To the Editor:
A new year has begun and with that, another successful holiday season at The Salvation Army of Syracuse is done. A season of toy drives, food drives and Red Kettles. A season made possible thanks to hundreds of volunteers, dozens of community partners and the overwhelming generosity of thousands of donors.
On Dec. 21, The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Bureau provided toys for about 8,000 children and 2,000 boxes of food filled with fresh produce and other essentials for a holiday meal. Partner agencies joined forces to ensure that families in need were able to experience the joy of opening a gift and sharing a meal with loved ones on Christmas.
For weeks, dedicated bell-ringers helped spread Christmas cheer and collected donations at 27 Red Kettles throughout Onondaga County. Companies, schools and sports teams collected food and toys. Organizations and individuals sponsored entire programs, including our youth and adult shelters, to make sure those program recipients were not forgotten during a season that can be difficult for many. We are so grateful to everyone in the Syracuse community for their commitment to helping those in need, and for joining us year after year to provide a joyful, hopeful holiday season.
While the Christmas season is a highlight of the year, The Salvation Army staff are here to serve children, families, youth and adults every day of the year, all year long. More than 35,000 people needed our help last year and we could not have done it without the generous support of this community.
On behalf of the staff, board and Young Leaders of The Salvation Army, Syracuse Area Services, thank you for helping us help others.
Linda Lopez
Executive Director for Community Services
Major Charles Roberts
Director of County Operations
The Salvation Army, Syracuse Area Services
Syracuse
Related: Christmas Bureau giveaway spreads cheer and goodwill to more than 2,000 families