December 03, 2003

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Palo Alto Online

The spirit of Christmas

by Lorraine Sanders

For some, Christmas is one of the worst times of the year. It means juggling an already tight budget with the expense of presents and holiday dinners.

"With bills, I rob Peter to pay Paul," said one Palo Alto resident who wished that her name not be used.

But last year, she got some help from the Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, a nonprofit that aids local residents and families in need. Each December, the bureau mails checks to unsuspecting recipients.

"I have no idea why I got it," said the 2002 recipient, a mother of four and bus driver for the Palo Alto school district. "I thought, 'Oh my God. This is a blessing from God.'"

Last year, the program mailed more than $100,000 in checks to 2,142 individuals, the highest number since the Christmas Bureau began in 1955. One of the program's guiding principles is to maintain the anonymity of both the recipients and the donors, though donors will be acknowledged upon request.

To qualify for the program, which runs from October to early December, recipients must be referred by a Palo Alto Unified School District employee or local social service agency. The Christmas Bureau accepts all referrals without challenge. Program volunteer Virginia Powers said this year's $100,000 goal might be difficult to meet, but is more important than ever as the number of local families in need continues to increase.

"Now there are so many families that were fine for many, many years, and now the head of the household is out of a job," said Powers, a longtime Palo Alto resident.

Because volunteers run the program and keep administrative costs low, the Christmas Bureau is able to give 99 percent of its donations directly to recipients. The rest goes toward stamps and supplies. Donations are allocated by a pre-determined formula based on the total number of referrals, the number of individuals in each family, and the total amount of money raised. Giving money instead of other donations allows recipients to make the most of the unexpected cash.

"How they have spent the few dollars they receive from us is anywhere from trying to create Christmas to adults buying prescriptions. That's what's so great about giving them money, because they can turn around and decide what their greatest needs are," Powers said.

With just a few weeks left before the mid-December mailing date, the Christmas Bureau is doing all it can to increase awareness about the program.

"As in the past, we are counting on the generosity of the community and hope that the donations will continue to increase to meet this pressing need," Powers said.

Donations may be sent to the Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto, 94301. For more information, call (650) 326-5912.

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