This Christmas, we were struck by the generosity of our youngest citizens. Time after time, we heard that young people asked the adults in their lives for meaningful involvement in community issues. There were fortunate to have employers, parents and teachers who listened and felt the same way. Family hopes our readers find inspiration in their actions.

A Tradition of Giving

In the Fall 2003 issue of Family Ties, we featured ten your olds Marina Krupp and Emma Wasser, who donated money raised in place of birthday gifts to Family's Darmstadt Shelter for the Homeless. This year, Marina's eight year old sister, Autumn, decided that she didn't want to receive any gifts for her birthday. She chose the Family Inn homeless shelter as her charity and was able to raise $330.

Juanita Hotchkiss, Coordinator at the Family Inn asked Autumn why she chose to donate her birthday gifts. Citing her sister's continuing efforts, she said "I just have too much stuff!" This was actually Autumn's second birthday party for charity. At age seventeen, Cavan Healey is also a seasoned Family supporter. This Christmas Eve, Cavan came into Family's New Paltz Walk In Center with $100 to donate. His father was with him and the money was his father's Christmas gift to Cavan. "About seven years ago, Cavan cam in and donated the money from his piggy bank," recalls New Paltz Program Director Kathy Cartagena. "I don't remember the amount, but I was quite impressed with him. They were surprised that I remembered that donation. How could I forget? It was so heart-warming." Cartagena assured Cavan that he would be very successful in his life and an asset to the community. "And the more successful he is, the better it will be for Family," she observed to the pair. "We laughed and wished each other happy holiday."

Students of All Ages Get Creative

Students were active in school projects for the holidays as well. School social worker Joanne Freedman worked with boys at the Meagher School who donated beautiful fire engines to Family that they had built themselves. Students working with Saugerties Junior High School Technology teacher, John Lombardo, made eighty trucks, finished with impressive attention to detail. These and other caring gifts made Christmas special for over five hundred children being served by Family.

Hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards and art supplies were given to teens at Family House by the Bailey Middle School. In Ellenville, the Cooperative Nursery School children did chores at home to raise money for gifts, presenting Family of Ellenville with $156.50 in coins. Firth grade students at Zena Elementary School hosted a school-wide Holiday Shoebox Project to benefit local children. More than sixty-five brightly wrapped boxes filled with books, puzzles, art supplies and personal care items were donated.

Principal Gale Aidala liked the Shoe Box project because it was one that families could do together. She observed, "This project tied in with our recent Character Education trait - grateful. The students understand how they can be grateful in what they can do for others." Fifth grade student Elaina Eccleston said it in her own words. "It makes me feel good that kids are going to get stuff for the holiday and that we made it a little bit brighter for them."