Write a commentEach year, the employees of Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) have made Christmas a little brighter for children throughout Oswego County.
Last year alone, thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, businesses, organizations and the efforts of DSS employees and their families, the DSS Children's Fund provided toys and gifts to more than 1600 children.
To expand the Children's Fund, DSS forged a partnership with United Way of Greater Oswego. Additionally, DSS welcomed Catholic Charities of Oswego County and other agencies including Salvation Army and Toys for Tots to join them in this partnership. Melanie Trexler, executive director of the United Way, said she hopes the partnership may lead to a county-wide Children's Christmas Bureau that would consolidate the efforts of the many agencies and organizations that see to it that children in need in Oswego County have a memorable Christmas.
Trexler said during a recent meeting of the Safety Net Committee of Oswego County (a group comprised of representatives from Oswego County's human services agencies that monitors the basic human needs that exist in Oswego County), the possibility was discussed of working with DSS and Catholic Charities to help maximize their efforts to provide children with Christmas toys and gifts.
"Over the years, DSS and Catholic Charities have done a marvelous job with their respective Christmas toy programs," she said. "The generosity of their staff and their willingness to donate their time and talents to help youth in Oswego County is commendable."
"We appreciate that the United Way, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army and other agencies were open to the idea of joining forces to make this year's Children's Fund the most successful yet," Carol Lee, Children's Fund Committee member, said.
"We at United Way are happy to be able to assist them in their efforts and are proud to be a part of this year's Children's Fund," Trexler added.
The DSS Children's Fund Committee is currently in the process of choosing a location that will serve as one point of contact for those wishing to donate and for the families who will be receiving the toys.
"This partnership will help to expand our services and allow us to serve more children," Marcia Birdsell, of DSS, said. "As in the past, a committee of DSS employees, with help from family members and community volunteers, will be heavily involved in the administration of the Children's Fund."
Supervisor of community services for Catholic Charities, Helen Hoefer, who will also be involved with the administration of the Children's Fund, said that donations of toys will be accepted through Dec. 14.
Monetary donations can be mailed to United Way, attention Doreen Clark, 1 S. First St., Fulton, NY13069. Checks may be made payable to United Way/Children's Fund.
The toy distribution will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15 and 16, at a location yet to be determined.
For more information on the Children's Fund or to request a pick-up for donations, contact Hoefer at Catholic Charities at 315-598-3980 or Lee at DSS at 315-963-5246.
