CANTON -- More than 420 Canton-area children will have a brighter Christmas this year, thanks to the Giving Tree Church and Community Program.

“Each child receives several toys, clothes and a book”, explained Fran Bailey, program coordinator.

The gifts are given to children ages birth to 18 of families in need who live in the Canton, Hermon-DeKalb, and Edward-Knox school districts.[img_assist|nid=249382|title=From left, Al Schwartz, Pat Cassara, Fran Bailey, and Pat Alden do last minute organizing of the Giving Tree holiday gift program, part of the Canton Church and Community organization.|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=250|height=146]

The Giving Tree is a non-denominational program supported by local churches, organizations, and individual donations.

“I am always amazed at the generosity of the people in the local community,” said Bailey.

“It’s hard to find a local business up here that doesn’t contribute,” she said. “Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs give generous monetary donation but there are many others who also help.”

PJs for Xmas and the B99.3 FM - Potsdam Laundry coat drive donated clothing. Canton School and Canton Public Library gave books. St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton, many local businesses and individuals also helped.

“The Canton Fire Department started the program, I think, in the 1970s, with slightly used gifts. Quickly, the Church and Community program became coordinator,” said Pat Alden, board president.

About 90 families were helped by the program when Alden was coordinator six years ago. The last two years have had a large increase in the number of families served. This year it has grown to 168 families.

“It seems to reflect a greater need in the community,” said Bailey.

Presents were distributed at the Canton fire station. Parents picked their gifts last Friday and Saturday, with the help of over 30 volunteers.

“The volunteers are ‘elves’ who guide parents from table to table to help them make their choices,” said Bailey.

“I have been taking the gift tags for years and bought presents. Then I saw in the paper they were looking for volunteers,” said first year volunteer Susan Holz.

A total of over 90 volunteers worked during the year for the Giving Tree program, as well as the Church and Community Thrift Store and Food Pantry, and other charities.

“I couldn’t do it without the help of all the volunteers,” said Bailey.

“There could be nobody better in charge than Fran. She is extremely organized, and her focus is on the families,” said Alden, past program coordinator.

“I remember taking gift tags each year with my daughter, doing it since 1976 when we moved to Canton. It seems to me this is what holidays are all about, giving to others,” said Alden.