December 21, 2011
Nearly 3,000 children in need will receive toys on Christmas Eve
For the 44th year in a row, young adults from across the Archdiocese will gather to collect, sort, wrap, and tag toys that will delivered to nearly 3,000 children from families in need. The toys will be delivered by 170 teams of young adult volunteers and their drivers. Mass will be celebrated for the volunteers by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fitzgerald before the toys are delivered.
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
After Mass, the teams will receive their routes, costumes, and toys.
Sheraton Hotel
17th and Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Each team will make deliveries to between 3 and 5 families in the City of Philadelphia. Twenty-five churches and community agencies will also receive toys from Operation Santa Claus for children they serve. The young adult volunteers are members of the Community Service Corps in their Catholic high school or parish youth ministry program. This outreach initiative is coordinated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Youth and Young Adults. Families serviced by this program are referred by churches and social service agencies.
Operation Santa Claus began in 1967 when 12 Archdiocesan high school students decided to help 10 needy families in their community by dressing as Santa Claus and his elves to deliver toys for the children. That selfless act has grown into an annual Archdiocesan tradition that brings Christmas cheer to thousands of children who would not otherwise receive gifts.
Editor's Note: For more information please contact Kathy Pfeffer of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Youth and Young Adults at 610-637-1490.
Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747