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Taunton —

Hundreds of needy families got some help on Saturday when Citizens for Citizens distributed toys, winter clothes and other items for its annual Operation Christmas campaign.
Operation Christmas helped about 3,000 Taunton area children last year and, although the final numbers for this year haven’t yet been tallied, organizers expect it to surpass last year’s total.
“For a lot of people coming in, it was their first time doing it, and some were amazed at what they got,” said Debbie Araujo, director of the Citizens for Citizens Taunton office. “People were very happy. I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and this is the happiest I’ve seen them.”
The growing number of people needing help is rooted, in large part, to the economic recession, she said.
“Our fuel assistance application numbers are up as well,” she added.
Despite the poor economy, a lot of people were still able to step up and make donations this year.
“Donations have been pretty good,” Araujo said. “The community has been unbelievable bringing in monetary donations, toys and clothing.”
Araujo said the Taunton teachers collected books for the drive, the Taunton High School Key Club brought in about $800 worth of toys, the Taunton Jaycees donated pajamas and winter jackets and the Barboza family of Giant RV World brought an RV loaded with toys.
“Donations continue to come in,” Araujo said. “We’ll offer assistance right up to Christmas Eve.”
To apply for Operation Christmas, eligible parents must fill out an application, which must then be approved by an authorized agency.
“We’re trying to help them out as much as we can to maintain spirit of Christmas for these kids,” Araujo said”

“Courtesy of the Taunton Daily Gazette”

On Saturday, December 19, people began lining up at 3 a.m., sitting on lawn chairs with thermoses of hot coffee to ward off the hostile cold and threatening weather. Why would area parents patiently brave such conditions? The answer is Citizens for Citizens, Inc.’s annual Operation Christmas distribution of toys to local low-income families.

Parents waiting in line for toys

This is the day when the work of numerous volunteers, combined with generous donations from people living in Greater Fall River, culminates in the giving out of toys for children whose families can not afford to purchase gifts for them. Operation Christmas helps to make the Christmas holidays a little brighter for the less fortunate families living in our community.

New toys on the tables ready for distribution

The doors at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Griffin Street office opened at 9 a.m. and parents advanced under the attentive direction of CFC First Vice President, Butch Almeida.

CFC's First Vice President Butch Almeida conversing with the clients waiting in line for their toys

After parents’ names were verified in huge logbooks, where each entry was marked with the number and gender of children in the household, slips of paper were given to volunteers, who then filled large plastic bags with suitable toys for the children. Periodically throughout the day, trucks holding boxes of toys were unloaded and the toys were placed on tables marked with the appropriate age and gender of the recipient children.

CFC President Jim Dolin and former CFC staffer Marifran Davis checking names in the logbooks

Barbara Travis, CFC Operation Christmas Coordinator, oversees the volunteers and makes sure that all facets of the program proceed smoothly and efficiently. At the present time, more than 6,000 toys are distributed to the families that wait in line for long hours to ensure that their child has a gift under the tree on Christmas morning.

Barbara Travis reviewing data of the days activities

Barbara repeatedly states that without her “elves” (a.k.a. volunteers), this day could never happen. The volunteers help transform the big hall in the CFC main office at Griffin St. Friday evening by placing the toys on the tables along with setting out hats and mittens that were knitted by a small army of Retired Senior Volunteers from the RSVP program. Barbara arrives at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and begins to orchestrate the day’s events. Generous local vendors supply the volunteers with enough coffee and carbohydrates to keep them going throughout the day.

Volunteers Becky and Chris Dansereau

Since 1975, Citizens for Citizens, Inc. has provided Christmas toys for eligible area children (infant through 12 years of age) through the Operation Christmas Program. Each child receives two toys, along with stocking stuffers and knitted hats and mittens. At the end of the day, when everyone has collected their toys and the CFC office doors are locked, an army of Operation Christmas volunteers breath a sigh of relief, having satisfaction in the knowledge that their efforts will bring happiness to many children they may never meet, but have certainly touched with the real meaning of the Christmas season.

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