Representatives of the three agencies that benefitted from the 2022 Santa Fund, a partnership of The Telegraph and the United Way of Greater Nashua, were presented this week with the symbolic check at the Telegraph offices. From left are Amy Groff, representing the Salvation Army of Nashua; Nancy Paige, holiday coordinator at the Front Door Agency; Christine Jansen, from SHARE Outreach, based in Milford; Dean Shalhoup, Telegraph Senior Staff Writer; and Mike Apfelberg, president of the United Way of Greater Nashua.

NASHUA – As has been the case since the Santa Fund made its debut more than 60 years ago under the administration of the late Publisher Charles Weaver, hundreds of local children and their families were able to enjoy this past Christmas thanks to the efforts of the many volunteers and donors who rise to the occasion each year to help make the holiday season brighter for the less fortunate.

Recently, The Telegraph partnered with the United Way of Greater Nashua for the annual drive, which shows up on the radar each year as early as July, but gets underway in earnest in November.

In wrapping up the 2022 Santa Fund recently, United Way of Greater Nashua president Mike Apfelberg said some $16,400 had been raised for programs administered by three local agencies: the Salvation Army of Nashua, the Front Door Agency in Nashua, and Milford-based SHARE Outreach.

The Santa Fund was founded, and continues each holiday season, because “people should never have to choose between paying bills and eating or purchasing Christmas gifts for their children,” a former Telegraph publisher said during a recent Santa Fund drive.

“Thankfully, because of the Santa Fund, they don’t have to make that difficult decision.”