BY CHERYL SHUMWAY
North Country This Week

POTSDAM – The holidays will be merrier for about 400 children in need in Potsdam and several surrounding communities, thanks to the Potsdam Holiday Fund and many community donors.

This year the program is returning to its “Santa’s Workshop,” with gifts and warm clothing picked up by parents in the basement of the Potsdam United Methodist Church, but vouchers will be given to purchase food instead of food baskets.

Due to the pandemic the past two years, the program pivoted to vouchers for parents to purchase gifts, clothing, and food.

“The vouchers were well received and, in fact, we decided to keep the food voucher portion of the program, which our clients preferred to food baskets,” said Michael Griffin, Potsdam Holiday Fund Board Member.

“As in many years, the fund is having a generous response to its Giving Trees set up at 40 area businesses,” said Griffin.

“But gifts are coming up short for teens, ages 13-17. We could use gifts by Friday morning, Dec. 16, by taking a tag from one of the Giving Trees, purchasing a gift, and returning it unwrapped with a tag under the tree,” said Griffin.

Supporters can also make cash donations anytime this month online at potsdamholidayfund.org or sent to PO Box 827, Potsdam, NY 13676.

“We would like to recognize the Hobble Gobble Prediction Walk/Run for its support over 25 years, this year totaling more than $9,000. We also received a very generous donation from a perennial supporter, Randy LaValley, owner of LaValle Transportation Inc. in Potsdam.

We also give special thanks to Clarkson University Prof. Jim Peploski and the Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science for the ninth annual Dr. Jim's Chemistry Magic Show, which raised more than $1,100 and many gifts.

And, of course, Lavigne’s IGA of Potsdam, which sells "Holiday Happiness" tags at their cash registers. Over the past 14 years, they have raised more than $32,000 for the program,” said Griffin.

The Potsdam Holiday Fund, Inc. program serves residents in Potsdam, Madrid, Hopkinton, Nicholville, Brasher Falls, Chase Mills, Fort Jackson, West Stockholm and Winthrop.

The giving program started more than 30 years ago, in the late 1980’s, when the Potsdam Kiwanis and Rotary clubs assisted the Potsdam Neighborhood Center with its Community Christmas Program. Members of the two clubs and other community members later came together to form the Potsdam Holiday Fund, and it was incorporated in 2003.