By Mark Boshnack
ONEONTA _ A little bit of holiday spirit was delivered by Unatego High School students and staff Tuesday to a local program.
Eleven students and five teachers brought their Helping Hands Holiday Project to the Family Services Agency of Oneonta.
"It's great seeing teens doing such good things," FSA emergency service program manager Kim DeFalco said.
The project, which began in 1997, was started by now-retired Spanish teacher Alice Cannistra to provide food and gifts to help families in the Unatego School District, high school Principal Julie Lambiaso said.
For this year's effort, the project provided food, featuring ham dinners, and gifts such as hats, coats and toys to nine families, including 17 adults and 30 children, said Laura Butcher, school guidance counselor and adviser to the school's Interact Club.
The school's community service organization, which works with the local Rotary, collected presents from people at all levels in the school community during the last several weeks, she said. Additional money was collected through a variety of fundraisers.
The food was collected by the school's Future Business Leaders of America during the same time period. That group is advised by business teachers Theresa Rajner and Denise West.
"The thing I love the most about doing this every year is seeing how well Unatego pulls together with such generosity and support," Rajner said.
Even though the economy is down, the generosity of the entire community helped make the effort successful, Lambiaso said.
There were two school buses full of items ready for delivery. The group dropped off boxes at the homes of two families suggested by the Family Service Association on Tuesday and brought the remainder to the agency's offices on Chestnut Street. Five to eight boxes were delivered to each family _ the amount varied depending on the number of children.
This is the first year of involvement for Interact Club President Jade Goodrich, a junior. She said she was glad to see the participation from the school community.
The families that have received the presents were "very, very happy," she said, adding that she plans on doing it next year.
"A lot of people will have a better Christmas because we do it," she said. "It feels really good to give back."
There is the second year of participations for FBLA President Shirley Van Dijk, a senior.
She said she enjoys the holiday, and "I feel happy to help people have a good Christmas."
The experience has made her appreciate the presents under her tree even more, Dijk said.
DeFalco said families came in Tuesday afternoon to pick up the boxes contributed by the students.
She worked with the school to develop a wish list through its adopt-a-family program, which serves about 45 families.
"It's a very big help," she said.
