By Becky & Jack Clark
Co-publishers

By now, most of us have received our Covid-relief dollars from the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan Act and many Hill folk realize they really do not need their allotted money for their own relief during these COVID times.

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 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 really do need that money — not just for food and clothing but for rent, utilities, fuel, repairs and more, including laptops and better internet connections required for the virtual education of their children during these rough COVID times.

In addition, 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 $15,000 raised by this 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 Idyllwild HELP Center clients, and donors of full $1,400 checks will earn eight Red Kettle breakfasts for HELP Center clients. These breakfasts will be processed by the HELP Center through its usual procedure of helping qualified recipient clients. These breakfasts 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 $15,000 (previously $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 the HELP Center’s clients — in the couple’s name, if they wish.

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

The Rosses’ $15,000 contribution has provided a wonderful jumpstart toward amassing the first now $30,000 of COVID relief money for those who really do need it. As the thermometer on the front page of today’s paper shows, currently $33,125 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, thank you, all!