Last year’s push by the Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund netted enough money to make Christmas morning joyful for about 5,000 children in the city.

“We expect that there will be at least 5,000 again this year,” Cheer Fund board member Frank Rawls said on Tuesday.

The goal for this year is $35,000, which is lower than in past years.

“We lowered it slightly to reflect the continued difficult economic times that hopefully we’re recovering from,” Rawls said.

The Cheer Fund collects money each year, and the money is used to purchase toys for Toys for Tots. Volunteers serve on the board, and the Suffolk News-Herald handles publicity and bookkeeping, so there are no overhead costs.

Rawls encouraged people to pick up their checkbooks and write a check to the Cheer Fund because “it’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

“It’s a blessing to be able to give to those who need it,” he said. “Even if we don’t have a whole lot according to American standards, we still live like kings and queens compared to many people.”

Rawls turned to the Bible for inspiration.

“Paul, in commending or encouraging the Corinthians to give, reminded the folks that Christ, though He was unimaginably rich, became poor for our sake so that we could be made rich through the grace of God,” Rawls said.

“This example of His giving from His fullness to fill us in our emptiness is the example Paul gave to the churches as to why we should give and how we should give. When we give, we reflect the graciousness of God.”

To donate to the Cheer Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 or bring it to our office, 130 S. Saratoga St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We will list your donation in the newspaper, but it can be marked “anonymous” if you like. Donations may be made in honor of or in memory of someone. If you bring the check to our office, we’ll even take your picture as you hand it to one of our staff.

For more information on the Cheer Fund, call 934-9616.