volunteers, many of whom come back year after year.”

It has become a Christmas tradition for local residents, community organizations, churches and other groups to make a donation to the Bank of Cheer. Donors know that 100 percent of their donations go to help the Bank of Cheer recipients. All labor, transportation expenses and the boxes are donated.

Monetary donations are still needed and can be mailed to: Bank of Cheer, c/o Laura Trala, P.O. Box 646, Onley, Va. 23418.