Delivering Christmas: Two-for-one holiday giving

Last Tuesday, I once again donned my incredibly stylish (ahem) ‘Delivering Christmas’ apron and my festive Santa’s hat (complete with its sprig of holly) to help another of our local charitable organizations do good this holiday season. Well, actually that’s not entirely true. I was really helping not one, but two local organizations.

There is also a distinct possibility that my holiday finery only stayed on long enough for the photo op, but don’t tell Jeff.

The occasion was NBT’s Annual Holiday Spectacular, the Business After Hours event they host each December in conjunction with Commerce Chenango. Like most BAH events, there was the requisite crowd of local business people, the networking and, of course, plenty of delectable finger foods. But this was about more than just socializing. A total of six local non-profits were also on hand raising awareness and money, as well as collecting donated items, for their organizations.

Canned goods and other non-perishable food items were collected for Roots and Wings; Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County were selling the last of their holiday poinsettias as well as ornaments for Light Up a Life; the Chenango County Council of the Arts was selling tickets to their spring raffle, the grand prize being a three-day trip to New York City; and Colorscape Chenango was raffling off an original acrylic painting by Jonas Gerard in support of the annual arts festival.

And last, but certainly not least, was the Chenango County SPCA. Staff and supporters of which were on hand to sell teddy bears in support of the animal shelter.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. That’s only five organizations. But you see, the SPCA’s sale wasn’t just to benefit themselves. Each of the cute, cuddly stuffed bears they sold were in turn donated to Toys for Tots. For $10, you could help two good causes. Two for the price of one. Now that’s what I call giving.