Record number of families in need as Item Santa Fund kicks off 45th fundraising drive

LYNN – It?s become perhaps cliché to say the need this year in providing for those less fortunate over the holidays is bigger than ever, but the statistics in Lynn certainly back that up.?We?ve never had as many families come in,” said Lynn Salvation Army Capt. Marika Payton Wednesday afternoon, on the last day to apply for assistance from the Item Salvation Army Santa Fund. “(Item Santa) typically serves between 950 and 1,000 families. Right now we have 1,260 signed up,” she said, with another approximately 80 waiting in line to apply. “We?ll be close to 1,400 families, some with one or two children but some with three, four or five.”Toys are provided for each child and vouchers – this year to Stop & Shop – are also issued per child to each family. Captain Payton, who along with her husband Capt. David Payton, runs the Lynn Salvation Army at 1 Franklin St., admitted to being a bit concerned this year that funding could dry up before all of the children are provided for.Though the Item has received several hundred dollars in early contributions, today is the first official day of fund-raising for the 45th Item Salvation Army Santa Drive. Last year, $111,034.56 was raised; the 15th consecutive year the drive surpassed $100,000.Item Santa had its biggest fundraising year in 2002, with donations of $144,880, topping 2001?s total by just $10.?The extremely slow economy has been tough on everyone in Greater Lynn. With the need being so great this year, we look forward to everyone who has the means to contributing whatever they can,” said Daily Item President and Publisher Peter H. Gamage. “People have consistently shown great generosity to the Item Santa Fund.”The drive has been bolstered in recent years by major donations from the General Electric Employees? Good Neighbor Fund, Eastern Bank employees, Connell Limited Partnership and several anonymous contributors.Most of the money raised, however, is from the thousands who donate small amounts in memory of a loved one, in lieu of trading gifts with friends or family members and from those who roll down their window to make a donation at Santa Island in Wyoma Square, founded 16 years ago by David Solimine Sr. The many collection teams at Santa Island are led by the annual top-fundraising Lynn DPW Team.Proceeds from Santa Island raise about 20 percent of the Item Santa Fund?s annual total.?The need has spiked the past few years and that means all of us need to try a bit harder,” said David Solimine Sr. Santa Island, which runs the length of the traffic islands on Broadway and Wyoma Square, will be manned again this year with teams from around the city, from the public and private sector.Solimine noted there are several new collection groups signed up this year, including the Lynn Teachers Union, and students from each of Lynn?s high schools have also logged many hours of collecting in past years. The Daily Item?s collection team will work the Island on Dec. 7.?We?re scheduling people to collect during daylight hours. We really don?t want anyone out there after 4 p.m. because after dark it?s too dangerous.”In addition to Santa Island, Solimine is expanding the program he launched last year with the help of local businesses, selling paper stockings for people to purchase, $1 for a red stocking or $5 or higher for a green, which are posted on the walls of the participating businesses throughout December.?We?ve had some restaurants, bars and social clubs participate, but we?ll welcome any type of business. We?ll provide the stockings and a poster,” Solimine said, noting all of the money raised by the businesses is lumped in with Santa Island?s contribution to the Santa Fund.It?s no coincidence that the first year Santa Island was established is the first year the Santa Fund topped $100,000.Solimine said the work each year is personally rewarding.?My family has been blessed with health and, though like most we?ve had some lean years, we?ve never been hungry. But we realize so many people