People began lining up at 2:00 in the morning, sitting on lawn chairs with thermoses of hot coffee to muffle the frigid cold. The reason for waiting in these hostile conditions is Citizens for Citizens, Inc.’s annual Operation Christmas distribution of 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.

People wating in line for toys at the CFC Griffin Street office

The doors at CFC’s Griffin Street office open at 9:00 a.m. and parents advance under the attentive direction of CFC’s 1st Vice President, Butch Almeida.

Butch Almeida directing the clients

After the parents’ names are located in the huge logbooks, each entry having been marked with the number and gender of children in the household, slips of paper are given to “runners” that fill large black plastic bags with toys for the children in each household.

CFC Board President Jim Dolin verfying the households receiving toys

Throughout the day, trucks holding boxes of toys are unloaded, emptied, and the toys placed on tables with the corresponding age and gender of the children.

CFC Operation Christmas Coordinator, Barbara Travis, oversees the volunteers and ensures that all facets of the program proceed smoothly and efficiently. At the present time, more than 6,000 area children are beneficiaries of this program.

Operation Christmas Coordinator Barbara Travis

Since 1975, Citizens for Citizens, Inc. has provided toys for all eligible children ( infant through 12 years of age ). Each child receives two toys along with stocking stuffers and knitted hats provided by Retired Senior Volunteer Program participants.

Perennial Operation Christmas Volunteers Betty & Bob Ferreira

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 collective sigh of relief, having satisfaction in the knowledge that their efforts will bring a smile to many children they may never see, but have certainly touched with the spirit of the Christmas season.

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Taunton —

Since it started 30 years ago, Operation Christmas has been run by Debbie Araujo.

But there wasn’t time to celebrate the anniversary Saturday, as she buzzed around the Citizens for Citizens office preparing for the annual clothing and toy giveaway for needy parents — several of whom started lining up outside the door at 5 a.m.

Wearing a blue Santa hat, a walkie-talkie headset, and a red T-shirt with “Be nice, I know Santa” printed across the front, Araujo instructed her 65 volunteer elves to deliver a little extra cheer as they prepared to distribute the winter clothing and toys. “It’s been tough economically this year,” she said.

Finally, after two days of almost non-stop preparation, the front door opened at 10 a.m. and Operation Christmas was underway.

“It works like clockwork,” remarked Fran Brezinski, who organized the bins of childrens books for the gift drive. She marveled at Araujo’s system of helpers, runners, and other volunteers shuttling bags of gifts to those who can’t afford Christmas.

Marcie Luz-Jones waited five hours in 20-degree weather to be the first though door — and the first to leave so that she could get back to her three young children who were with her mother.

Operation Christmas provides the gifts she can’t buy with the money from her part-time job. “It helps a lot,” she said. “My kids love to see presents under the tree.”

Lisa Powell and Sean Dodd requested a Sesame Street-type gift for their 2-year-old daughter Sayde. “It helps,” Powell said, “It allows us to spend more on food and other things.”

Araujo said 2008 might be the busiest year in terms of calls for fuel assistance and other programs offered by Citizens for Citizens. “The demand for for all our services, not just Operation Christmas, are up,” she said.  “People are being pushed to the max.” But, she added, corporate and individual donations have also been strong.

As volunteers continued to seek her help Saturday, Araujo barely had time to reflect on her 30 years as head elf — except to confess, “I’m freakin’ old.”

Operation Christmas runs through Christmas Eve. Taunton-area residents can apply to the program by calling Citizens for Citizens at (508) 823-6346.

“Courtesy of the Taunton Daily Gazette”

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The 33rd annual Operation Christmas drive held its telethon and auction again for the benefit of thousands of families in Greater Fall River at the New Harbor Mall December 5th through the 7th.

Since 1975 the program that began with the distribution of used toys has grown to help over 5,000 Greater Fall River area children. Now the program, funded entirely from donations from area residents and businesses, with all funds raised used to purchase new toys for the children.

The enthusiastic students from FREDTV who work the cameras and monitors and make the telethon a professional production.

The story of CFC’s Operation Christmas is one of community spirit, of sharing and compassion.This year, as in years past, thousands of youngsters will receive toys for Christmas who may have otherwise gone without.

In December, the work of staff people and volunteers who dedicate countless hours to the effort, will culminate with the distribution of toys and games to families that otherwise would be facing a bleak holiday.

Congressman Barney Frank with CFC Board President Jim Dolin & Barbara Travis

Under the able and persuasive tactics of Barbara Travis, the Fall River effort has achieved dramatic success over the years.The telethon has become a holiday tradition for many as local and regional dignitaries get involved in the three-day event as they do their part to promote the fund raising campaign. All of the proceeds are used to purchase toys and games for children up to 12 years old.

Barbara Travis, Barney Frank and Tom O’Grady

This year the telethon was visited by the CBS “Sixty Minutes” crew that was traveling with Congressman Barney Frank as he was meeting with constituents in his district. The Congressman sat and chatted with Barbara and long time visitor to the telethon Tom O’Grady.

Members of the “Sixty Minutes” crew at work

According to Ms. Travis, “It is a wonderful feeling to see how our community rallies around Operation Christmas. The telethon and auction and everyone involves many dedicated people who put a great deal of time and energy into the production. We rely on the community support and it is there for all to see when the cameras are turned on and we go live into the homes of thousands of city residents.”

All the funds raised at the telethon are used to purchase toys for the children. The distribution of toys will take place December 20th at the Griffin St. location beginning at 9:00 a.m.

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Citizens for Citizens, Inc. Family Child Care program recently participated in a hands-on workshop on the new food pyramid (www.MyPyramid.gov), and the preparation of healthy snacks taught by nutritionist Jessica Williams of the UMass Extension Nutrition Program.  The Family Child Care program offers a series of provider food training meetings three times a year to ensure that childcare providers are serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in their care. Materials from the Children in Balance program were also distributed to providers.

The Family Child Care program is a home-based program geared for a mixed age group which includes infants, toddlers and preschoolers.  The purpose of the program is to provide a safe, informal, healthy, nurturing environment for young children while the parent/parents are working, attending school or seeking employment.

The program also provides a series of food training meetings three times a year to ensure that child care providers are serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in their care.  The curriculum includes both food safety and the preparation of nutritious foods for children.  Providers follow the regulations provided by the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

In addition, by following the Department of Early Education and Care regulations, children have at least a half hour of active exercise appropriate for young children.

For more information about the program, please contact Citizens for Citizens, Inc. Family Child Care Coordinator Linda Wheelock at 508-324-7517.

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