People’s Place expects increased use of programs
Giveaways’ registration set to begin in October
Registration is set to begin in October for three popular holiday giveaway programs that have drawn a steady increase in participation during the past eight years.
Registration starts at People’s Place in early October for the three programs, “Talkin Turkey,” “Project Santa” and “Bag Holiday Hunger.”
People’s Place Executive Director Christine Hein said Monday she expects an even larger increase this year given the spread of COVID-19.
Hein said People’s Place — a food pantry/thrift store at 17 St. James St. in Midtown Kingston — has already seen increases in its regular services since the pandemic began.
“Since March 2020, People’s Place has experienced over a 300% increase in services, over 800 new households have needed assistance and they have distributed over half a million meals,” Hein said in a statement.
People’s Place is anticipating providing Thanksgiving packages to more than 1,800 families and gift packages to 2,500 children or more this year via Project Santa, Hein said. That is 500 more children than in 2019.
For “Talkin Turkey,” the agen
cy’s Thanksgiving giveaway, registration begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Distribution day is on Monday, Nov. 23.
Last year, Hein said that more than 1,600 households received Thanksgiving food. Each year, she said, that number increases by 100 or more.
The longstanding Thanksgiving program offers a turkey, potatoes, stuffing, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, butter, and an apple pie to “families who are experiencing financial challenges,” according to Hein.
Project Santa and Bag Holiday Hunger registration will be held from Tuesday, Oct. 6 through Monday, Dec. 7. The distribution day is Thursday, Dec. 10.
Hein said Project Santa, which is a toy and other items giveaway, has been held at People’s Place for nearly five decades.
Project Santa provides toys and gifts to children ages infant to 14.
Children receive a main toy, board game or craft item, winter weather items, books and stocking stuffers.
Hein said that some toys are donated by various businesses and community groups. This year, she said, toy drives may not be as plentiful, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hein said she expects People’s Place will use about $60,000 from its coffers to purchase items for Project Santa, about $20,000 more than the agency usually spends.
Bag Holiday Hunger program provides families with children ages 3 to 18 with a bag containing breakfast, lunch and snacks.
This program is to cover the breakfast and lunch food gap created by schools being closed during the holiday break.
Registration can be done by visiting People’s Place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
People signing up for any of the three programs must supply identification to prove Ulster County residency of all household members.
Financial donations to all three of these programs will be critical to helping keep the “magic of the holidays alive for over 2,000 local families,” Hein said.
Donations can be made online at peoplesplaceuc.org, mailed or dropped off in person to the agency.
Several volunteers are needed to organize and distribute these programs, Hein said.