Packaging Gifts Just Another Way To Create A Happy Holiday Season

For months I've been hearing about a program through the county's social services department, where people purchase gifts that are requested by those who cannot afford them.

I have heard about organizations donating their time and dollars to the effort, sending along as many toys and other items as they can manage.

And I have heard the startling figures of a 30 percent increase this year of families in need.

But until today, I hadn't had the opportunity to see the extent of the project.

As part of Patch's Give 5 program—where Patch employees volunteer their time at a local charity organization—I spent more than two hours this afternoon, with Advertising Manager Nicholas Pigna and Regional Publisher Madhavi Saifee, at a United Way warehouse in Bridgewater, checking and packaging items for this cause.

And aside from the chance I had to see what it was all about, it was yet another rewarding experience of helping others in need.

I could ramble on about how great it is to help others in this and any other season, or how proud I am of myself for being able to take the time to lend my services to a worthy cause or other such statement about how worthwhile the program itself is.

But that almost feels insincere because everyone says it all the time—particularly during the winter season.

What I can talk about is the amazement I felt seeing bags and bags of toys, blankets, clothes and even microwaves that were lined up in rows to be sorted for those in need. I was happy just reading down the list of items that were requested—and seeing families where the mother or father asked for nothing so long as the children could have something.

I spent the afternoon making sure that bags contained the correct gifts for each family, and creating bags of requested gifts to be given out to the families at a later date.

This program itself is in its 21st year, and families represented come through the county's board of social services and about 20 other agencies throughout Somerset County.

"They are from those agencies that serve low income families, school programs and organizations that serve disabled adults," said Irene Natale, manager, community and volunteer services. "And the program is for children, teens, disabled adults and seniors."

But the biggest difficulty, Natale said, has been a 30 percent increase in the number of families in need this year, up by 623 families.

"This year has been difficult, but we believe we can provide for all the kids and seniors," she said.

Natale said they were worried about serving all those in need this year, namely because of continued issues with the economy as companies have downsized and more people have been laid off.

"Some organizations couldn't take as many gift tags for families as before," she said.

But when organizations saw that all the families weren't being served, Natale said, they stepped up to help.

"Some groups stepped up to ask for more tags when they saw we couldn't meet all the need," she said. "And there has been an increase in donor participation for the general public."

Not only that, Natale said, but there has been an increase in volunteers helping to bag the items, and I was proud to count myself as just one of the close to 600 volunteers the program has seen to date.

The days are divided into separate sessions, as some volunteers bag gifts in the morning, and others come in the afternoon.

"The gifts were just delivered on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10," Natale said. "That's how it gets done so fast because we have so many volunteers."

Natale said people are just looking for ways to help out, both in donating gifts and in helping to bag them.

"This is a tangible, hands-on kind of experience," she said. "It is real front-line experience."

"And this is a combination of the time of year when people are aware of what they have, and a desire to share with others," she added.

But more importantly, the service has also proven beneficial for those who may never have needed it before.

"This program impacts people who have never needed the help before," said Lisa Galonardo, assistant vice president, community and volunteer services. She said there was one person who served as a volunteer only to find a neighbor coming in as a family in need.

"And we have seen a situation where someone who donated last year is in need this year," Natale said.

But today, as people continue to revel in the holiday spirit and I celebrate what has been a very exciting year for myself, I was proud to have the opportunity to help those less fortunate.

As I closed bags of Barbie dolls, pajamas and toy train sets, I remembered how fortunate I felt when I was young to be able to get these gifts from my own family—and now I'm proud to say that I helped another family have a happy holiday season after all.