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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off

The 34th annual Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Operation Christmas fund raising drive held its traditional telethon and auction at the New Harbor Mall on December 5th and 6th for the holiday benefit of thousands of families in the Greater Fall River area.

In 1975, the Operation Christmas program began with a distribution of used toys to Fall River tots. The program has grown tremendously and now provides new toys at Christmastime to over 5,000 Greater Fall River area children. Operation Christmas is funded entirely by donations from area residents and businesses, with all funds raised used to purchase new toys for local children.

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 who may have otherwise gone without gifts will receive toys for Christmas. In December, Citizens for Citizens, Inc. staff people and volunteers will dedicate countless hours to the work of preparing gifts from Santa Claus, culminating in the distribution of toys and games to families that otherwise would be facing a bleak holiday.

Under the able leadership and convincing diplomacy of Operation Christmas Coordinator, Barbara Travis, the Fall River effort has achieved dramatic success over the years. According to Ms. Travis, “It is a wonderful feeling to see how our community rallies around Operation Christmas. The telethon, auction, and organizing of the toy distribution involve many dedicated people who put a great deal of time and energy into the project.

We rely on 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.” Special praise was given to the Durfee High School students who are enrolled in the FRED TV production and supply all the technical direction and live feed production to Fall River cable customers.

The Operation Christmas Telethon has become a holiday tradition for many Fall Riverites. Local and regional dignitaries get involved in the two-day event, donating their time to promote the fund raising campaign. This year the telethon was visited by United States Senate candidate, Representative Michael Capuano from Somerville. Mr. Capuano sat down with CFC’s Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. and Barbara Travis to speak about the toy drive and other programs that CFC operates.

Mr. Sullivan said “Mr. Capuano has supported CFC’s antipoverty programs in the House of Representatives and will continue to do so if elected to the Senate.” Barbara Travis informed Representative Capuano that she had spent part of her youth in Somerville. Many talented local groups and individuals also provided free entertainment during the live telecast.

All of the donations to Operation Christmas are used to purchase new toys and games for children up to age 12 years old. Distribution of the Operation Christmas gifts will take place on December 19th at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. Griffin Street location, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off

The Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Senior Cyber Café Program held another graduation at the 111 Durfee Street classroom site on December 4, 2009 for students that had recently completed the course requirements of the program.

The Senior Cyber Café Program has been a tremendous success. Now in its 7th year of operation, the Senior Cyber Café has had nearly one thousand Fall River area senior citizens complete its computer training classes. Shellie Castro, CFC’s Human Resource Director, created the program after witnessing cyber cafes firsthand while traveling throughout Europe.

The need for the computer training classes has not diminished since the inception of the program and there is a waiting list of seniors wishing to enroll in the program. The Senior Cyber Café classes offer seniors a friendly atmosphere in which to learn basic computer use, including an introduction to use of the Internet. The computer training classes run for a ten-week session, providing forty hours of training.

Starting off the graduation celebration, Shellie Castro welcomed the graduating senior students and congratulated them on completing the course work.

CFC’s First Vice President, Butch Almeida, served as master of ceremonies and provided all in attendance with a dose of mirth and merriment. Butch also explained that the CFC Senior Aide Program Director, James Souza, had assisted in securing the funding for the computer training instructor and the first generation of computers used by the students in the Senior Cyber Café.

Also in attendance was the Assistant Secretary of Elder Affairs for Massachusetts, Ruth Palombo. Ms. Palombo told the seniors that she used to get “cold sweats when ever she had to turn on her computer,” and said, “I am so happy that all of you have learned new skills to assist you in searching for jobs.” She closed by saying, “I want you all to know that the Department of Elderly Affairs supports these types of programs and we stand behind your efforts in learning the new skills.”

Senior Cyber Café instructor Arlene Zajac presented a Certificate of Completion to all the graduates in attendance, and a buffet lunch was provided after the graduation ceremonies were completed.

[View with PicLens]

◄123►

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off

On November 30, the Safe Teen Health Youths group, sponsored by the CFC Family Planning Program, participated in the 2009 Health & Wellness Fair held in the Atrium Room at Fall River Government Center.

The Health & Wellness Fair activities began with the raising of the AIDS Flag at Gromada Plaza in downtown Fall River. The 2009 Fair had more than twenty participating agencies disseminating information on HIV counseling, HIV tests, birth control, and other matters concerning health and wellness. The CFC Family Planning Safe Teen Health Youths group created a banner that included the theme, “Human Rights & Access to Treatment,” for this year’s World AIDS Day.

Stationed at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Family Planning booth were Jessica Pereira and Isaiah Darby. The positions for both Jessica and Isaiah at Citizens for Citizens, Inc. are being funded by a Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

Ann Medeiros, CFC Family Planning Health Education Director, said “Jessica and Isaiah will be helping youths in grades 2nd through 8th living in the Pleasant View Housing Project with their homework.” Funding has also been provided for ten local youth positions for the organizing and participation in Peer Influence Groups in both Fall River and Taunton. The ARRA funding is intended to provide job opportunities and help with economic recovery on a local and national scale.

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off