St. Lucy’s giving program captures the true spirit of Christmas
By Dc. Tom Cuskey
“St. Lucy’s hangs her hat on community.”
These words came in a follow-up note from Nick Salibrici, event co-chair, describing the spirit of the Christmas sharing program at St. Lucy’s Church on Syracuse’s Near Westside. The 2024 edition was held on December 7.
Guests line up outside the St Lucy gym, waiting for their turn to shop.
“Each year the St. Lucy’s gift giveaway is a marvel,” he noted. “There are hundreds of volunteers, thousands of gifts, an array of resources pulled together to help literally hundreds of families keep the true spirit of Christmas alive.”
The event is entering its 20th year according to co-chair Kay Scharoun.
“This is an organization started by St. Lucy’s parishioners,” she told us, crediting a trio of parishioners — Marie and Ed Rothbaler and Donna Carr — who first got the ball rolling and handed the reins over to Scharoun and co-chair Salibrici in 2023. One does not need to be a St. Lucy parishioner to help out.
“We have an army of volunteers,” Scharoun said. “Some of them are Lucy’s parishioners and others are just friends of Lucy parishioners. And people come year after year after year.”
Co-chair Salibrici added, “We had volunteers from CBA (Christian Brothers Academy), Westhill, the Henninger Building Men crew, the St. Lucy’s basketball team and countless folks from the congregation, working together to bring Christmas to over 200 families.”
On hand this year with the contingent of students from Christian Brothers Academy was CBA president Matt Keough. He accompanied them along with his wife Siobhan and their four young children.
Event co-chairs Kay Scharoun and Nick Salibrici – in the red shirts, of course – lead the volunteers in prayer before the doors open.
“CBA has been helping with this event for quite a few years now,” he shared. This year’s group included senior class members as well as some parent-alumni who have all learned a valuable lesson from their experience. “We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and recognize the presence of Christ in all around us,” Keough said. “We don’t necessarily serve to give back but because we recognize oneness in each other.”
Tables set up in the gym were filled with clothing for kids and adults, toys, housewares, jewelry, personal hygiene items and more. Some volunteers manned the tables while others acted as personal shoppers, guiding the guests through the maze and helping them find just the right gifts for their loved ones.
For many, there would be no Christmas in their home without St. Lucy’s annual efforts.
“Everyone showed up and got to work,” Salibrici said, speaking of those who made the day possible. “On behalf of the gift giveaway team, it is my absolute blessing to be a part of this program again this year, and there is no amount of gratitude I can show to all the amazing people who made it possible.”
As Kay Scharoun told the assembled volunteers just before the doors opened, “Embrace the day with joy. As you leave here today, know that you have done something special.”
