FOCUS: NEWS NEEDIEST
News Neediest Fund aims to make holidays brighter
‘So many people in need this year’
The 27th season of The News Neediest Fund kicked off Tuesday, but the phones started ringing long before.
The calls are from parents who anticipate a lean Christmas and are reaching out to The News Neediest for help providing a decent holiday meal for the family and maybe a toy or two for the kids.
This year’s fund drive is going to be particularly challenging, said Warren Colville, president of The Buffalo News.
“There are so many people in need this year,” Colville said, “probably more than ever before.”
Not only that, but the donors counted on to fund the drive are also feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks due to this tough, uncertain economy.
In fact, the average cash donation has dropped by about $15 over the last several years.
“Even those blessed to have jobs are struggling,” said Arlene Kaukus, president of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, which administers the drive.
Still, Kaukus has faith in a community that always seems to deliver when needed.
Last year, the drive — a collaborative effort of The News, the United Way and more than a dozen other local organizations — distributed more than $700,000 in toys and food to some 12,000 households across the region.
And while trends show the average cash donation is smaller, the number of people giving to The News Neediest has continued to rise, pushing total monetary donations higher — more than $145,000 last year.
That’s one of the messages Kaukus wants to leave with the Western New York community: Everyone can participate in The News Neediest Fund, no matter how small the contribution.
“I think it will be challenging, but I think it’s very possible to be very successful,” Kaukus said. “We really need to create that sense in people that they can all participate.
“By and large,” Kaukus said, “people want to help.”
Here’s how:
Unwrapped toys and gifts will be accepted at several locations around Erie and Niagara counties, including the lobby of the The News at Washington and Scott streets, from 7 a. m. to 8 p. m. Monday through Friday and 7 a. m. to 3 p. m. Saturday and Sunday; all Wegmans locations; Hunt Real Estate, 4363 Main St., Amherst, from 8:30 a. m. to 8 p. m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. Saturday and Sunday; and the Fairgrounds annual Holiday Lights Festival, from 5:30 to 9:30 p. m. Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 28 to Dec. 15.
In Niagara County, toys and gifts can be dropped off at the Tops Markets at 9060 Center St., Lewiston; The Summit Customer Service Desk, 6929 Williams Road, Wheatfield; Tops International, 7200 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls; and The News office, 8353 Niagara Falls Blvd., at Military Road, Niagara Falls.
Toys and gifts must be donated by Dec. 15 to ensure Christmas delivery. Especially needed are gifts for children ages 8 to 12, such as clothes, books, CDs, DVDs and gift certificates.
Checks can be sent to News Neediest, c/o The Buffalo News, P. O. Box 2667, Buffalo, NY 14240-2667.
For more details, or to make a donation online, check out www.buffalonews.com/newsneediest. Meanwhile, families hoping to get toys for their children through the fund have until Dec. 5 to submit their applications.
They should call 211 for sites where they can apply in person or to learn more about eligibility requirements.
“This drive is about collecting money, toys and food so families — in particular children — in Western New York can wake up on a holiday morning and have something to celebrate,” Kaukus said.
Colville and Kaukus kicked off the start of the application process Tuesday with the annual tree-lighting ceremony in the lobby of The News, where they had help from four of the Radio City Rockettes appearing in Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
A chorus from Houghton Academy sang holiday songs, while some youngsters tucked the first gifts beneath the tree.
“I love doing this every year,” Colville said. “It’s a very special time of the year at The Buffalo News to see us help so many people.”
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments