Holiday gift-giving returns to Youngstown

Annual Christmas baskets campaign assists needy

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The spirit of holiday gift-giving returns to the Village of Youngstown with the Christmas baskets campaign. Organized by village resident Collen Mary Johnson-Summerville, this annual community effort by the Youngstown Civic Guild helps needy individuals and families in the village and Town of Porter to enjoy a brighter Christmas season.

“Last year, your generosity helped 62 families, including 120 children,” Johnson-Summerville said. “We will again be providing gifts for children, nonperishable foods, and gift cards for groceries or gas for each family. We plan to use much of your donated money for food/gas gift cards.”

She said, “We know you have supported this program in the past and are asking you to do so again.”

There are several ways in which individuals and groups can help out:

•Make a monetary donation for gift cards and children’s gifts. Checks can be payable to the Youngstown Civic Guild and mailed to 614 Second St., Youngstown, NY, 14174.

•Donate gift cards purchased from Tops, Wegmans, ALDI, Walmart, or a local gas station. Please indicate the monetary amount on the gift card. These can be mailed to the above address, or dropped off at the Village of Youngstown offices in the Red Brick Village Center, 240 Lockport St.

•Be an angel! Provide a gift or a gift card for a child. Those who have not donated gifts in previous years are asked to call Julie Grana at 716-622-4760 or email Jule219@yahoo.com to get on the list. All angels will be contacted in November.

•Contribute nonperishable foods to the Youngstown Boy Scout Troop 829’s food drive, to be held the morning of Sunday, Dec. 14. Residents are asked to place nonperishable food in bags on their porch or mailboxes before 9 a.m. for pickup by Troop 829 members.

In the event a food drop is missed, donated foods may be left in food boxes found in many Youngstown businesses or at the Youngstown Free Library (by Monday, Dec. 15).

Youngstown businesses are invited to participate in this campaign and place a provided food box at their location. The business food drive began Nov. 17 and continues to Dec. 14. Those interested in participating are asked to contact Sue DeJoseph at 716-807-8875.

Johnson-Summerville said another option is to bring donated nonperishable foods to the Red Brick gym between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, when volunteers will be assembling the food baskets to distribute.

•Volunteer to prepare gifts for delivery at the Red Brick gym between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Those interested in participating are asked to contact Grana at the phone number listed above.

•Volunteer to deliver Christmas gift baskets to needy families in the northern Niagara area, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday Dec. 20. Drivers will depart from the Red Brick gym.

“Families in need, who live in the Town of Porter, may call and leave their phone number at the Youngstown village office (716-745-7221) by Dec. 1,” Johnson-Summer said. “We will return the call and register families for food and/or children’s gifts.

“Thanks for joining us in spreading the true spirit of the season!”