This year, the Item Santa ran into a few impediments it has not had to deal with in the 54-year history of the drive.
Those challenges came from the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, there were more applicants because there were more people thrown into perilous economic situations because of job loss, higher medical bills, and the depression that can come with being isolated.
Then there were the simple logistics. Applicants usually came to the Salvation Army headquarters with their letters stamped by the appropriate social workers. Because COVID protocols prevented a lot of human-to-human contact, these applications were, in a lot of cases, done digitally. That meant there wasn’t a central clearing house for them.
Then, we have to take into account that the Salvation Army was already coping with record numbers of people lining up every day for food distribution. It got so hectic at the group’s Franklin Street headquarters that the whole operation had to be moved to the Manning Field parking lot.
And that got thrown further behind by the 12 inches of snow Lynn had dumped upon it the week before Christmas. All in all, the Salvation Army — which runs the actual mechanics of the drive — had plenty to do this month.
Finally, there undoubtedly were those who usually donate but just couldn’t this year. Perhaps they lost jobs themselves, or at the very least, had their hours cut, and/or experienced illness and loss. The COVID-19 pandemic set forth a chain reaction. That is for sure.
But despite all of that, the generous people in the Lynn area raised a little more than $60,000 in pledges as of Sunday. The actual figure is $60,724. And if the past is any indication, more donations will be recorded in the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
In the beginning of this drive, we promised you that your donation, however small, would be acknowledged and appreciated. That still holds true. We will continue to report donations to the fund until they stop.
We at The Item want to thank everyone who donated, everyone who ran drives on their own, and everyone who took up a collection pail and solicited them from passing cars or pedestrians. All of it matters, and all of it is graciously and humbly accepted.
We also hope that all our readers had a nice Christmas, and that people who came to us for help over the course of the year were treated to a holiday they perhaps wouldn’t have been able to enjoy otherwise.
The Christmas holiday may be over for this year, but that doesn’t eliminate the need. That is going to continue until who knows when. We hope that people who weren’t able to donate in the month this drive was most active can find it within them to donate for next year’s drive. It is a nice feeling to know that you made someone else’s holiday memorable.
Have a Happy New Year and a joyous 2021.
Now wrapping up its 54th year, the Item Santa fund endeavored to make Christmas brighter for the needy. You can still donate to The Item Salvation Army Santa, PO Box 5, Lynn, MA 01903.
There is also a way to donate online, and have your contributions acknowledged, just click on the following link: https://newitemlive.wpengine.com/itemsanta.
NOTE: All questions about the program and distribution of gifts should be directed to the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.