For the first time in five years, donations to the Good Neighbors Fund drive have failed to surpass the amount given the previous year -- coming up short by just a few thousand dollars. As of Monday, the total stood at $163,666. On the same date in 2006, $167,013 had been raised..

By early January this year, donations had raised the total to $177,189, passing the campaign goal of $175,000, but still under last year's $180,740.

Although the fund drive is officially over, Roanoke Area Ministries -- the program that benefits from The Roanoke Times' annual fundraiser -- will continue to accept donations until the end of March. Debbie Denison, the charity's executive director, believes this year's total will eventually meet or surpass last year's.

"There's still a lot of money coming in January," she said. "You've got to have faith. We couldn't do what we do without faith."

This year, Denison said, she noticed an increase in new donors and in donations made in honor or in memory of someone. Many donors who give every year are like old friends.

"We recognize the names," she said.

The money raised supports RAM's Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which provides help with prescriptions, utility bills and housing costs for those in danger of becoming homeless because of unforeseen setbacks. None of the money is spent on administrative costs.

As part of the fundraising effort, the newspaper runs stories profiling individuals and families who have been helped by RAM. For some of those people, life has gotten better.

Tim Alley, who was homeless while recovering from injuries suffered after a fall, was contacted by an uncle who offered him a place to live, said Jo-Anne Woody, RAM's administrative assistant. Della Harris struggles to raise her three grandchildren on her own and was in financial trouble after getting behind with her water bill. Donations to the Good Neighbors Fund can't be earmarked for individuals, a Roanoke College student gave $300 directly to Harris after reading her story. Harris said she spent most of the money on kerosene for her space heater.

Two church groups offered to help Audrey Napier, who has vision problems and can't work because of a medical condition. Mark Hannabass is awaiting surgery to relieve pain caused by a diseased bone in his ankle, and is dealing with the recent death of his mother. He was reunited with some boyhood friends, Woody said.

Rahim Davis, who suffers from a painful, disfiguring scalp condition, had to quit his job when his disability claim was approved in December. He is now getting Medicaid and will have the medical treatment he couldn't afford when he was working, Woody said.

Whether or not this year's total tops last year's, Denison is delighted with the results.

"People won't have to go from place to place to get help," she said.

Donors through Jan. 4 include:

Anonymous donors in honor of their grandchildren

Rebecca A. Stinnett in memory of Lewis and Mary Catherine Stinnett

Brenda W. Craig in honor of Sandra and Ronald Britt and their family

Waldemar and Kathryn Oelschlager in memory of Elsbeth Schaar and Joel Krisch

Mary T. Bivens in memory of Sally Laughon

Friendship Class-First Church of the Brethren in honor of Sunday school teachers

Disciples Crusaders Class Belmont Christian Church in honor of teacher Robert Chocklett

Georgia C. Reeves in memory of her friend Murrell T. Long

Mrs. L. Franklin Moore in honor of family and friends

Bob and Nancy Wingfield in memory of their parents and Helen Terry

Jack and Jean Lawhorn in memory of Charles Nininger, Charles Beahm and Hood McAllister

Jack, Jean, Mark, Jenny, and Beth Lawhorn in memory of former Roanoke resident and dear friend Bob "Sonny" Cline

Rex and Georgia Compton

Frances Hale in memory of parents Robert and Mae Vest

Bobbie Cornelison in memory of Bobby Heptinstall, Margaret Cornelison and Alfred and Viola Overstreet

Roger and Cindy Herald in honor of the staff of Bonsack Baptist Church

Roger and Sheila Harrison in memory of Margaret Monroe and Gary Harrison

Bill, Teresa, Amber, Alex and Andy Richards in honor of James and Mary Guilliams

Jane Engleby Haynie in memory of her first cousin and friend, Nancy Engleby Rankin Tyler

Koiner and "Ab" Ellett in memory of Lu Patterson

Robert and Sharon Mason

Todd, Sarah, Grant and Emma Baumgardner in honor of C. John and Jane Renick

The Spetzler Fund of the Foundation for Roanoke Valley

Carilion Family Medicine, Parkway Physicians, Vinton Office, in honor of Henry R. Ivey M.D.; Randall R. Rhea M.D.; E. Mark Watts M.D., Elizabeth B. Carmichael M.D.; Timothy M. Beirne M.D.; M. Colette Carver, FNP; Richard G. Miller D.O.; Elizabeth S. Gilmore, Ph.D.

Betty H. Poff

Jerry and Rosemary Davis in memory of Pop Jones and Cathy Whorley

Jean and Richard Wertz

Anonymous donors in honor of director of RAM, Debbie Denison

In memory of Walter Campbell from his four best girls, Debbie, Katlin, Jo-Anne and Karen

Tim and Jo-Anne in memory of RAM House deceased shelter managers: Ronnie Carter, Homer Stacy and Tom Hairston

Bev and Shirley Fitzpatrick in memory of Deborah Hatcher Dorsey

Georgia Coffman in memory of Mickey Coffman

Bettie and Glenn Powell in memory of Freddie Vest, a true good neighbor

Cliff and Beulah Thompson

Lindsey P. Sink in memory of Sherrie B. Sink

Emily Paine Carter in memory of excellent friends and honor of her wonderful Broad Street neighbors

Erik Paine Brady, Emily Paine Carter and Caroline Brady Velasquez in memory of Dr. Andrew and Anne Parson, Babs Paine, Robert and Edith "Bunny #1" Paine Sr. and in honor of Dr. Bob "Granddoc" and Alice "G.G." Paine

Terry and Judy Williams in memory of Basil Williams

Robert and Brenda Bower in memory of Ashley Bowe, "Taul" Stephens, Mary Walts, Jerry Altizer, Don Saville and in honor of family and friends- LARC group

J. Anne Edenfield in memory of Jane Glenn, Dan Sprouse, Gene Derryberry and Bruce Welch

The Park-Oak Grove Sunday School

Jean N. Hale in memory of Betty Grant Haynes

Beverly M. Hale in memory of Doris B. and Clifton Mitchell, Bryan and Quentin Jones

June N. Paxton in memory of Robert M. Paxton

Fourth Sunday Duplicate Bridge Club in memory of Nancy Rankin Tyler

Dan and Meredith Entingh in memory of Paul Myers

Janice and Larry Davidson

Ms. Helen W. Gibson in memory of Robert A. Gibson

Cora L. Cahoon in memory of her husband, Owen Cahoon

Cindy Webster in honor of Lynne Price, Debbie Carroll, Diane Rose

Brenda Horne in honor of her father, Claude Hancock; step-mother, Gladys Hancock; and her husband, Robbie Horne

Rector and Uldine A. Engleman in memory of their parents

Thomas C. and Randall Ward in memory of Thomas M. Ward

Kurt and Maureen Guelzow

Roy and Dorothy Breeden in memory of loved ones and in honor of their five children and spouses: Benjamin and Elizabeth Breeden, Alice Breeden, Gerald W. Breeden, Donna and Jerry Gill, Melody and Ted Purser

Nancy and Bill Emory in memory of their parents and brothers

Shirley Thomas in memory of her parents, Vernon and Sara Lee Allen and in honor of Dr. Clement Binnings Jr. and his nurses Barbara and Sandra

Judith A. McCartney in memory of Fred R. and Anne McCartney

Diane Goode in honor of Pediatrix co-workers at RMH Newborn Intensive Care Unit

Bill and Lynn Meador in honor of their children and grandchildren

W.B. Wilhelm in memory of Ina and W.H. Wilhelm

Janice Conley in memory of her husband, John

Matthew Anama in honor of his grandfather, Tom Howerton

Ron and Janice Sink in honor of police officers

Adult I Sunday School Class of Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren in honor of Floretta McGhee

Bill and Lucy Neal in honor of J. L. Plunkett

Rhonda Gusler in memory of Doris Kingery

John and Pat Oberlin in memory of Godlewski and Oberlin family members

Michael and Patti Abbott

Kristi, John and Nikki P'Simer in memory of John Sexton, Sheri Sexton Bratton and Thomas Sexton

Marilyn Bussey in honor and in memory of family, friends and church family

Claire and Charlie Logan in memory of loved ones

Frances Johnston in honor of Linda O. Hash, Ann G. Sparger, Donna P. Vaughn, Ann J. Rice, and Ed and Judy Johnston

An anonymous donor in memory of Sarah Eldred Terry

Anonymous donors in honor of Frank and Sara Deaton

Nancy Howell Agee in memory of Harrison Caudill and in honor of Bud and Peggy Thompson, Dr. Robert White, and Dr. Tim Callis

Diane S. Grant in memory of her parents, B.C. and Elizabeth Stout

Cynthia Taylor Vaught in memory of her mother, Jane Taylor Bohon and in honor of her mother- and father-in-law, Betty and David Vaught

Jacqueline Bolden in memory of her mother, Mrs. Robbie W. Board

Jonathan Thompson in honor of Lloyd Washington Jr.

Shirley C. Wiley in memory of her husband, Andrew L. Wiley

Star City Auto Parts

Mr. David H. Mullins

Tom and Betty Lamons in memory of W.J. Nuckolls Jr., Marion H. Nuckolls, E.W. Lamons and Dorothy M. Lamons

Ruby Sisson in memory of loved ones

Susan in honor of former neighbor Hagt

Jean Rzucidlo

Judy Weller in memory of her parents, Gerald and Jane Weller and in honor of the VWCC library staff

Anita and Paul Mills in memory of Martha Collyer

Adelaide Angle in memory of Frank Angle, Clydenne Glenn and Hugh Fisher

Linda Brickey's employees in the IIS Dept. at Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. in memory of Kenneth Newland Sr.