Unadilla Valley communities come together for 'Project Santa'
NEW BERLIN – “Project Santa” is in its 15th year at Unadilla Valley Central School as grades K-12 collect food, gifts and toys for area families in need this holiday season.
The effort is split into a food drive and a toy drive, each with active participation from the students.
The “Christmas Cares Project,” which is sponsored by the Sherburne Wheelers ATV Club, American Legion Post 189, NAPA, and Dollar General, collects toys for families who have found it difficult to make ends meet.
“It’s a nice thing that the faculty can do for families that are in need during the holidays,” said UV Superintendent Robert Mackey.
Through the efforts of the Council of Churches, these toys are distributed to families in Sherburne-Earlville, Norwich and New Berlin.
The “Project Santa” program gives faculty members the opportunity to choose students they believe might need assistance and to contact that child’s family to provide presents and/or a holiday dinner box.
“Parents may choose one or the other or both,” said Robin Mahoney, secretary in the elementary offices. “Teachers, aides, secretaries and custodians ... all get involved.”
Two raffles were held by the school district to raise money for the holiday gift baskets and dinner boxes, and additional items were donated by various local businesses. Elementary students were assigned items to bring in and high school and middle school students participated in a competition to collect the most food in their first period class.
Melissa Keenburg, who organizes the program, said that many school groups collaborate on the project each year. She explained that S.A.D.D. and the Middle School student council collected food while the Junior Honor Society packed baskets. The high school student council and ADSIP focused on promoting both the food and toy drives.
“Everyone is very supportive and works very hard,” said Keenburg.
The holiday gift boxes will include a wide variety of food such as a potatoes, bread, eggs, milk, a ham as well as a number of non-perishable items.
According to Keenburg, this year the group decided to donate extra food to local food banks in New Berlin and South New Berlin in order to extend the benefit to families without school-aged children.
“This year we will help approximately 50 families and their children have a merrier Christmas,” she said.
Keenburg explained the program began when New Berlin and South New Berlin combined their school systems into the UV Central School District.
“Because each school had its own traditions, ‘Project Santa’ was designed as a way to combine and continue those holiday traditions,” she said.
For more information or to donate, contact Keenburg at 847-6648.
The effort is split into a food drive and a toy drive, each with active participation from the students.
The “Christmas Cares Project,” which is sponsored by the Sherburne Wheelers ATV Club, American Legion Post 189, NAPA, and Dollar General, collects toys for families who have found it difficult to make ends meet.
“It’s a nice thing that the faculty can do for families that are in need during the holidays,” said UV Superintendent Robert Mackey.
Through the efforts of the Council of Churches, these toys are distributed to families in Sherburne-Earlville, Norwich and New Berlin.
The “Project Santa” program gives faculty members the opportunity to choose students they believe might need assistance and to contact that child’s family to provide presents and/or a holiday dinner box.
“Parents may choose one or the other or both,” said Robin Mahoney, secretary in the elementary offices. “Teachers, aides, secretaries and custodians ... all get involved.”
Two raffles were held by the school district to raise money for the holiday gift baskets and dinner boxes, and additional items were donated by various local businesses. Elementary students were assigned items to bring in and high school and middle school students participated in a competition to collect the most food in their first period class.
Melissa Keenburg, who organizes the program, said that many school groups collaborate on the project each year. She explained that S.A.D.D. and the Middle School student council collected food while the Junior Honor Society packed baskets. The high school student council and ADSIP focused on promoting both the food and toy drives.
“Everyone is very supportive and works very hard,” said Keenburg.
The holiday gift boxes will include a wide variety of food such as a potatoes, bread, eggs, milk, a ham as well as a number of non-perishable items.
According to Keenburg, this year the group decided to donate extra food to local food banks in New Berlin and South New Berlin in order to extend the benefit to families without school-aged children.
“This year we will help approximately 50 families and their children have a merrier Christmas,” she said.
Keenburg explained the program began when New Berlin and South New Berlin combined their school systems into the UV Central School District.
“Because each school had its own traditions, ‘Project Santa’ was designed as a way to combine and continue those holiday traditions,” she said.
For more information or to donate, contact Keenburg at 847-6648.
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