Children In New Hampshire To Get Thousands Of Gifts

CONCORD, NH — For six decades, Operation Santa Claus, a charitable endeavor spearheaded by SEA/SEIU Local 1984, the state employee’s union, have gathered up gifts for New Hampshire’s children in need and this year was no different. On Dec. 13, 2017, volunteers including active and retired state employees, President Rich Gulla, members of the New Hampshire National Guard, Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, and others loaded up National Guard trucks with gifts – thousands of them – to be distributed to regional offices and children around the state.

Due to various circumstances, according to officials, thousands of children in New Hampshire are unable to receive gifts for the holidays. Many of these affected kids are in foster care or have been neglected or abused.

Via Operation Santa Claus, children up to 17 receive gifts with sponsors spending at least $80 on each child with a minimum of two wrapped gifts.

Monetary donations, according to organizers, and gifts are submitted by a diverse group of individuals including public employees, corporations and the general public.

The state of New Hampshire has allowed Operation Santa Claus to use its Stickey Avenue garage to store and sort the thousands of donated gifts.

Images via SEA/SEIU Local 1984.