Community Chest Annual Appeal Kicks Off

Two members of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest organization met with the selectmen this week to announce the kick off of the annual campaign, and to firm up its intent to fund a youth coordiator for the town.

Director Astrid Williams and board member Wendy McNally said the goal for the chest's annual appeal is $650,000 this year. Last year, the annual fund brought in a little under that at $630,000 but in the recession, Williams said there are more agencies and programs wanting money and more have applied. She said the goal amount was set at $620,000 for several years.

McNally is co-chair of the annual fund. She said the appeal letters are in the mail to Concord area families.

Williams said the Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program or DVVAP, lost some of its funding from the federal government, so it is more dependent on the chest. She said DVVAP will get more than half a million this year. Last year, the chest gave it $550,000.

But this year, Williams said new agencies have applied, "which spreads the money thinner."

The chest has been in operation since 1947. For more information, go to www.cccommunitychest.org.