Giving is Receiving this Holiday Season

As we gather with friends and family during the holiday season, it is important to remember those less fortunate in our communities. Many of our neighbors remain in difficult circumstances and rely upon the generosity and charity of others during financially trying times of the year. Fortunately, our region is blessed with a number of upstanding charitable organizations and individuals who work hard each day to assist community members in need.

However, local organizations can only thrive when supported by those in our community. That’s why I am encouraging residents to make time this holiday season to volunteer or donate to a worthy cause. If you are interested in giving your time during the holiday season, there are several quality organizations I would like to share with you.

As I am sure many of you have seen when visiting our local grocery stores and other shopping centers, the Red Kettle Campaign is underway to support the Salvation Army. Residents interested in joining the campaign can sign up to ring the bell by visiting http://empire.salvationarmy.org/EmpireNY/volunteer. The Toys for Tots program also has boxes located at businesses, local government offices, and other locations across the region where residents can donate a new, unwrapped toy. Our area soup kitchens are also always looking for volunteers and the need is especially heavy during the colder months.

It is also important to keep in mind that many local organizations rely upon generous financial contributions to executive their mission throughout the year. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned donors may be disappointed to discover that according to the Attorney General, only 37.9 percent of donors’ contributions in response to telemarketer solicitations actually went to charities. If you are interested in supporting an organization with a monetary donation during the holiday season, I strongly encourage you to review the Pennies for Charities report released each year by the Attorney General’s Office at www.charitiesnys.com. The site will provide you a number of resources, including information on how you can review a charity’s financial reports; tips to protect yourself from potential scams; and ways to file a report if you feel you may be the victim of a scam.

As always, I want to thank the residents across our community for their support and generosity each and every day. We are truly lucky to live in one of the most beautiful and supportive parts of our state, surrounded by so many caring friends and neighbors. Please accept my best wishes this holiday season and if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Warmest regards,

Senator Cathy Young
57th District