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The toys have been delivered and many Suffolk children awoke Sunday morning to find presents under their Christmas trees. And yes, there were a lot of smiling faces as the youngsters unwrapped their gifts.

While the holiday is now a happy memory, the Cheer Fund continues its annual fundraising campaign through the month of January.

Generous donors helped to lift the Cheer Fund past its 2022 goal, meaning everything raised now will be on hand for the 2023 holiday. So far, contributions total $47,425 capping off a year to remember as the goal was surpassed before Christmas day.

The Cheer Fund was started by the newspaper during the Great Depression to provide clothes and food for needy families. It eventually began providing toys for children and teamed up with the Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army.

These days, this program of the newspaper is its own nonprofit, with an independent board, and each year collects roughly $40,000 from individuals, groups and foundations in the community. This money goes directly to the purchase of toys by the Salvation Army.

To donate to the Cheer Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 or bring it to the newspaper office, 157 N. Main St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday 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.