Yates Christmas program will serve hundreds

PENN YAN-- Starting this week the Yates Christmas Program began distributing toys, clothes, bedding and food to local families in need. Helping families for decades, Executive Director Donna Johnston said that Yates Christmas has become an indelible part of the local community.
"Our program is a vital part of this community, it started with a program called Toy Shop started by three local women and we are 100 percent volunteer based, no one receives any salary for the work they do. We know for sure we are at least 30 years old, and last year we served 709 children representing over 300 families," Johnston said.
In preparation for the families being helped this year volunteers are sorting through thousands of pounds of donated items.
"The Presbyterian Church is filled to the brim, they just went to Basking Ridge, N.J. because that community saves donations for us and have for several years. They brought up (multiple trucks worth), then they turned around and made a second trip, just phenomenal," Johnston said.
This year Johnston said that the local Carter's have engaged in a program called Pajama Party to give customers an opportunity to purchase and then donate a pair of pajamas to Yates Christmas.
"They are going to be at the armory, every child under the age of 6 there are going to be pajamas in their size," Johnston said.
To help with the massive task of organizing and unloading all of the donations, Johnston said that hundreds of students from Penn Yan and Dundee School districts have been spending days volunteering.
"They help by loading all those trucks, without the students we couldn't do it. They are young, strong and energetic. And then they set up the tables. They are a great bunch to work with along with all the volunteers," Johnston said.
Chris Arnold, principal of the Junior-Senior High School for the Dundee Central School District, said that Yates Christmas provides an excellent learning opportunity for students.
"Students have a 20 hour Service Learning graduation requirement. Each year we have a group of seniors volunteer to help with set up on Monday, and we have another group of students volunteer on one of the distribution days. This is a tremendous opportunity to serve the communities in Yates County and our students and staff have always enjoyed the experience," Arnold said.
Distribution at the Armory will take place from Dec. 2-5 and is by appointment only. The application deadline for this year's program has already passed. Distribution at The First Presbyterian Church, located at 211 Main St. in Penn Yan, will take place Monday, Dec. 2-Dec.4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Times are approximate.
For more about volunteering, donating or applying for next year's cycle, contact Yates Christmas Program, Donna Johnston: donna_johnston1@yahoo.com 315-536-2683 home / 585-750-0862 cell
First Presbyterian Church, Linda Bracht: christmasneedy@yahoo.com 607-405-5482
Bell Ringing Coordinator, Sue Falvey: ejlo9993@aol.com 315-536-7189 home, 315-694-0596 cell (volunteers for bell ringing always needed).
To make a tax-deductible donation, checks should be payable to Yates Christmas Program and mailed to Yates Christmas Program, P.O. Box 145, Penn Yan, NY 14527.