BY CHERYL SHUMWAY

North Country This Week

MASSENA – The holiday spirit of giving is still alive at the Massena Neighborhood Center, despite the challenges of the pandemic this year.

This year 718 individuals in need are being served, made up of 303 children, 352 adults and 63 seniors, said Emily LaShomb, director of the center at 61 Beach St.

Recipients receiving food and gifts are from Massena, Norfolk, Brasher and Bombay areas.

“We’ve had to revamp our Christmas program due to COVID,” she said.

Applications were taken over the phone, rather than in person. Also, pickup of food and gifts was a drive-through format, with assigned times over five days. In previous years it has been a one-day pickup at Massena’s Neighborhood Center, 61 Beach St., said LaShomb.

“We were not able to deliver to Norfolk or Brasher this year, because we did not have as many volunteer drivers,” LaShomb said. “But the Volunteer Transportation Center is making 17 deliveries in the Massena area for people who can’t get here.”

LaShomb gave credit to Becky Clark for her hard work as the Christmas Coordinator and full-time volunteer at the center.

“It’s been very hectic and very busy this year at the center,” said Clark. “We’ve had to limit the number of volunteers because of the COVID restrictions.”

Clark said she had stayed up most of the night before to finish organizing for “Bagging Day” on Dec. 12.

Clark said she was thankful for the many volunteers who came Saturday to help put food and gifts into bags.  She also thanked Italian Affair for donating food to feed the volunteers that day.

Volunteers included people from Alcoa, Police Activities League of Massena (PALS), Massena Drug Free Coalition, United States Postal Service and Mike Mayette, full-time volunteer at the center.

Alcoa, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, local churches, Jefferson School,  and individual community members made donations to the program.

The Food Bank and North Country Grown Cooperative supplied food for Christmas and a few additional days, including meat, squash, potatoes, juice, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal and desserts.

Gift cards of $35 per child, hats, mittens, face masks, sanitizer, hygiene items, and stocking stuffers were also given.

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