University’s Holiday Sharing Program marks 20 years

The holiday season will soon be here, and the Holiday Sharing Program is gearing up for another year of making the season brighter for dozens of local families.

The Holiday Sharing Program pairs Syracuse University schools, colleges and departments with families in need during the holidays. Families identified have had a setback during the course of the past year due to illness, job loss, fire or another situation. Families are only allowed to participate in the program once.

Families are identified by counselors at eight Syracuse city schools: Bellevue, Seymour, Dr. Weeks, Franklin, H.W. Smith, Delaware and Percy Hughes; as well as community groups including the Veterans Center, Hopps Memorial A.M.E. Church, First English Lutheran Church and All Saints Church.

This program is purely voluntary. If your department elects to participate, you will be asked to collect gifts for each member of “your family” and food that will make up a holiday meal and help stock the family’s pantry.

This year’s family information will be distributed to participating departments in mid-November. Pickup and delivery of all donations will take place on the mornings of Tuesday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 21.

If you are interested in participating in this program, please register via the web form at http://its.syr.edu/kjpatten/holidaysharing/holidayform.cfm or contact Julie Hughes at 443-5444.