The 25th annual Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Operation Christmas Telethon was held at the New Harbor Mall in Fall River on December 2 through December 4. Operation Christmas purchases and distributes new toys to families in the Greater Fall River area in order to ensure that even families struggling with poverty are able to provide gifts from Santa Claus for their children on Christmas Day.

Barbara Travis, the long-time CFC Director of Operation Christmas, was present during the broadcast of the Telethon, overseeing the hard-working volunteer staff and greeting local dignitaries who lent their support and encouragement to this worthy endeavor.

Many of the same volunteers participate every year, helping in any way they can, be it answering the phones to record bids on auction items or bringing the bids to volunteers who change the prices for auctioned items on the “big” board. Other volunteers record the winning bids and ensure that the identity of each auction winner is verified. Students from the B.M.C. Durfee High School FRED TV Program broadcast the entire three days of telethon activities to cable Channel 17 in Fall River Channel 9 in Somerset and Channel 98 on Swansea public access cable channels also carried the live feed from FRED TV.

Fall River Mayor William Flanagan and State Senator Michael Rodrigues made an appearance at the Telethon headquarters to encourage bidding on the items donated by local businesses, charitable groups, and Operation Christmas individual supporters, along with other city and state officials lending their enthusiastic in-person support to the event.

Items available to this year’s auction bidders included two Amazon Kindles, Boston Celtics tickets, flat screen TV’s,  and many other electronic items.

Not only were there many useful and interesting items being auctioned off during the Telethon, but there was also seasonal entertainment being provided by area youth singing groups, and musicians playing live music for the crowds of shoppers at the New Harbor Mall. Area restaurants provided a delicious bounty of food and beverages for the volunteers.