For more than 20 years, children throughout Saratoga County have had a happier holiday through the volunteer work of local business leaders, but this year some may go without.
With the deadline for sponsorships fast approaching, nearly 50 children whose names were submitted for the Southern Saratoga County Chamber Angels program still need someone to make their wishes come true.
“These are children who, without this program, would not have a Christmas,” said Davra San Angelo, the Chamber’s director of finance and administration and staff liaison for Chamber Angels.
The program receives the names of children in need from school districts, community centers and aid organizations within the county. The names are then cross referenced with other lists to ensure that Chamber Angels would be the child’s only source for gifts. Each child then creates a wish list, making sure to write down not only items they want, but items they desperately need.
“We really try to meet their needs first, and I’ll tell you, this year about three-fourths of the children have things like coats and gloves written down,” said San Angelo.
The number of families needing help has increased by 15 from last year and Chamber Angels volunteers are expecting numbers to increase in the years to come. This year, the names of 366 children were submitted to the program. San Angelo said the organization expects the numbers to rise above 400 within the next two years.
“We don’t see numbers decreasing at all,” she said. “In fact, we’re already receiving requests for children next year from other agencies.”
Chamber President and CEO Pete Bardunias said they plan on giving more this year than in the past. “I’m sure it’s not the biggest amount, but it’s a lot more than last year.”
According to San Angelo, at the program’s largest point during the recession of the mid-90s, the names of 450 kids were submitted. The trend is disturbing for Chamber Angels volunteers, especially since so many children still do not have sponsors this year.
Although the organization seems to be on target for monetary donations to help fund the program, they are not on target for sponsors to complete all of the wishes on each child’s list. San Angelo said the increasing numbers can be hard to handle, like this year, but they are determined to never turn away a child in need.
The program needs about $10,000 every year in order to support all the children in need.
The cost to sponsor one child is between $75 and $175 depending on what’s on their list. The program prefers that sponsors do their own shopping to get a better connection with the child they are helping and to lend a hand to volunteers who don’t always have the time to shop for each child themselves. So the child remains anonymous, the sponsor never receives a name, but does know their gender, age, clothing size and interests.
The deadline to sponsor a child is Thursday, Dec. 1, but because of the circumstance those who wish to help should contact Chamber Angels by Sunday, Dec. 4.
“We certainly encourage those who may not have participated before to come support this cause along with us,” said Bardunias.
For those who may not be able to bear the full financial burden to sponsor a child, donations will be accepted on drop-off day, Monday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clifton Park Fire Station on Fire Road. Those wishing to help can bring new, unwrapped toys, children’s clothing, winter wear or monetary donations.
The school district or agency that submitted the child’s name will later pick up the donations to give to the family.
“Without this program, these kids would not have something under the tree come Christmas morning and if they did, it would create a lot of stress and heartache for the parents to pull that off,” said San Angelo. “That’s not what the holidays are about. It’s supposed to be a time of joy and giving.”
To help, email San Angelo at [email protected] or call the Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce at 371-7748.
