Ulysses Square is very happy to host The Ulysses Christmas Bureau once again this year. For those who haven’t heard of this wonderful organization, here’s the information.

 

Now in its 67th year, The Ulysses Christmas Bureau is once again getting ready to play Santa for area families in need. The all-volunteer organization depends exclusively on our local community for donations to provide new clothes and presents for children and food for their families.  Last year the community helped 151 children from 63 families, and this year’s numbers are expected to meet or exceed those totals. In addition, season’s greetings, fruit and homemade baked goods were delivered to 93 isolated seniors, also a number that increases each year.

 

Here’s how the Bureau makes this happen. It matches prospective sponsors with participating families and provides information about the children—ages, sizes, needs, wishes—so the sponsors can shop for and wrap the gifts. The Bureau then distributes the goodies just before Christmas. In addition to individual sponsors, organizations, businesses and groups of friends find this is a fun, rewarding way to spend time together during the holiday season. Empty-nesters find sponsorship an ideal way to “fill the gap” left by scattered families.

 

The Bureau also accepts dollar donations so its volunteers can shop for any child who lacks a sponsor. The money also pays for food for the children’s families—Christmas dinner and extra groceries for the holidays when their kids don’t get free breakfast and lunch at school—and goodies for seniors and the disabled.

 

“It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors,” says one volunteer, “A win/win for all.”

 

If you or your organization would like to help by donating, sponsoring, or volunteering, please call Nancy Zahler or Judy Barringer at 387-3667 or email tburgchristmas@yahoo.com. You can also sign up to sponsor via website: www.ulysseschristmasbureau.org.

 

The deadline for sponsors and donations is November 21. Please make donation checks payable to Ulysses Christmas Bureau and send to Deborah McIntyre, 113 Tamarack Lane, Trumansburg, NY. 14886

 

Do you know someone in the Trumansburg area who needs and would appreciate some Christmas cheer? You can help brighten their holiday with just a single phone call. You can refer any deserving person, even yourself, to the Ulysses Christmas Bureau, and the organization will see to it they receive a basket of fruit, treats, and holiday greetings. Last year more than 93 baskets were assembled and distributed. This year the Bureau wants even more of our neighbors to be remembered. To make a referral for Christmas 2014 or get more information, please contact Holly Weatherby at 387-5266 or use the Christmas Bureau website to make a referral at www.ulysseschristmasbureau.org.