With the holiday season underway, the Ladies of Charity elves at Catholic Charities Santa’s Workshop are again seeking donations, recipients, and volunteers to help ensure all children in Western New York have something special to unwrap on Christmas morning. As part of the WNY Holiday Partnership, Catholic Charities’ Christmas program serves infants to teenagers. Each Christmas, Catholic Charities provides a gift, books, and stocking stuffers to hundreds of local families through the partnership.
“Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, our annual Christmas program helps to brighten the holidays for families and children in need across Western New York,” said Carolyn Stewart, supervisor of food pantries and thrift stores, Catholic Charities. “With rising prices and stretched family budgets, we anticipate more demand in referrals again this year.”
Donations of toys, books, board games, puzzles and stocking stuffers, especially items for ages 10 and older are now being collected at Catholic Charities’ Ladies of Charity at 1122 Broadway, Buffalo, Mondays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Items most in need for boys include hoodies/sweatshirts, socks, cologne sets, wallets and basketballs, footballs and soccer balls. For girls, items needed include plush throws and blankets, lotions and body wash sets, nail polish kits and plush socks. All items must be new and unwrapped.
The Ladies of Charity are also looking for interested volunteers to help organize and pack the gifts. For more information or to volunteer, please call 716-895-4001.
Santa’s Workshop referrals are first come, first serve, and must go through a Catholic Charities caseworker. Please call Catholic Charities’ Erie County District Office (formerly Central Intake) at 716-856-4494, or outside of Erie County, call a local Catholic Charities office and tell them you or someone you know needs assistance this holiday season.
Additional information about all Catholic Charities’ services, which include basic emergency assistance, in-school social work, and individual, children and family counseling services, and education and workforce training can be found at ccwny.org/services.
