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Click here to learn how you can help
for our next season! |
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Christmas Sharing:
Our
community in action! |
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over 25 years, Christmas Sharing has served as an ideal example of true
community action within our community. Each holiday season, dozens of
private small businesses, corporations, churches, schools and other
organizations combine their volunteer efforts to make the holidays a little brighter for families facing tough economic
times in Lewis County. Many of these same donors provide newly purchased
gifts or food to help this very worthy cause. Opportunities helps to tie this
community initiative together by coordinating much of the data and working out the
logistics involved in collecting and distributing gifts and food. The
organization also secures funding from various sources, which is applied
entirely toward the purchase of gifts for children and food for families.
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In 2009, Christmas
Sharing provided gifts to 1,330 children from 510 families throughout Lewis
County. In addition, 400 food boxes were provided to families with children;
150 food boxes were provided to the senior population; and another 150 boxes
were provided to single or two adult families without children.
In all, 810 families benefited from Christmas Sharing. |
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Christmas Sharing starts
early in the year with the securing of funding from businesses and
organizations that together, help to fund the annual initiative. Pictured
at left, Jolynne Brinkley, Co-coordinator of Christmas Sharing, receives a
donation from Joyce Cornell of Wal-Mart, Inc. Other significant business
contributors include Kraft Foods, Inc., Stewarts Shops, and The
United Way of Northern New York. (For a complete list,
click here.) |
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As December
approaches,
employees at Opportunities take a break from their normal duties to help wrap gifts
making their way to our campus. The campus takes on the characteristics of “Santa’s Workshop” with hundreds
of gifts sorted and bagged for families in time for distribution day, just a
few days before Christmas.
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Meanwhile, private and
business donations pour in from the community. Children also help out with
donations. Jesse Joyce (pictured at left)
presents a
$500 donation to Jolynne Brinkley, Co-coordinator of Christmas Sharing.
Jesse received the donation from the Carthage VFW while raising money on his
own through a can drive to support Christmas Sharing. In addition, for the
second year in a row, he saved his allowance money to purchase gifts for
children. His efforts and
generosity made a real difference to families on Christmas morning.
As importantly, Jesse gave an invaluable gift to his community; his sense of
caring for the well-being of others. |
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With distribution
day fast approaching, churches and other community
organizations bring their gifts to the Lowville Elks Lodge. |
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The gifts are
then sorted and placed into bags identified by family. Jim Freeman and
Jolynne Brinkley (pictured at bottom left and top right, respectively), have helped to coordinate the Christmas
Sharing initiative since 1982. |
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Volunteers carefully inspect
bundled packages that will be given to families as distribution day nears.
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Santa sure appreciates the
help from Toys For Children, just in time for Christmas. At left, gifts overflow from
a pick-up truck at Essenlohr Motors, which serves as a drop off
point for donations. Since 2000, over 7,000 toys have been collected.
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With distribution
day fast approaching, several volunteers gather at the Lowville Elks Lodge
to assemble 350 flattened boxes which will be used as containers for the
food that is arriving. |
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Hundreds of bags of food donations and dozens of boxes of produce arrive from the Lowville Council of Churches,
and other churches
from throughout the county. |
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With distribution day at hand, a truckload
containing hundreds of cartons of perishable food items arrives from Kraft
Foods, Inc., all of which is generously donated by the company. |
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The Christmas Sharing players... |
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Christmas
Sharing is the only holiday gift and food distribution initiative
specifically organized to serve families in need throughout Lewis County.
Opportunities is but one player of many involved with the Christmas Sharing
initiative. In fact, many of the contributing organizations have their own
budget, volunteers, and fundraising efforts. With their strong sense of
identity, each contributes to Christmas Sharing in whatever manner they can,
resulting in an efficient and effective collaboration that impacts our
community year after year. In 2008, contributors included:
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Beaver
River Distribution
Beaver River Central School Cafeteria Staff
Beta Sigma Phi
Black River Paper
Boonville Methodist Church Women
Climax Manufacturing, Inc.
Copenhagen Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary
Croghan American Legion
Crossroad Tavern
Essenlohr Motor Company, Inc.
First Mennonite Church of New Bremen
Hand In Hand Early Childhood Center employees
Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department
Kraft Foods
Lewis County Det. 754 Marine Corp.
Lewis County General Hospital
Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.
Lowville American Legion
Lowville Baptist Church
Lowville Council of Churches
Lowville Elks Lodge #1605
Lowville Presbyterian Church
Naumburg Mennonite Church
Otis Technology Day Care
Private donors (individuals) throughout the community
Riverbrook Singing Needles
Salvation Army
St. Peter’s Church (Lowville)
St. Stephen’s Church (Croghan)
Stewarts, Inc.
Toys For Children
United Way of Northern New York, Inc.
Valley Homemakers
Wal-Mart, Inc.
Women of Beaver Falls United Methodist Church
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| How you can help
Christmas Sharing |
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If you would like to make a donation
to Christmas Sharing, monetary
donations are accepted throughout the year.
Please make your check out to "Lewis County Opportunities,
Inc." and note "Christmas Sharing" in the memo field.
Please mail your check to:
Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.
Christmas Sharing Program
8265 State Route 812
Lowville, NY 13367
During the holiday season,
toys and/or clothing (new items only please) may be dropped off at
our New Bremen office, during regular business hours. (Monday through
Friday, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.) |
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| How to obtain gifts or holiday baskets through Christmas
Sharing: |
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| 1. |
Recipients must be residents of
Lewis County. Interested individuals may contact the New Bremen Office
for a telephone interview, at
376-8202 or
email us
with your inquiry. |
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Or, we also have a
convenient form that can be printed out and completed. The
family actually requesting help from Christmas Sharing should complete the
form. Family Advocates or Service Coordinators can assist as
necessary, and should complete the special section on the form indicating
their name, title and telephone number. Once
completed, please mail the form to: |
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Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.
8265 State Route 812
Lowville, NY 13367
Attn: Christmas Sharing |
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Once receiving a
telephone call or mailed form, a brief telephone interview may follow. |
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If different from the
established pick-up time, the family will be informed of
the specific date, time and location of gift sharing. The family is always
welcome to call with any follow-up questions. |
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Other Referrals:
If you know of a family that needs help from Christmas
Sharing, please feel free to call us at 376-8202 for more information about
how to initiate your referral. |
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| Christmas
Sharing Gifts and Food Pick-up Information |
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| Christmas
Sharing food and gifts are distributed at the Lowville Elks Lodge a few days
before Christmas. Please check back for specific information on this year's
pick up information as the holidays near. |
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Copyright © 2003-2010 Lewis County Opportunities,
Inc.
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