The latest appeal for donations to keep the Northfield Labor Day weekend celebration alive seems to be working.

Margarite Moore, president of the observance committee said that "several monetary commitment letters have been received from community members, as well as one very generous anonymous donation, putting the organization halfway to their goal of $40,000."

She went on to state that "even though there is still almost $20,000 to raise, the Northfield Observances Board and Committee Chairs voted on Monday night to begin planning the 2009 event."

She said that the committee is hopeful that commitments and donations will continue to come in, and that the goal of $40,000 in new contributions will be met by June 1, 2009.

The budget for the event last year was about $23,000 according to financial statements issued by the committee but Mrs. Moore believes that it is critical that they raise $40,000 in order to have sufficient money to guarantee that they will be able to continue to put on the event in coming years.

Richard Cleveland, who was for several years event president, said that historically, the committee did have a fund of money to support coming years but the fund has been dissipated over the last several years as expenses rose but income did not keep up with those expenditures.

The committee in February sent out a call for funds and at the time Charlene McCarney stated that they only had about $1,800 in the bank.

This has left the committee with no assurance that they will have sufficient money to keep going and that led to the current crisis said Mrs. McCarney at the committee meeting back February.

Since that time, local groups and the anonymous donor made up most of the needs for the present year.

To facilitate the donation process and to be able to assure that the committee will become more solvent, Mrs. Moore said that the committee voted in March to place donation jars at local businesses.

Additionally, this week and last, an ad has run in the News with a detachable form that contributors can use to easily make a financial donation, offer their services, or to volunteer.

That form is also available as a download on the event website: www.northfieldlaborday.org If the ultimate goal of $40,000 is not met by the new deadline, there is no guarantee that the event will go on in 2010, but for the time being, 2009 plans are underway, Mrs. Moore said.

She also said that efforts to defer costs continue as well.

They are also, as always, looking for volunteers.

For additional information on the Northfield Labor Day fundraising efforts or to volunteer, email info@northfieldlaborday. org or call 485-9206.

Nominations for Grand Marshall can be sent to parade@northfieldlaborday.org or PO Box 81, Northfield Falls, VT 05664, which is also the address for donations.

Northfield Observances, Inc is a non-profit 501(c)(4) entity, established in 1977, and is made up entirely of volunteers, who give of their time and energy to plan and organize the free, three-day Labor Day celebration and parade Mrs. Moore said.