SUNBURY – With three children and nine grandchildren in the area, Janet and Wayne Sampsell certainly feel blessed with all of the family that surrounds them.

However, the Sunbury couple have fallen on hard times in recent years as they support themselves on Mrs. Sampsell’s paycheck, earned at a local gas station.

That supplements Mr. Sampsell’s disability checks.

“He has two or three crushed discs in his neck, and if he gets an operation, it could leave him paralyzed, so he just kind of deals with it,” Mrs. Sampsell said.

The Sampsells have been helped by the Salvation Army’s Needy Family Fund in the past.

“We went there last year and they gave us food and gave my husband a sweat shirt and me a sweat shirt,” Mrs. Samsell said. “And when our kids were little, we went there and they were very generous, and they helped quite a bit.”

This year, the couple is just looking for some food to put on the table for Christmas.

“It’s hard, but the (Needy Family Fund) program is very wonderful and helps families who don’t have a lot of income to give them at least a nice Christmas,” she said.

The Needy Family Fund balance has reached $79,654. In addition, the Degernstein Foundation is providing a $25,000 grant.

Recent donors include: Robert and Kristin Haile, Lewisburg, $250; William and Frances Rumberger, Sunbury, $100; “in memory of Ann Haas” by Haas Family, $100; “in memory of Grace and Anna” by Rosemarie C. Astick, Middleburg, $20; Robert and Erma Vanhorn, New Berlin, $30; Charles Benoit, M.D., Lewisburg, $500; Theodore and Grace Frits, Shamokin Dam, $50; Orpha Nipple, Mount Pleasant Mills, $25; Chester and Miriam Troutman, Selinsgrove, $50;

William and Karen Marosi, Mifflinburg, $50; Pauline Sauers, Selinsgrove, $25; Paul and Sharon Try, Beaver Springs, $20; David and Lisa Hartman, Turbotville, $100; The 2 B’s, Lewisburg, $25, and anonymous donations totaling $195.