Operation Santa Claus returns in year of extreme need - TribLIVE

sambitasa.blogspot.com

Operation Santa Claus has been helping Western Pennsylvania families with the gift of a holiday meal for 36 years, and this year may prove to be the most challenging in the long history of the nonprofit organization.

“The need is greater than ever this year. We’re trying our best to fulfill our mission and provide holiday meals to our neighbors in need,” said Lindsay Berdell Bock, marketing director for Trib Total Media. Bock oversees Operation Santa Claus, a cooperative effort by Trib Total Media, Shop ’n Save, The Salvation Army and generous donors.

This holiday season, there are 52,200 jobless in Allegheny County and 13,500 in Westmoreland County, largely because of the covid-19 pandemic, according to state Labor and Industry data. As of mid-November, about 29,240 Allegheny County residents and about 7,950 Westmoreland County residents had filed for unemployment benefits.

Because of the challenges of fundraising during a pandemic, Operation Santa Claus started seeking donations from the public Nov. 1, Bock said. A goal of $87,500 has been set for this year to help serve more than 5,000 families this holiday season.

“All of the money donated will stay local. It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Bock said.

Operation Santa Claus works with 24 Salvation Army units across Southwestern Pennsylvania, Bock said, from Aliquippa to Uniontown, Braddock to Mt. Pleasant, Greensburg to New Kensington, and Latrobe to Jeannette.

“During the holidays, a lot of families are more in need and struggle to provide a Christmas meal. This year, it is even more difficult to provide even a meal in general,” said Capt. Ashley Luzader of The Salvation Army in Greensburg, which screens recipients.

“Not only does the food from Operation Santa Claus provide for a nutritious and sumptuous holiday meal, it provides the families with food for leftovers,” said Capt. Scott Flanders of the New Kensington Salvation Army. “There’s no school, so there are no breakfasts and lunches. These meals are essential.”

In Greensburg, the Salvation Army is hoping to provide a Christmas meal to more than 400 people in need, Luzader said.

“Operation Santa Claus has been our go-to way to serve Christmas dinners,” Luzader said.

“We are deeply appreciative of all that the Trib Total Media and Shop ’n Save does,” especially this year, said Flanders, whose Salvation Army unit anticipates serving more than 340 people.

There have been close to 200,000 families served through Operation Santa Claus in the 25 years he has been involved with the endeavor, said Ray Charley, whose family owns Shop ’n Save supermarkets in Greensburg and Murrysville. He coordinates Shop ’n Save’s efforts.

“This year has been a real challenge” to secure the food and location for handling distribution, Charley said. Covid-19 restrictions have limited the number of volunteers that can help box and load trucks, and it’s been difficult to find a vacant warehouse for storing the food. Some non-perishable products have been in short supply as well, Charley said.

“The entire supply chain has really been disrupted,” Charley said.

Chris Mintus, grocery procurement merchandiser for United Natural Foods Inc., which acquired Shop ’n Save supplier SuperValu, “is working diligently to obtain the product to distribute” at a very good price, Charley said.

Because they cannot have service groups or students working in close contact to fill grocery bags, Charley said that in the Salvation Army communities where Shop ’n Save stores are located, such as Greensburg, the recipients will receive coupons to shop for food at the local stores.

To help a needy family with a Christmas dinner, a donation of just $17.25 provides a family of four with a nutritious holiday meal. But no donation is too small for Operation Santa Claus. And donations are tax-deductible.

Donation coupons will be published in the newspaper throughout the holiday season, along with lists of donors. Donors can remain anonymous, or they can write a brief message to accompany the acknowledgement of their gift.

Families also can contribute to Operation Santa Claus with a $5 donation for a “Letter from Santa.” Those requests must be received by Dec. 6, and the letters will be delivered by mail before Christmas.

In addition to seeking monetary donations, Bock said donations of new and gently used children’s books are being accepted.

For more information or to donate online, visit https://osc.triblive.com/.

Patricia Griffith…$100

In memory of Kodie Bear Mellon. Mama loves and misses you…$86.25

In memory of Wilbur – Coletta & family…$50

In memory of Tom Jamison – Gary & Cindy Homer and our children and grandchildren…$50

In loving memory of J. Frank Moore – Wife…$25

God is love…$20

Five anonymous…$111

Daily total: $442.25

Total to date: $442.25

Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252, jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter .