The difficulty with publicizing the charitable duties of people during the holidays, is that those same people usually do not want any notoriety for it. They do it out of the goodness of their heart, and the great feeling it gives them when they can provide someone else with an enjoyable holiday season. Now, a select few CSEA Local 830 members gave us the opportunity to speak with them about their selfless acts they have been engaging in during the holidays to help out members of the community. 

 

Last year, the Express reported on the Social Services Volunteer Program, which is made up of Local 830 members working for the Department of Social Services. Once again this year, the group led by Lynne Campbell is gathering hundreds of toys for both foster children and children that receive financial assistance. Campbell, along with Vice President of Volunteer Services Colleen Crider, part-time assistant Harriet Rand, Treasurer Mildred Schiafano and Volunteer Barbara Ware have been preparing upwards of 200 bags of toys this year. 

 

That goes without mentioning the dozens of boxes of coats they have for anybody in need, and the Dress to Impress program which provides suit jackets and pants for those going on job interviews or just starting a new career.

 

The past 3 years, CSEA Local 830 has paid for underprivileged children to go to the Paul Newman Ranch in Lake Luzerne, New York, each August. CSEA member from NUMC Linda Walsh, of Therapeutic Recreation, leads that trip. During the holidays, she is once again helping out in the community. She is part of the NUMC Kiwanis’ annual tradition of asking the employees of NUMC for their help in helping the needy families of “Our Community” make the holidays a little brighter.

 

 

Starting December 2 there was a window display outside the employees’ cafeteria decorated with angels. Each angel has the name and age of a child that you can “adopt” for the holiday.

 

Those interested in helping “adopted” an angel from the window, purchased a gift, and return the wrapped gift with the gift tag attached. Carla Vultaggio and Laurie Haufler of Pediatrics also assisted in this program.

 

Lastly, CSEA Local 830’s Adopt a Family Program was more successful than ever this year. Members donated enough clothes, toys and gift cards to provide for 33 CSEA member families. This is thanks to Women’s Committee Co-Chair Debra Buonagura who ran the program, and all CSEA units that adopted families.