Bank of Cheer continuing work to help those less fortunate during the holiday season

Pictured: Laura Trala, right, longtime director of the Bank of Cheer program which has now delivered food to needy families for 65 years, speaks to two volunteers froim the Pungoteague Ruritan Club duriing a past delivery day. 

By Bill Sterling

It has become a Christmas tradition for local residents, community organizations, churches and other groups to make a donation to the Bank of Cheer. This program, now in its 66th year, provides a box of food to needy families just prior to Christmas. With donations from the community, organizers of Bank of Cheer purchase food that will be packed and delivered by volunteers, many of whom have helped for a decade or more.

Donors know that 100 percent of their donations go to help the Bank of Cheer recipients. All labor, transportation expenses and the boxes provided by Dublin Farms for many years now are donated.

Laura Trala has coordinated the Bank of Cheer program for 30 years. She says the all-volunteer force that shows up each year makes Bank of Cheer possibe. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of help from the community to pull it off. I’m proud to live on the Eastern Shore, especially at a time such as this, when countless individuals come together to give of their time and resources to help those less fortunate,” said Trala.

The Accomack County Parks of Recreation has been a major supporter for many years, but studens from local high schools, civic clubs, church groups and other individual volunteers all play a huge role in packing and delivering the boxes of food.

Recipients are selected by community leaders, who confer with ministers, organizations and employees of Social Services departments to determine the families who most need help.

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