The holiday season is supposed to be a time filled with joy and happiness. Children wait in anticipation for the gifts they have longed for and moms and dads beam with pride as they wrap the final gifts for their children. Unfortunately this is not the case for many children and families; in particular those at Vanderheyden.

This holiday season with your help, we can provide a mother with limited functioning gifts to give her teenage daughter; a meal for a family that is forced to live on a single income because both children have disabilities; and other residents in our community.

Groups of donors are welcome! If you can’t shop for items, gift cards or monetary donations are always appreciated. All contributions and purchases toward the program are tax deductible, with 100 percent of the money going to families in need

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I be a part of the Holiday Support Program?
There are many ways that you can be a part of the Vanderheyden Holiday Support Program and we hope that you
will consider one of them:

- You can help by making a donation to the Vanderheyden Holiday Support Program online, or by filling out the donation form and mailing it in to: P.O. Box 219 Wynantskill, NY 12198

- Purchase a gift card from Hannaford / Price Chopper / Walmart for a Thanksgiving dinner for a family in need

- Throw a holiday party at your office or with friends, have everyone bring a gift from our wish list

-Purchase an item from our Walmart Wish List

- Adopt a youth, individual, family or residence

How does the Holiday Support Program work?
For the past two decades Vanderheyden has been providing holiday meals and gifts for our residents and clients in the community. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, last year we were able to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to 73 families and provide holiday gifts for all youth, individuals and families in our care- over 170 people!

Most of those we serve are between the ages of 12 and 21, however we do offer services to entire families which can include younger children. Our goal for 2011 is to be able to provide each child in a family with two gifts, a modest gift for the family as well as a grocery store food card.

What gifts are needed the most?

• Hooded sweatshirts (All sizes from youth small to adult XXL.  Dark colors are usually preferred)
• Board games for families to play
• Books -youth, pre-teen and teen levels
• Portable music players-MP3 players or portable cd players
• AA batteries
• Winter boots, coats, hats, mittens and gloves for boys and girls ages 8-18 years old
• Arts and Crafts (pottery, drawing, beading)
• Sporting Goods (footballs, basketballs)
• Journals
• Learning toys for toddlers
• Baby dolls for little girls
• Toiletries for males and females (body wash, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, lotions)
• DVD's- no R ratings
• Gift cards are always a popular request .  Stores such as: Target, WalMart, FYE, Crossgates Mall, Colonie Center, Barnes & Noble or Borders and Old Navy. 

Need ideas?  Browse our Walmart Wish List

Helpful Information:

– All gifts and food should be dropped off at the Pattison Building / Administration Wing of the Vanderheyden Campus on Route 355 in Wynantskill (click here for directions)
– Thanksgiving food baskets and gift cards should be dropped off by Monday, November 21st
– Wish Room donations should be dropped off no later than Thursday, December 15th.
– Christmas gifts and gift cards should be dropped off no later than Friday, December 16th.
– We ask that each child under the age of 18 receive 2 gifts or a total value of $30
– Each adult age 18 and over should receive 1 gift or a total value of $20

For more information contact Kimberley Belleville at kbelleville@vanderheydenhall.org or 283-6500 x237

Thank you to our 2010 Holiday Program Supporters: