Last Christmas morning, Robert Prentiss beamed with pride as his five children excitedly opened presents piled under the tree.

The jubilant holiday scene wouldn’t have been possible without the Needy Family Fund, said the Milton man who, along with wife, Ann, struggles to make ends meet with the one paycheck she receives and disability payments he collects.

Without the donations made last year to the annual holiday fund, Prentiss said he would not have been able to afford to buy presents for his children, who range between ages 10 and 19.

“It meant everything to us,” he said of the fundraiser. “It made it look like there was a lot under the tree. Nothing expensive, mostly it was clothes, but the kids loved getting new outfits.”

The holidays were brightened by the fund, and Prentiss cherished the glee he saw on his children’s faces.

“When they’re smiling, I’m smiling,” he said.

The Needy Family Fund has been helping Valley residents like the Prentiss family since 1987.

Co-sponsored by The Daily Item, Sunbury Broadcasting Corp. and Susquehanna Bank, and administered by Salvation Army chapters in Sunbury and Milton, the holiday fund drive has raised $1.54 million over the past 21 years.

The goal of the 2007 drive was $75,000, and individuals, organizations and businesses exceeded it by donating $119,000 for less-fortunate families.

This year’s goal remains $75,000, and during a time when the country is reeling from a poor economy, and several Valley businesses — such as Crest Homes in Milton and Fleetwood Enterprises in Paxinos — closed and laid off employees, contributions are more important than ever.

“Just counting the job losses that have made headlines in recent weeks, we know that more than a thousand Valley families may find themselves in uncertain financial straits this holiday season,” said Gary D. Grossman, publisher of The Daily Item. “A donation to the Needy Family Fund this year is even more likely to help a hard-working family through a tough time than in some years past.”

Maj. Raymond Bartholomew, of the Milton chapter of the Salvation Army, anticipates more than 300 families, including about 1,000 children, will sign up for a food basket, home assistance or donations of clothes and toys this season.

“We are already experiencing more requests for heat and utility help compared to this same time last year,” he said. “There are families that are trying to decide between eating and heating this winter.”

Hundreds of families have begun applying for assistance during the upcoming holidays at the Sunbury chapter of the Salvation Army, Maj. Sharon Cupp said.

“As we review the applications, we are seeing an increase of people due to the economy,” Cupp said. “I believe that before we finish, we will be seeing more people in need of our help.”