Book of Dreams is off to a strong start for 2012

MODESTO -- Donations to The Bee's Book of Dreams charity effort are off to a strong start.

Less than a week into our annual effort to help the neediest in our community, readers have contributed $7,940.

Donations have come from individuals, families and businesses, in amounts ranging from $10 to $1,000. Every one of those donations is greatly appreciated.

Again this year, The Bee has focused its efforts on organizations that help provide the basics to the neediest in our community, particularly children. The participating nonprofit groups help people get food, pay utility bills, or find a place to sleep out of the cold.

Advancing Vibrant Communities is a faith-based group that connects volunteers from local churches with opportunities to serve neighborhoods in need, the poor, the elderly and the disabled. It might install an air conditioner at one home or put a wheelchair ramp in another. A $25 donation would buy paint for anti-graffiti operations. A gift of $50 would pay for safety bars to help prevent falls in a senior citizen's home. And $100 would buy lumber for a ramp.

To read more about the organizations and what they do, or to donate, go to www.modbee.com/dreams. Below you'll find a list of those who have contributed.

UP TO $100

Hunter Sauls

Cameron Sauls

Sherry, Haylee and Stewart Huskey

In honor of Bert W. Bonney

Margaret Hoyle

Chad Johnson and Kelly Gregerson

Scott and Brandi Sauls

Jonathan and Misty Palto

Mike and Karen Biglow

Gerald and Katherine Milhollan

Lorinne McKnight

John Smith

Don and Debby Schneider

Ruth Ann Bonzi

Stan and Martha Van Winkle

Glenn M. Race, Realtor

Patsy Oliver

Teri and Mark Nicoll-Johnson

In loving memory of Diana F. Liu

Tony and Susan Pavlakis

$100-PLUS

Nancy Thomas Goodman

Tony and Heather Trevino

Stanfill Trucking

Agnes Land

Beth Hards

Gordon Goiburn

Dinah R. Evans

Lois Nish

Patricia Ousdahl

Dave Remick

Nelda McDermott

In loving memory of Dewayne Flaumenhaft

In loving memory of Carroll Wine and Janice Wine Oliver

John and Roberta Greenstreet

Lorese G. Vandemark, DDS

$250-PLUS

Pete and Elizabeth Verdegaal

In memory of John Wayne Harp

Brian and Karen O'Bannon

Anonymous

George L. Brichetto

$500-PLUS

Roger and Delsie Schrimp

Curtis and Nancy Grant

Roger Kinzie

Nancy and Gordon Berg

$1,000-PLUSKeith Highiet

Family Health Care Medical Group of Modesto