2024 Holiday Giving Opportunities in the Syracuse Community

As the holiday season approaches, there are several ways for members of the Syracuse University community to make the season brighter within the City of Syracuse and greater Central New York communities. Some giving opportunities include:

PEACE, Inc.

People’s Equal Action and Community Effort (PEACE), Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization that serves nearly 10,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County and portions of Oswego County. Its mission is to help people in the community realize their potential for becoming self-sufficient.

Give-A-Holiday

This program offers individuals and groups the opportunity to brighten up the holidays for families in need by supplying gifts during the holiday season through either a gift basket or a monetary donation. Syracuse University employees can register by completing this form. PEACE, Inc. will pick up baskets on campus on Monday, Dec. 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. If you’re unable to drop off your gifts on campus, we invite you to visit the PEACE, Inc. Eastwood Community Center during the following times:

• • Friday, Dec. 13: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Monday, Dec. 16: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monetary donations can also be made online on the PEACE, Inc. website.

For more information or questions, please contact PEACE, Inc. at 315.634.3740 or giveaholiday@peace-caa.org.

United Way of Central New York

United Way of Central New York Inc. is an innovative and collaborative local nonprofit organization that drives solutions to the most pressing human service community needs of Central New York.

 CNY Care Package Project

• The CNY Care Package Project drive is now underway. Last year, this project collected enough donations to create 850 care packages. United Way needs your help to reach its 2024 goal of 1,000 care packages for people in need in our community. You can get involved by purchasing and donating personal care items at Syracuse-area Wegmans stores, via an Amazon wish list or by making a monetary donation at cnycarepackage.com.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting human needs without discrimination and encouraging and empowering those in need to reach their full potential. Each year, The Salvation Army of Syracuse helps provide Christmas food and toys to nearly 10,000 people with the help of dozens of community partners.

Holiday Programs

• Gifts for Teens: Each year, more than 1,200 teens receive a gift at The Salvation Army’s Christmas Bureau. You can help by donating a gift for a teen (ages 13-18) that ensures everyone can experience the magic of the holidays. To support this goal, The Hayner Hoyt Corporation has generously agreed to match all donations up to $25,000.
• Ringing a Bell: Now through Christmas Eve, there are 24 Red Kettle locations across Onondaga County. Want to help ring the bell? Sign up now as an individual or as a group at Register to Ring.
• Monetary donations can also be made online through The Salvation Army website.

For additional information or questions, please contact Deanna Delmonico at 315.479.1162 or deanna.delmonico@use.salvationarmy.org.

InterFaith Works

InterFaith Works is a nonprofit organization that provides services to address the needs of people who are vulnerable, low-income, targets of oppression and refugees who arrive through the federal refugee resettlement programs, fleeing war, political repression and famine. InterFaith Works also strives to address the needs of the frail or elderly, those in prisons, hospitals, and nursing homes, and to address hunger and housing needs.

Gift Basket Initiative

This fiscal year, InterFaith Works has resettled 1,015 refugees. Through the End-of-Year Gift Baskets initiative, donors are asked to create a gift basket that will be given to families they serve. Some gift ideas for the baskets include:

• Gift cards: $20 or more to Walmart, Target or Tops;
• Food items: Honey, jam, crackers, hot chocolate, sweets, chocolates, candies, tea, cookies or graham crackers;
• Warm items: Gender-neutral scarves/hats, warm socks/gloves or throw blankets;
• Personal/household items: Disposable razors, lotion, shaving cream, key chains, water bottles, laundry baskets, detergent, cutting boards, dish towels or towel sets;
• Fun items: Board games, cards or new toys.

This basket list form can be used to document the items being donated and should be included with the basket. All baskets must be delivered to the InterFaith Works offices (located at 1010 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203) by Friday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. For more information, contact Rhonda Butler at 315.449.3552 ext. 127 or rbutler@ifwcny.org.