The Spirit Of Giving
The Spirit of Giving
Helping Support Each Other is The True Spirit of the Holiday Season
Pictures / Provided
It’s no secret that the holiday season can be overwhelming! From juggling party invitations to managing shopping lists to figuring out what to buy for whom, sometimes our gift-giving occasions can bring us more stress than joy. Why not redefine your idea of giving in these final days of 2024 by focusing on what’s happening right in our community? From school projects supporting local families to businesses rallying for Toys for Tots to nonprofits ensuring no one goes hungry, our neighbors are stepping up to make the season brighter for everyone, and there’s still time for you to be part of it!
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Students, faculty and staff at Ellicottville Central School are busy putting the final touches on Project Christmas. School nurses Jennifer Hasper and Hannah Frisina are heading up the team behind Project Christmas. “It’s going very well,” Hasper told ellicottvilleNOW. “We have about 40 families that we are helping this year, which equals 90-some kids.” Each year, Project Christmas provides district families with a means to obtain food and gifts for their children. In November, members of the community could pick up a gift tag at the school or various community locations that includes information such as clothing sizes and ages of the children of a local family in need.
“We also get donations in, so we are able to give them a small amount of money to go with it,” said Hasper. “That way, if they want a turkey or a ham or if they need something that they just didn’t get yet, then they have that little bit to help.”
This week, the donated items will be ready to be picked up by families. “This is something that’s near and dear to my heart, because I love all the kids here,” she said. “It’s just nice that the community helps… I don’t know anyplace else you can go and have this much turnout. The community is so supportive of everything. I think it’s just a great place to be.”
Donations for Project Christmas are accepted year ‘round. “If something happens during the year, like somebody has a house fire, or something else major happens, we can take it from our Christmas fund and help,” Hasper explained. To donate, contact Frisina or Hasper at 716-699-2318.
Hasper added that the district’s STEM teacher, Leah Farnum, is organizing a cereal drive. “Our students and staff have been bringing in cereal, and the boxes are going to be lined up down the hall, down the stairs, like dominoes.” Donated cereal will be given to local families, and any excess will be donated to the food bank in Great Valley.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS RALLY FOR TOYS FOR TOTS
Bill Soffel, broker/owner of ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals, is thrilled with the community’s response to their annual Toys for Tots campaign and is hoping to exceed their goal of 500 toys. ERA Team VP has 10 offices throughout the Southern Tier and in northwestern Pennsylvania, and each is a collection site for Toys for Tots, a national program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to provide toys, books, and other gifts to children in need at Christmas. Soffel explained that Toys for Tots is the holiday charity of choice for the ERA franchise nationally, so his brokerage and ERA brokers all around the country are participating!
New, unwrapped toys can still be dropped off at ERA Team VP locations, including the Ellicottville office at 12 Washington Street. Although Soffel and his team have not yet done a final count of toys, he is optimistic that they’ll meet their goal, if not exceed it. “We’re thankful that the community supports us and our business,” he said. “We have a set of core values that we publish and live by, and one of them is to do the right thing, to give back. It’s a really, really big deal to be able to provide gifts to kids that otherwise would not have that experience.”
Additionally, ERA Team VP does a company campaign for the United Way. Soffel explained, “The money that we collect through all of our agents and our staff members gets divided up among the United Way organizations across all the counties we serve. We do a $5,000 match up to $5,000. Last year, we raised about $7,500 in the campaign, so this year we’re shooting for $10,000.” Pledges will continue to be accepted through January, said Soffel.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES IN ACTION
In nearby Salamanca, Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) is dedicated to its mission of building strong communities by helping people feel safe and secure through many ways. CEO Andrew Studley said, “During this time of year, our help is needed more than ever. We support the elderly, disabled, homeless, and those at risk of becoming homeless. We also help youth and families, survivors of crime like domestic violence and sexual assault, people who need food, and those with mental health issues.”
CCA’s food pantry is open from 9:00am-noon and 1:00-3:00pm Monday through Friday, and their Lighthouse Community Kitchen serves nutritious, ready-to-eat meals from 3:00-4:00pm Monday through Thursday. “In addition to that, we’re doing holiday boxes on Friday, December 20th,” said Studley. “We have 50 of those to give out to the community, so it’s first come, first serve, and folks can sign up with our front desk. They’ll be provided a holiday box with a turkey and other food items.”
Recent events include Santa’s Carnival Trunks & Treats at CCA, where Santa Claus joined CCA for a drive-thru event with treats and goodies for local families. CCA recently joined forces with the Salamanca Schools Transportation Department to hold the annual “Fill the Bus” holiday food drive at the Salamanca Save-A-Lot location. The food donated by Save-A-Lot shoppers is delivered right to CCA’s pantry and goes back into the community.
Now more than ever, CCA needs your help. “Our volunteer members since Covid have really dropped dramatically,” Studley noted. “We’re always looking for volunteers to help with our food pantry and soup kitchen.” On average, the soup kitchen serves 997 meals per month, and the food pantry distributes 3,446 boxes a year, for an average of 288 per month. Volunteers are needed for CCA’s other programs and events, and financial support makes a big difference. Donating items like food and other necessities also supports the many programs of CCA that focus on nutrition, homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse prevention.
CCA was named the Bills Foundation MVP for their commitment to reducing food insecurity, especially in areas where residents have limited access to care. Additionally, Highmark BlueCross Blue Shield announced a donation of $5,000 to CCA to provide further support for their mission. “In 2025, we will have exciting news about new support and partnerships to help even more by addressing Social Determinants of Health. Stay tuned for our official announcement,” said Studley. To learn more about CCA’s services and programs, access a volunteer application, and learn about employment opportunities, visit www.ccaction.org.