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

Coach Mac Food Pantry

Syracuse University Libraries is offering an end of semester opportunity for students to help others while reducing their library fines. “Food for Fines” will run from Friday, Dec. 5 through the end of the Fall 2025 semester. All Libraries patrons with overdue circulation fines can reduce their fines by donating healthy, nonperishable food and hygiene items that will be donated to the Hendricks Chapel Coach Mac Food Pantry. Donations will be accepted at the circulation desks of Bird, Carnegie, Law, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and King + King Architecture Libraries. Fine reductions exclude interlibrary loan and lost book fees. Even those without library fees are encouraged to donate!

Fines will be reduced by $1 per item for canned beans and vegetables; $2 per item for soap, canned fish/soup, single serving cereal or oatmeal, lip balm, pasta, sauce, tissue, toilet paper and toothbrushes; $3 per item for baked beans, cereal, canned meat/fruit, oatmeal, ramen noodles, rice, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste; $4 per item for granola bars, deodorant, jam/jelly, hot chocolate, peanut butter, tea; and $5 per item for coffee and lotion. Contributions should not be open or expired and single-use items are preferred.

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.

Give-A-Holiday

PEACE Inc. is changing their approach to this program due to this year’s unprecedented challenges. The organization has three critical objectives this holiday season:

• Warmth and Learning for Head Start Youth (Ages 0–5): To ensure more than 800 Head Start children receive the new books and warm winter items (unisex hats, gloves, scarves, and socks) that they need to learn and to succeed.

• Essential Relief for Families: Provide families served by the organization’s Family Resource Centers and Big Brothers Big Sisters program with essential gift baskets containing much-needed new items not covered by SNAP, such as toiletries, diapers and towels.

• Emergency Support: Maintain the agency’s ability to meet the critical, emergency needs of our families throughout the challenging winter season.

To register, visit the 2025 Give-A-Holiday website.

The University will offer two pick-up/drop-off options for employees. When registering, please specify what option you prefer.

Option 1: Friday, Dec. 5, from 9 to 10 a.m., Quad lot near JMA Wireless Dome Gate D.

Option 2: Friday, Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Frank DeFrancisco Eastwood Community Center, 401 S. Midler Ave., Syracuse.

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

United Way of CNY

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 Children’s Book Drive

The United Way  is collecting new books to be distributed at the county’s annual Christmas Bureau distribution on Dec. 17 at the OnCenter. Families are able to hand-select a book for each child in their family. The greatest need is for books for pre-teens and teens. Donations may be dropped off at United Way, 980 James St., Syracuse by Dec. 14. You can also:

• Shop and drop at Parthenon Books in Downtown Syracuse, Golden Bee Bookshop in the Village of Liverpool or That’s What She Read Bookshop and Boutique in Marcellus.

• Hold a Children’s Book Drive at your business or organization. Download promotional materials [PDF].

• Donate from a distance! Visit the organization’s Amazon Wish List to easily purchase and ship items directly to United Way of CNY.

• Donate funds directly to United Way and let their literacy team members choose books for you. Visit the United Way donation page.

Salvation Army

Each year, the Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area provides Christmas food and toys to nearly 10,000 people with the help of dozens of community partners. Here are some ways for you to get involved:

Toy Drive and Food Drive

Each year at the Christmas Bureau, more than 5,000 children in Onondaga County receive toys and nearly 2,000 families in Onondaga County receive a box of food to take home for the holidays. Participating is easy—just set out a collection box at your workplace and let your team know. We’ll provide a poster with the most requested items. We ask that a member of your team deliver the collected (unwrapped) toys and food to the OnCenter (Montgomery Street Entrance) at Community Drop-Off Day, Friday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers will be available to remove donations from your car.

Volunteer

The Salvation Army utilizes hundreds of volunteers every holiday season. This year, volunteers are needed for the following events:

• Christmas Bureau: Sign up to help with the drop-off, organization, distribution, and packing of toy drives, food drives and angel gifts at the OnCenter! The Salvation Army is also looking for translators to volunteer at these events. To sign up, contact Alison LoVuolo by email at alison.lovuolo@use.salvationarmy.org or by phone at 315.956.2108.

• Ringing the Bell: Through Christmas Eve, you will find 24 red kettles across Onondaga County. Want to help ring the bell? Sign up now, as an individual or as a group at Register to Ring.

InterFaith Works

InterFaith Works  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. 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 year,  Interfaith Works is extending its reach to New American families, families who receive services from food pantries and individuals in nursing homes. Suggested items include:

• Gift cards (Walmart, Tops, VISA)

• Hygiene products

• Non-perishable food items (Kosher/ Halal friendly)

• Blankets

• Entertainment Items (board games, card games, crosswords, etc.)

• Toys (balls, dolls, Legos, etc.)

Sign up to assemble a basket online. All baskets must be dropped off to the InterFaith Works offices at 1010 James St. in Syracuse on or prior to Friday, Dec. 12. For more information, contact Jennie Prouty, community engagement manager, at JProuty@ifwcny.org  or 315.449.3552 x128.