SAN JOSE — Generous readers of The Mercury News helped to raise more than $500,000 for the people and organizations featured in the Wish Book stories published during the 2017 holiday season.

The Wish Book is an annual project of The Mercury News that invites readers to help their neighbors.

Loyal readers donated $501,059 to the project in its 35th year of inspiring community giving. All of the money raised goes to the programs and families identified by Bay Area nonprofits, with The Mercury News covering all administrative costs. Funds totaling $500,000 were recently distributed to the 20 groups featured.

In this year’s series, Wish Book shared stories of people who have significant challenges, but who are also determined to change their lives and help others. Some of the stories included formerly homeless veterans receiving housing aid from Abode Services; Coyote Creek flood victims seeking home repair help through Habitat for Humanity; community college students trying to make ends meet with the help of campus food pantries at Foothill and De Anza colleges; and low-income refugees starting new lives with support from Jewish Family Services.

All of the stories and details about how to donate can be found online at wishbook.mercurynews.com. Donations are accepted year-round.

The website also lists all of the Wish Book donors who contributed so generously during the season and who would like to be publicly acknowledged. Wish Book would also like to thank the many donors who wish to remain anonymous but whose gifts will help make a difference for so many people.

A similar fund in the East Bay — The East Bay Times’ Share the Spirit program, which is coordinated by the Contra Costa Crisis Center — raised $297,000 during the holiday season. The donations collected by that fund will help those in need living in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

“We serve the people of the Bay Area with important local journalism throughout the year,” said Bay Area News Group Publisher Sharon Ryan, “but it’s especially fulfilling to be able to help our local community through Wish Book and Share the Spirit.”