Volunteers step up for Christmas toy drive

Volunteers step up for Christmas toy drive

FINGER LAKES--The yearly Christmas for the Needy program will once again bring toys, clothes and food to families in need this holiday season. The distribution days for this year will be Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 10 and 11. The U.S. Armory, located at 198 Cornwell St. in Penn Yan, will be distributing new items by appointment and the First Presbyterian Church, located at 211 Main St. in Penn Yan will be distributing gently used donated items from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The First Baptist Church will be handling food distribution at 224 Main St. in Penn Yan.
Christmas for the Needy has been operating in Yates County for more than 30 years providing clothes, toys, books, food and other essential items to needy families during the holiday season. The program is run entirely by volunteers who organize the donations made by community members and help distribute them to the less fortunate.
Organizer Donna Johnston said Christmas for the Needy served 818 children last year and 397 families, all the while anticipating an increase in numbers for this year.
"Our program is basically the same as the past year," Johnston said. "I do, however, feel that our numbers might be on the rise."
Johnston said there is an optional volunteer meeting Thursday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
Johnston said those interested in volunteering may also report to the Armory or Presbyterian Church Monday, Dec. 8, Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11. She said volunteers usually work from about 8:30 a.m. until 3 or 4 p.m., adding "we can always use extra hands."
"We have been working all year and will start again about three days after distribution for next year," Johnston said. "[It was a] difficult year for us this year with having lost about 75 percent of our toy inventory due to the flood, but [we] have been successful in replacing them thanks to our wonderful community members and are ready for distribution."
Johnston worked with Rachael Chisom and Graham Hensser of the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing Saturday, Nov. 22 working with some 88 totes of children's clothing at Joe DeGeorge's garage in Branchport. DeGeorge let Christmas for the Needy use the space for storage following the flooding that damaged the toys at the Living Well. Johnston said the items are being stored in 16 different spaces, most of which are homes of volunteers.
In Schuyler County, the Seneca Santa program is estimated to serve some 350 children in the county this year. Seneca Santa organizer Peggy Scott said there are between 50 and 70 volunteers this year, not counting the volunteer firefighters who deliver the gifts the morning ofDec. 24.
Seneca Santa started in the early 1940s during World War II, where volunteers would take old toys, fix them up and give them to underprivileged children during the holidays. She said it was primarily run by mail carriers and the fire departments who saw a need for it.
"That has been a great help for the program," Scott said.
Scott said monetary donations can be sent to P.O. Box 22, Watkins Glen, N.Y., 14891, while gifts can be dropped off at the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department.