Customers at

Chubbie’s Cheesesteaks can help the city’s children – and maybe get free eats at the same time.

The restaurant at 1208 N. Main St. is sponsoring its second annual fundraiser for the Suffolk Cheer Fund, which raises money for Toys for Tots.

All donations to the Fund, sponsored by the Suffolk News-Herald, will be used to provide toys for more than 1,600 underprivileged children in Suffolk this holiday season. For nearly four decades, the South Hampton Roads Association of Financial Advisors has sponsored Toys for Tots in this city.

Over the next two weeks, Chubbie’s customers can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win three of the restaurant’s gift certificates for $50, $25 and $15. Tickets are $2 each, with a winner being drawn on Dec. 19. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Cheer Fund.

&uot;We’re hoping to hit $450 this year,&uot; said Chubbie’s owner George Eure. That’s almost double the $250 contribution made by the eatery last year.

The restaurant’s employees enjoy raising money through the raffle, said co-owner Chuck Boyce.

&uot;Doing it this way is interesting,&uot; he said. &uot;It ties us to the public and it lets us give to the Cheer Fund and give something back to the customers at the same time.&uot;

News-Herald publisher Andy Prutsok praised Eure and Chubbie’s for the support.

&uot;The Cheer Fund campaign encompasses the entire community,&uot; Prutsok said. &uot;Promotions such as the one Mr. Eure is undertaking generate publicity and excitement for the Cheer Fund and help tap sources of funding that we would otherwise miss.&uot;

Many Suffolk businesses, residents and civic groups have given back to the community through their donations to the Cheer Fund, said Frank Rawls, chairman of the Fund board. So far, the Fund has received contributions of $7,405, nearly 25 percent of this year’s $40,000 goal.

Contributions made this week include:

-Tri-City Developers LLC, $100

-Womble Generator Service Inc., $100

-Birdsong Peanuts, $1,000

-Frank, Sally, Matt, Stephen and Michael$750, in memory of J. Lewis Rawls Jr. and Lawrence E. Blanchard Jr.

-Joy Dee Luther, $30

-Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Williams, $100

-O’Conner & Co. Peanuts, $100

-Golden Peanut Co., $75

-Suffolk First Bank, $100

Meanwhile, over the next few weeks, volunteers are collecting donated toys from area businesses, public and private schools, daycare centers and churches, said John M. Woleban, chairman of the Suffolk Toys for Tots campaign.

All of those toys – along with those purchased through funds generated by the Cheer Fund – will be used to benefit children in Suffolk. The program has already received some contributions of unopened toys from groups or individuals, Woleban said.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution can send it to the Suffolk Cheer Fund, C/O The Suffolk News-Herald, 130 S. Saratoga St., Suffolk, Va. 23434.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com