Community Action coordinating Christmas gifts for 149 kids

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Kristina Ettinger, new lead case manager at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, shows one of the requests for Christmas gifts she has received. This year, 293 applications were received for holiday assistance, representing 793 individuals. (Right) This “Giving Tree” is on display at Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More Store, where people are invited to bring in their Christmas wish or take a wish and fill it.

ALBION – Kristina Ettinger started her new job as lead case manager at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee just in time to be greeted by the rush of applications for holiday assistance.

This year, 293 applications were received, representing 793 individuals, according to Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action.

Ettinger brings to the table previous experience as a prevention educator at GCASA, an employee of CRFS and M&T Bank.

She was contemplating a job change when she stopped at Community Action to turn in some paper work to Jeanette Worsley for her daughter. When Worsley mentioned that was her last day there, Ettinger got to thinking.

She already knew Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, so Ettinger sent her a message saying she was going to apply.

“Having been previously employed in human services, I knew the services Community Action offered, so I sent in my application and they hired me the next day,” Ettinger said.

She started Oct. 1.

Community Action has been providing holiday assistance to families in Orleans and Genesee counties for many decades, according to Hungerford.

This couldn’t be accomplished without the generous support of their communities.

Community Action receives very generous donations of toys from the Pirate Toy Fund in Spencerport, Ettinger said.

“Our local citizens are always very supportive, also, as are a lot of organizations,” she said. “Because of them, 149 kids will get toys for Christmas this year.”

Ettinger looked through the stack of requests on her desk, picking up one from a little boy who asked for a red rose to give to his mommy. Another child said his mom wanted a love seat, but she would be happy with anything she got.

A “Giving Tree” has been set up at the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More Store by manager Cassie Healy. There is still time for families to bring in their children’s Christmas wishes and hang them on the tree to be adopted. Healy said they had five wishes, all of whom were adopted by one individual.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Individuals can still submit their children’s wishes as long as they are returned in time for families to pick up their holiday boxes on Dec. 19. Employees from Velocitii in Medina have volunteered to come and help hand out the boxes.

Healy has decided to leave the Giving Tree up through January. There are currently gift cards on the tree which anyone can choose to get a free winter coat, two pair of socks or $5 off any purchase in the Main Street Store.

“I want to help any people who need it through the winter,” Healy said.

Each family who requested assistance will receive gifts from children under the age of 18, in addition to plenty of food for Christmas dinner. This includes their choice of a ham, turkey or chicken; potatoes; stuffing; and a cookie mix. In addition, they each receive a produce box filled with items the Albion FFA collected. This includes a half gallon of milk, yogurt, apples, instant mashed potatoes, carrots, eggs and butter.

Donated produce which isn’t needed to fill the requests for food boxes has been given to other organizations which help those in need, such as food pantries, churches, day care centers, “Code Red,” Head Start and Care-A-Van Ministries in Batavia.

One lucky family who picks up their holiday box will receive a special treat for their children. The Medina Railroad Museum has donated two tickets to ride the Polar Express and Community Action will choose which family will receive them.