Seneca Santa gets ready to deliver again

SCHUYLER COUNTY--In preparation for helping those in need during the holiday season, members of the local non-profit Seneca Santa are gearing up to both raise money and distribute gifts across the county.
"Nobody wants to think of a child not having a Christmas. And there is a need for it, people should understand our program is not intended to be a supplement for Christmas, for some kids this is it," said Peggy Scott, president of Seneca Santa.
Scott said that since she took over the program 30 years ago, she has always been looking for ways to expand.
"We added the new books, and that's always so important to me. Teachers and librarians select the books, and we try to give out as many books as we can," Scott said.
Applications for the program are distributed through local school districts and county agencies and to qualify a child must be from the ages of 2-12. Each child who qualifies is provided a wrapped gift purchased from Hesselson's and also a board game or family type game for every family. Also provided are age appropriate books, hats and mittens, coloring books, crayons or colored pencils depending on the age, sleds, an apple, an orange, a candy cane, limited gift certificates and then secondary gifts that are new but not wrapped.
"The unwrapped gifts are primarily donated. They are new and they are not wrapped because it makes it easier to line up the toys with the ages of the kids," Scott said.
Currently in the process of going through applications for the program, Scott said it gives her warm and fuzzy feelings to know that she is helping.
"I think it's huge and why our program has been around so long. No matter the conditions a child is raised in--you don't want to think about them being without a Christmas," Scott said.
Seneca Santa traces its roots to the 1940s when local fire departments and postal workers would take toys to underprivileged children for Christmas. The organization is entirely volunteer based.
"I took over almost 30 years ago, but it was started by mail carriers and firemen and women because they saw a need in the community, and they still deliver the gifts," Scott said.
To help pay for next year's gifts, Scott said the 23rd annual Seneca Santa Fundraiser will take place Dec. 14 at the Grist Iron Brewing Company and Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards where admission will be $15 a person. There will be silent auctions, raffles, food, music, wine and new to this year will be something called Prize Pong.
"I don't know what we would have done without them, this fundraiser is the main source of income for us. So let's everyone get together, have fun and give to a worthy cause we all love," Scott said.
For more information about the 23rd annual Seneca Santa Fundraiser visit http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/events/23rd-annual-seneca-santa-fundraiser/9352/
Donations can also be mailed to Seneca Santa, P.O. Box 22, Watkins Glen.