SYRACUSE -- A record number of families have signed up for this year’s Salvation Army Christmas Bureau, which means today’s Distribution Day will be busier than ever.
Beginning at 10:00 this morning, the 800 block of South State Street in downtown Syracuse between East Adams Street and Harrison Street will be closed to normal traffic due to the Christmas Bureau distribution. Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputies say they expect the closure to remain in place until around 8:00 p.m. Drivers who usually travel that stretch of State Street are asked to take alternate routes, and police say detour signs will be posted.
The Salvation Army says approximately 3,000 families registered for this year's event at the Oncenter. That's an increase of 500 families from last year. In response to the increasing need, Wegmans has donated more than 17,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to this year's Distribution Day. The shipment, which began arriving Tuesday, includes 4,800 pounds of canned vegetables, 5,700 pounds of pasta and 1,200 pounds of canned soups and meals. Wegmans has also provided 3,000 loaves of bread.
The Christmas Bureau is a community-wide effort that provides turkeys, food baskets, toys, books and stocking stuffers to low-income families each Christmas. The pre-registered families will get to choose gifts for approximately 7,500 children and will receive food baskets packed by an army of volunteers.
"What makes Christmas Bureau truly special is the number of companies, community groups, schools, churches and individuals that come together each year to make sure that struggling families have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas," says Major George Polarek, Syracuse-area Coordinator for The Salvation Army.
Over the last three years, the Christmas Bureau has served more than 9,000 families and more than 22,000 children.
