By Town Crier staff

One of nine charities that receive money from the Town Crier Holiday Fund is an East Palo Alto institution, Mother Branch.

For 47 years, this now 84-year-old champion of the poor has been distributing food and clothes to the most desperate in her community.

Working from home in the heart of East Palo Alto, she has been a magnet for love and prayers and for sustanence year after year without much concern for her own well being.

“The holidays are when people reach out and need the most,” says Mother Branch, whose real name is Oneida Branch. “And the Town Crier Holiday Fund seems to always come through just when the need is the greatest. Thank God.”

The Town Crier Holiday Fund 2002 annual drive is now under way. Already matching funds of $28,000 have been provided meaning that all donations from now on are doubled.

Donations are fully tax deductible since the fiscal partner with the Town Crier is the Community Foundation Silicon Valley. Checks should be made payable to the Town Crier Holiday Fund and mailed to 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022. Credit card contributions can also be made by calling Avenill, 650-948-9000. All costs of managing and promoting the Holiday Fund are underwritten by the Town Crier so that 100 percent of the funds are passed on to the charities.

Next week: the homeless shelter in San Jose story.