Our Mission @ Lancaster-Fairfield County Charity Newsies
Every year on the 2nd Saturday in December beginning in 1936, members of this exclusively local charity are stationed in front of certain restaurants and store fronts and along major thoroughfares throughout Fairfield County ‘hawking’ its newspapers to raise money for less fortunate families, especially families with children. In 2022 more than 100 members helped raise more than $32,000 toward the purchase of two weeks’ worth of groceries and other sundry items, delivered by Newsies members to more than 500 Fairfield County families just before Christmas.
The local Charity Newsies was founded in 1936 by R. Kenneth Kerr, then publisher of the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. The Charity Newsies continued in partnership with the Eagle-Gazette for more than 85 years for publication of our newspaper; in 2022 the Fairfield Towne Crier joined the venture as publisher of our newspaper. Charity Newsies continue to purchase and receive the majority of our annual food box items from numerous local companies.
ABOUT CHARITY NEWSIES
The 2nd Saturday in December - for nearly nine decades now - hundreds of local volunteers have walked the length and breadth of Fairfield County selling our ‘Special Edition’ Lancaster Eagle Gazette - a tradition since the Great Depression, and one that has benefited thousands of our Fairfield County neighbors.
It all began Dec. 11, 1936, when a group of local businessmen, led by R. Kenneth Kerr of the Eagle Gazette, met at the Sherman Armory at the corner of Broad and Wheeling streets in Lancaster.
Annually in late July/early August, in preparation for the new school year Charity Newsies provide ‘back-to-school’ clothes and ‘teacher-recommended, grade specific’ school supplies for hundreds of area children. Throughout the school year we also stock emergency clothing and other necessities into school clinics.
On the Saturday before Christmas the Charity Newsies gather in fellowship, to pack and deliver 500+ food boxes to families throughout Fairfield County.
And the rest of the year we assist families who have fallen on hard times, as the result of a house fire, flood or other personal disaster.
Sponsor Spotlight
Lancaster-Fairfield County Charity Newsies is proud to partner with Fairfield Towne Crier.
How to support Lancaster-Fairfield County Charity Newsies
DONATIONS Lancaster-Fairfield County Charity Newsies PO BOX 1443 Lancaster, Ohio 43130
