Will you contribute your COVID relief dollars to folk who really need them?

By Becky & Jack Clark
Town Crier co-publishers

As we noted last week, dollars from the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan Act already are appearing in the accounts of Hill folk, many of whom realize they do not really need their allotments for their own relief during these COVID times.

So, if you fit that description, how about transferring those dollars to the Idyllwild HELP Center (IHC) for the relief of those who really do need them. You’ll obtain a nice tax deduction, too, since the IHC is a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable entity.

Colleen Meyer, the executive director of the HELP Center, told us their clients need that money — not just for food and clothing, but for rent, utilities, fuel, repairs and more, including computers and internet connections required for the continuing education of their children during these rough COVID times.

Now Bruce Ross, the newly elected board president of the Idyllwild HELP Center, and his wife Eileen Gallo-Ross, the owners of the Red Kettle in Idyllwild, are teaming with their restaurant to match dollar-for-dollar the first $14,000 raised by the Town Crier’s campaign for the donations of those $1,400-per-person COVID relief checks, or any partial amount.

Also, folk who donate $500 or more will earn four free Red Kettle breakfasts for IHC clients, and donors of full $1,400 checks will earn eight Red Kettle breakfasts for IHC clients. These breakfasts will be processed by the IHC through its usual procedure of helping qualified recipient clients, and they will be in the names of the check donors, if they wish.

For example, if a couple donates their full $2,800 in relief money, the Rosses will match it with $2,800 from their $14,000 matching fund, so the HELP Center will receive $5,600 to assist its clients. And the Rosses will further provide 16 free Red Kettle breakfasts for IHC clients — in the couple’s name, if they wish.

Of course, you may contribute to the IHC whatever amount you feel you can.

The Rosses’ $14,000 contribution is providing a wonderful jump-start for amassing the first $28,000 of COVID relief money for those who really do need it.

As the thermometer on the front page of today’s paper shows, currently $11,800 has been received for the Idyllwild HELP Center through this campaign. We hope and expect to see that grow for the betterment of our community as a whole.

Our sincere appreciation to Bruce Ross and Eileen Gallo-Ross for their generosity — and to you for your community-spirited participation in this campaign.

Thank you, all!