I have my computer screen saver set up to randomly to show pictures that I have stored in my photography file. I opened the computer this morning and the picture that greeted me? My mother and I standing in front of the root ball of the largest fir in our yard, the one that had fallen just outside her bedroom in that huge windstorm of 2006.

It was as if she were saying that she was here with me to get this column done. I’ll need the help, too, as we have been flooded with contributions – three cents short of $3,000 – and I have a number of people to thank.

To start us off, let’s visit our good friend Mrs. Brown and her kindergarten class at Wilkes School. Every year she gets the kids involved, and they do chores to earn money for the Katy Warner Christmas Fund. This year, they raised $144.97. I am impressed with their willingness and enthusiasm, and I’ll bet Mrs. Brown is a wonderful teacher.

Oh, dear. I see that my accounting sheet says there are many notes (where I get the meat of what I use when I thank people), but somehow in the hand off of this material, I got Mrs. Brown’s collection box, but not the notes from everyone else. I have to wing it here and if you wrote me a note, I’ll try and get to them next week.

We received a $50 check with a notation, “Thanks Sarah – you do good work.” Thank you in return. I’ve got the easy part!

A couple who are always involved with our community, he going so far as to recruit me for the Bainbridge Historical Society Board of Directors, and how do I thank him? By being incapacitated by a run-in with an 18-wheeler and unable to discharge my duties. They sent in $50.

Another connection through the Historical Society, he being the president of said board when I got smeared on State Route 305, sent in $25 on behalf of he and his wife.

A regular contributor, a woman in a white lab coat who doles out pills by the thousands, has sent in $100.

We received $1,200 from a recurring donor, and she also included a note, which I’ll have to refer to later. In the meantime, wow. A lot of meals and a great many baby sleepers can be had for $1,200!

A couple that I’ve known since I was a sprout sent in $100. They had kids in each of the Wilt kids’ classes, she has been a regular at my physical therapy gym, and one of their sons has had a great deal to do with keeping this old Wilt house standing.

Every year we get a note from Bainbridge Properties, and here they are with a check for $100. Another couple that we hear from every year sent in $50. He grew up on Wing Point, too, and his parents had a very entertaining way of doing treats on Halloween, where you’d pull a string out of a towel-draped box, so you wouldn’t know what you were getting.

One of the well-known previous authors of this column has sent in $50 for the fund. We also have two different contributions from Anonymous: a check in the amount of $100 and then $65 in cash.

The darling widow of one of my father’s dearest friends sent in $50. I’m looking forward to reading her note.

An annual donation came in from Manitou Beach Road, from a couple who sent $75.

A couple I don’t recognize sent $100, so I’ll have to see their note for any hints as to their identity. I certainly need no hints as to their generosity.

I’m going to defer thanks on many of this week’s donations until next week so that I can refer to the personal notes that donors have included. I hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas, and the Katy Warner Christmas Fund elves join me in that wish.