Holiday Giving Opportunities

PEACE, Inc.

People’s Equal Action and Community Effort (PEACE), Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization that serves nearly 10,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County and portions of Oswego County. Its mission is to help people in the community realize their potential for becoming self-sufficient.

Give-A-Holiday

This year, PEACE, Inc. is changing their approach to this program due to 2025’s unprecedented challenges. They are looking to provide essential relief to their clients by securing the basic necessities they need to thrive. They have three critical objectives this holiday season:

  • Warmth and Learning for Head Start Youth (Ages 0–5): Ensure each of PEACE, Inc.’s more than 800 Head Start children receive the new books and warm winter items (unisex hats, gloves, scarves, and socks) that they need to learn and to succeed.
  • Essential Relief for Families: Provide families served by our Family Resource Centers and our PEACE, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters program with essential Gift Baskets containing much-needed new items not covered by SNAP, such as toiletries, diapers, towels, and more—bringing crucial relief to their household budgets.
  • Emergency Support: Maintain the agency’s ability to meet the critical, emergency needs of our families throughout the challenging winter season.

To register, visit the 2025 Give-A-Holiday website.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Options

Syracuse University offers the following pick-up/drop-off options for SU employees. When registering, please specify which option you prefer.

  • Option 1: Dec. pick up, 9-10 a.m., at Syracuse University Campus. The pick-up site will be the central section of the Quad Lot near the JMA Dome Gate D.
  • Option 2: Friday, Dec. 5 (8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Monday, Dec. 8 (8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.) drop-off at Frank DeFrancisco Eastwood Community Center, 401 S. Midler Ave. Syracuse, NY 13206

    For more information or questions, contact PEACE, Inc. at 315.634.3740 or giveaholiday@peace-caa.org.

    United Way of CNY

    United Way of Central New York Inc. is an innovative and collaborative local nonprofit organization that drives solutions to the most pressing human service community needs of Central New York.

    CNY Children’s Book Drive

    The United Way of Central New York is collecting new books to be distributed at the county’s annual Christmas Bureau Distribution on December 17th at the Oncenter. Families are able to hand-select a book for each child in their family. Last year, they gifted more than 6,000 books to local children in need. The need is even greater this year, with the greatest need being books for tweens and teens. Get involved and make a difference in a child’s life this holiday season by donating by the December 14 deadline. You can get involved in the following ways:

    • Shop and drop at Parthenon Books in Downtown Syracuse, Golden Bee Bookshop in the Village of Liverpool, or That’s What She Read Bookshop & Boutique in Marcellus.
    • Hold a Children’s Book Drive at your business or organization! Download promotional materials here.
    • Drop off new children’s books at United Way of Central New York (980 James Street) through December 14th.
    • Donate from a distance! Visit our Amazon Wish List to easily purchase and ship items directly to United Way of CNY.
    • Donate funds directly to United Way and let their literacy team members choose books for you. Visit our donation page here.

    Salvation Army

    The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting human needs without discrimination and encouraging and empowering those in need to reach their full potential. Each year, The Salvation Army of Syracuse helps provide Christmas food and toys to nearly 10,000 people with the help of dozens of community partners. Here are some ways for you to get involved:

    Toy Drive and Food Drive

    Each year at Christmas Bureau, more than 5,000 children in Onondaga County receive toys and nearly 2,000 families in Onondaga County receive a box of food to take home for the holidays. These toys and food boxes are made possible thanks to generous drives organized by groups like yours! Participating is easy — just set out a collection box at your workplace and let your team know. We’ll provide a poster with the most requested items. We ask that a member of your team deliver the collected (unwrapped) toys and food to the Oncenter (Montgomery Street Entrance) at Community Drop-Off Day, Friday Dec. 12 from 9-3pm. Volunteers will be available to remove donations from your car, so simply drive up and wait for assistance!

    Volunteer

    The Salvation Army utilizes hundreds of volunteers every holiday season. This year, volunteers are needed for the following events:

    • Christmas Bureau: Sign up to help with the drop-off, organization, distribution, and packing of toy drives, food drives and angel gifts at the Oncenter! The Salvation Army is also looking for translators to volunteer at these events. To sign up, contact Alison LoVuolo by email at lovuolo@use.salvationarmy.org or by phone at 315-956-2108.
    • Ringing the Bell: From the beginning of November through Christmas Eve, you will find 24 Red Kettles across Onondaga County. Want to help ring the bell? Sign up now, as an individual or as a group at Register to Ring.

    InterFaith Works

    InterFaith Works is a nonprofit organization that provides services to address the needs of people who are vulnerable, low-income, targets of oppression and refugees who arrive through the federal refugee resettlement programs, fleeing war, political repression and famine. InterFaith Works also strives to address the needs of the frail or elderly, those in prisons, hospitals, and nursing homes, and to address hunger and housing needs.

    Gift Basket Initiative

    Every year, InterFaith Works asks the community to help support clients with Year-End Gift Baskets. This year, we are extending our reach to including New American families, families who receive services from food pantries and individuals in nursing homes. Year-End Gift Baskets are a great way to show others that their community sees and cares for them! Below are some suggestions for items to put into the baskets:

    • Gift Cards (Walmart, Tops, VISA)
    • Hygiene Products
    • Non-perishable food items (Kosher/ Halal friendly)
    • Blankets
    • Entertainment Items (board games, card games, crosswords, etc.)
    • Toys (Balls, dolls, Legos, etc.)

    Sign up to assemble a basket here. All baskets must be dropped off to the InterFaith Works offices at 1010 James Street on or prior to Friday, December 12. For more information, contact contact Jennie Prouty, Community Engagement Manager, at JProuty@ifwcny.org  or 315-449-3552 x128.