Kelly and Jeff Locher of East Seneca Fire Company & Auxiliary visited Brian Graham, assistant superintendent of pupil services for West Seneca Central School District, the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 1, to present a check for $1,000 to West Seneca Cares for Kids.
East Seneca Fire Company & Auxiliary is just one of many local civic organizations to donate to West Seneca Cares for Kids, previously known as Warm the Children. Collections took place from the end of October to the beginning of December.
During the school year, the district social workers refer families who are in need. Aimee Smart, the social worker from West Middle School, organizes the referrals and invites each family to the Kmart on Orchard Park Road in early December to shop for new winter clothing.
The West Seneca Cares for Kids program is supporting 30 families with approximately 60 to 70 children this year. Each family is awarded $70 per child.
This year, significant donations were received from the West Seneca Lions Club, West Seneca Kiwanis Club, Western New York Federal Credit Union and Clinton Street Elementary‘s PTA. The district’s faculty and staff have also contributed to this program and the students from Winchester Elementary School donated over 600 pounds of pennies.
Another source of financial support comes directly from the community as individuals and families living in West Seneca have been very generous with donations as well. If there is money left in the account for West Seneca Cares for Kids after all of the families complete their purchases, it is saved and utilized the following year.
Anyone interested in making a donation can mail a check payable to West Seneca Cares for Kids, P.O. Box 451, West Seneca, NY 14224. In addition, Western New York Federal Credit Union is accepting walk-in or mailed donations at its West Seneca office, located at 1937 Union Road.