In October, the Greensville Emporia Department of Social Services and the Independent-Messenger came together to plan the 2021 Christmas Happiness Fundraiser to bring Christmas cheer to about 300 Emporia-Greensville children who otherwise would not have a gift to open on Christmas Day.

Thanks to generous donations from citizens, businesses and civic organizations, Christmas Happiness 2021 was a resounding success. Volunteers went to Emporia stores to buy toys for the young people. The toys were taken to Golden Leaf Commons, sorted and distributed to parents and guardians of the recipients of the Christmas gifts.

The Christmas Happiness Fund was founded in 1976 by former freelance courier editor Keith Mitchell and Greensville Emporia social services manager Judy English. The tradition founded by Mitchell and English is now in its sixth decade. Every penny donated to the Christmas Happiness Fund is used to provide Christmas gifts to children in need in Emporia-Greensville.

The Independent-Messenger and the Department of Social Services are grateful to those who donate to bring Christmas joy to the children of the Emporia-Greensville community who otherwise might not have had a gift to open the Christmas day.

Here are the latest donations to the 2021 Christmas Happiness Fund:

$ 100 from Megha Properties LLC;

$ 101 anonymous;

Greensville County School Board Office staff $ 331;

$ 200 from John Prince, Jr. in memory of Dr. John Prince;

$ 75 from Linda M Tipton in memory of beloved neighbors Otis and Louise Webb, Pete and Martha Proctor, James and Joan Rainey;

Correction: n $ 100 from Bryants, Edward, Kay, Frankie, Tonya, Nikolas and Natalie in memory of our beloved, Kandy Nicole Poarch, who was taken too soon.