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…

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.

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.

Served almost 500 additional families at the food pantry who missed the Christmas Bureau giveaway.

Received enough toys to give to every child in our early education programs and family shelter a birthday gift in 2020.

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.

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.

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.

May 2020 be a year filled with love and joy and peace for each and every one of you!