2 weeks Ago By By DEB EVERTS [email protected]
LITTLE VALLEY — A small group of residents who call themselves Little Valley Holiday Cheer are set on making the season much brighter for local children in need. Again this year, the group will be providing Christmas gifts for children of families who live in the Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District. Secretary Nell Fellows said the group purchased gifts for approximately 100 children of all ages in 2022, and last year they provided gifts for 47 families including about 110 children.
She said they are on par to do the same this season. “We will provide sleepwear, socks, undergarments, at least one outfit and two to three toys per child. This is the minimum provided, but we are usually able to provide more,” she said.
“This year, we also aim to provide each family with a food box with items for a Christmas dinner.” In addition, the group distributes “Blessing Bags” to senior citizens, those who do so much for others or people who just need a little pick-me-up. Fellows said the holiday bags include items such as small hams, jars of peanut butter and Amish-homemade jam, blankets, socks and hats, personal care items and puzzle books.
She said the bags will be personally delivered door-to-door in early December. Fellows said some families are “adopted” by other members of the community, and all are anonymous. She said members of the committee and volunteers shop for those families who are not adopted out.
Several local organizations, businesses and churches have joined the Holiday Cheer group to buy gifts for some of the families. Fellows said the Little Valley branch of Cattaraugus County Bank, the county clerk’s office and county courts as well as Rock City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram have adopted families. She said the churches include the First Congregational Church, Grace Bible Baptist, Wesleyan and Bridge of Hope, all in Little Valley, along with the Brooklyn Free Methodist Church of East Otto.
Little Valley Holiday Cheer was founded in 1985 by a small group of dedicated Little Valley residents who saw there were local people in need during the holiday season. Today, the non-profit group includes committee members Ann Paschen Poole, President; Nell Fellows, Secretary; Kristina Charlesworth Golden, Treasurer; along with Karel Hamilton, Gretchen Taft, Rita Harper, Martha Memmott, Laura Cudney, Debbie Gordon, Linda Gordon and Teri Parker. THE GROUP has been busy with several fundraising events this year, Fellows said.
They held their first-ever bake sale in mid-March at the Cattaraugus County Bank and the county building in Little Valley. “About $600 was raised from this one event, and we look forward to doing it again next spring,” she said. In an effort to raise funds for their activities during the holiday season, the group held their biggest fundraiser of the year from early October until Nov.
5 — a chicken and biscuit dinner, along with a basket raffle, at the Little Valley Fire Hall. Fellows said 180 dinners were sold for both dining onsite and takeout. “This year, 95 baskets were generously donated for the raffle.
Some were handmade gifts, some were goods or services and almost all had a theme,” she said. Fellows said they are also assisted by generous cash donations from individuals, service clubs and businesses in the area. To help the Holiday Cheer group with its mission, M&T Bank in Ellicottville is currently collecting toys for children newborn to age 10, diapers/pull-ups and gift cards for preteens and teens.
Items may be dropped off during regular business hours until Nov. 30. The non-profit organization also provides aid — usually in the form of clothing and hygiene products — in emergencies such as a fire.
Qualifying people may apply for assistance for their children during the holiday season. The simple, straightforward application asks for gender, child’s age, likes and dislikes. This year’s deadline is Nov.
30 because adopting families need time to shop. However, anyone in need will not be turned away after this date. Applications were mailed to those who received assistance last season.
Anyone interested in receiving an application may call Ann Poole at (716) 244-3170 or Karel Hamilton at (716) 581-3066. More information can be found on the group’s Facebook page — Little Valley Holiday Cheer — or email [email protected] .
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