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Christmas Bureau provides food and toys for low-income families again this year

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News File Photo
The Christmas Bureau has provided low-income families with toys and food at the holidays for many years.

The Salvation Army is expecting to help hundreds of low-income families this holiday season with the annual Christmas Bureau. Sign-ups have already started.

Salvation Army executive director Linda Wright expects about the same number of people to register for the giveaway this year as last. The program that offers food, books and toys for low income families can be a harbinger of the economy. And even though the unemployment rate in Onondaga County has been dropping, Wright there’s still a need.

"Those families are still low income. They’re not like there not in need, right? And we know that Christmas Bureau program doesn’t change the face of poverty, it just gives those struggling families some relief over the holidays,” said Wright.

She says anytime there’s extended time off school, low-income families suffer.

“Because during the holiday times when kids are in school, it’s tough on the family food budget. When breakfast and lunch is now at home and not at school for the children. So there’s some extra food in that food basket to help those food dollars during break week.” 

The Salvation Army expects there to be about 7,000 children among the 2,600 families who will sign up. The giveaway is December 23 this year at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.