a note from executive director linda lopez Christmas is over. The presents are unwrapped. The Christmas tree and decorations have come down. Visiting family and friends have returned home and things have settled back into the normal rhythm of life. Christmas at The Salvation Army is over too…
Since January ‘19
IN 2019,
our pantry proudly served…
During the 2019 Christmas season, the Salvation Army staff and more than 1,500 volunteers: Served more than 2,200 families at the community Christmas Bureau; giving them toys, books, stocking stuffers and an overflowing food basket for their holiday celebrations. Shared 8,000 more toys with 22 community agencies, including the Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services, the Onondaga Nation, and the CNY Family Bike Giveaway.
30%
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THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR
Gave stuffed animals to the Syracuse Police Department so the officers working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day would have a gift to share with the children they might see.
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Served almost 500 additional families at the food pantry who missed the Christmas Bureau giveaway.
“We both continue to be amazed by other people who help out,” said Hollington. “We really don’t do anything. We’re amazed by other peoples’ volunteer work.” Proving that thousands of people coming together - purchasing gifts, donating a can of soup, volunteering their time – are the reason thousands of others enjoy Christmas.
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SERVED THAN PREVIOUS DECEMBERS
IN DECEMBER ALONE, our pantry proudly served…
Thank you for the support and compassion and generosity you give at Christmas and all year long. With your help, The Salvation Army can help more than 42,000 lives each year.
No Gift Too Small!
Hollington and Salvetti wait for our call every year in November to inform them the big barrels for Food Drives are ready
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May 2020 be a year filled with love and joy and peace for each and every one of you!
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None of this would have been possible without the generosity of so many individuals, families and organizations who share their time and their resources to make Christmas special for the people we serve at The Salvation Army. Ringing bells at the kettles, collecting gifts for the Angel Trees, hosting a food drive, making a special Christmas donation, sponsoring a program, volunteering at the Christmas Bureau…all those gifts of love demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas.
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“I think we both feel a sense of contributing back to the community,” said Hollington. “And how fortunate your life has been overall. There’s a degree of satisfaction in doing it and knowing you’re helping other people.”
Almost every day in December, there were Christmas parties, cookie baking, tree decorating, and memory making opportunities in each of our programs. Individual companies sponsored many of our programs by bringing piles of gifts and enthusiastic volunteers to join in the holiday parties.
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Two other people you don’t see on Distribution Day are Dick Hollington and Bob Salvetti. The two men are retired UPS drivers. They became friends on the job decades ago. Now, they spend a part of their retirement, giving back, together.
Received enough toys to give to every child in our early education programs and family shelter a birthday gift in 2020.
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For instance, Chairman and CEO of The Hayner Hoyt Corporation, Gary Thurston, has been Committee Chair of Christmas
And that’s just to name a few.
to be delivered to participating schools. They load up as many barrels as they can fit into the van and drive them all around town. Sometimes they have to load up the van four or five separate times. They make the deliveries in rain or shine, sleet or snow. To them, it’s no big deal. To us, it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle that ensures the big day will happen.
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Some of the volunteer work that makes Distribution Day happen is obvious. It’s noticed right when you walk through the doors. There are personal shoppers helping clients pick out gifts for their children. There are food assembly line volunteers making sure each food basket has items like soup, ravioli, apples, oranges, potatoes, bread, milk, and pumpkin pie. And while these types of volunteers are the reason Distribution Day is able to happen, and are no less important, there’s other people working completely behind the scenes too.
Bureau for more than ten years. He provides meeting space, resources, and 50 volunteers for the event every year. Wegmans Food Markets donates $80,000 worth of food to go in the Christmas food baskets. Delaney Worldwide spends multiple days helping with the manual labor before and after Distribution Day.
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When you walk into The Oncenter on Christmas Bureau Distribution Day, you see thousands of people, thousands of toys, and thousands of food items. It’s a day that comes together because of the extremely generous community that we live in. Nearly 10,000 people are able to have a holiday meal. Nearly 10,000 people are able to bring home gifts and stockings to put under the tree. Nearly 10,000 people are able to feel the Christmas magic. They’re able to do all that – because of you.
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We’d like to say
Thank You!
