{From the 2023 Christmas Newsprint Magazine}
It’s the Season of Giving and many local organizations have kicked off their annual Christmas programs to help children and families in need have a joyous and special holiday. There are so many ways you can get involved!
• Operation Adopt a Soldier is always accepting items to include in care packages for those serving in the military, and during the holiday season they are collecting new, unopened toys for children in need. Donations can be dropped off at their building located at 4282 Route 50, Unit 1-B, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For more information, visit OperationAdoptASoldier.com or contact Cliff, the founder and chairman at 518-260-9922 and
• Chamber Angels, a program through the Capital Region Chamber, provides gifts for hundreds of children enduring financial hardships. Each child, from infants to 18-year-olds, is matched with a sponsor or shopped for. You can help by sponsoring a child, at which point you will be provided with their age, name and wish list, or by making a donation. It typically costs between $150 and $200 to support an entire wish list, but any amount is appreciated. For more information or if you would like to join the committee, contact Lori Jones at
• The Empty Stocking Project is hosted by the Saratoga County Children’s Committee in which “Friends” are paired with individuals and families needing assistance during Christmas. Schools and agencies have already connected with parents and caregivers whose children could use a “Friend” …individuals or corporate and community sponsors willing to fulfill their wish lists. Visit SaratogaChildrensCommittee.org for more information and to sponsor a child.
• Kicking off their yearly Sponsor-a-Family Program, The New York Race Track Chaplaincy intends to aid their neediest backstretch families this season. The sponsors will provide new winter clothing and a toy for each child in addition to a grocery store gift card for Christmas dinner. Sponsorships can be shared and can also be fulfilled with a financial contribution. You can sponsor one child or a family of 4, 6, or 8. Donations of any amount, as well as volunteers, are always graciously accepted. Go to rtcany.org to learn more about each opportunity to give.
• Franklin Community Center offers an incredible holiday assistance program to hundreds of Saratoga County children between the ages of two and 14. Families are anonymously matched with donors who can then sponsor a child/family or host a toy drive. Monetary contributions are appreciated in addition to general gifts that will be given to the children of families who missed the sign-up deadline. If you are interested, contact
• There are a number of amazing ways to spread cheer at Saratoga Senior Center this holiday: “Santas for Seniors” allows donors to adopt a senior and grant them their wish list. Additionally, volunteers are needed for their various festive activities: an afternoon filled with giftwrapping and cookie decorating on Dec. 11, the Center’s Holiday Dinner on Dec. 14, a Holiday Movie Matinee on Dec. 15, and the member Holiday Party on Dec. 18. Contact Barbara Devlin at
• Toys for Toga has kicked off their massive county-wide campaign with the goal of collecting over 3,000 toys and raising $8,000. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at over 80 participating Saratoga County business locations from now until Dec. 10. Partners include DeCrescente Distributing Company, Death Wish Coffee, Discover Saratoga, Druthers Brewing Company, Quick Response Restoration, Ball Corporation, Brewnited, and Franklin Square Market. You can also support the initiative by shopping and dining locally: the first 1,500 individuals to donate a toy at Death Wish Coffee’s Saratoga headquarters, Ball Corporation’s Adams Road warehouse, or DeCrescente Distributing Company’s Mechanicville headquarters will receive a free 1-lb bag of Death Wish coffee. Any toys purchased for Toys for Toga at G. Willikers will be discounted by 20 percent. Additionally, during Discover Saratoga’s annual Restaurant Week, held Nov. 6 to 12, Boca Bistro, Chianti Ristorante, and Forno Bistro will donate $1 for every menu item sold to the cause. Druthers has brewed a Toys for Toga Winter Ale that can be found not only at Druthers Brewing Company, but also in packs of four at beverage centers and grocery stores and on tap at select bars throughout the county. A list of all donation locations, the option to make a monetary donation via the Toys for Toga GoFundMe page, and more information can be found at ToysForToga.com. All toys and donations will be evenly split between Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services, and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center. Businesses wishing to join should contact Roberto Cruz at
• The Capital Region Toys for Tots, the third largest Toys for Tots campaign in the world, is collecting new and unwrapped toys for needy children in the area. Go to CaptialRegionToysForTots.org to donate and identify one of their many convenient drop-off locations.
• As much as children deserve and appreciate toys, warm winter accessories are of the utmost importance during these cold winter months. The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center will display their Mitten Tree from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 with the goal of filling it with donated hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens. Items hung on the tree can be new or handmade and will benefit CAPTAIN Community Human Services, Franklin Community Center, and Shelters of Saratoga. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 297 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Check out SaratogaSpringsVisitorCenter.com or call 518-584-1531 for additional information.