POULSBO — This year’s Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund campaign got off to an early start with a $1,000 donation from Ed and Lori Stern of Poulsbo.

The Sterns made the donation in memory of Dale Rudolph, a former Poulsbo City Council member who died July 6.

Ed Stern is a financial adviser and City Council member.

The fund raised $28,846 last year and $33,061 the year prior. The money makes a difference in a lot of local lives, fund chairman John Macdonald said.

The Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund turns the funds over to North Kitsap Fishline and St. Vincent de Paul, which use the money to provide food, emergency shelter and emergency financial assistance to North Kitsap residents in need. Donations are tax-deductible.

The fund helps at least 300 families a year, Macdonald said.

Because of donations to the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund, “We’re able to stretch what we’re doing for people in crisis — whether it’s paying rent, mortgage, or utilities,” said Rae Rodriguez, Fishline’s client services manager. “It used to be that folks would come in because of an issue, now it’s because of multiple issues. We’ve been in crisis mode for a couple of years, and we’ve probably tripled our client load since then.”

The Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation keeps $5,000 in reserve, to use in the event of a “major catastrophe” during the year, Macdonald said. In addition, some proceeds are used to provide Christmas food baskets for 100 local families.

Donations are accepted year-round for the fund — P.O. Box 1244, Poulsbo 98370. Donations are tax-deductible.

The fund was founded in the 1940s by Frank and Mabel Raab as a way for neighbors to help each other during emergencies; Frank Raab served as mayor of Poulsbo from 1960-69. The Poulsbo Noon Lions Club administers the fund for the Raab Foundation.

Here are this week’s donors.

Week 1
— Ed and Lori Stern: $1,000 in memory of Councilman Dale Rudolph.
— Rand Hillier: $100.

To-date total: $1,100