SALISBURY — Cheryle Robito loves the four grandchildren she's raising, as well as all the other children she's cared for over the years. But after working hard all her life, she's now on a fixed income and admits that making ends meet is a struggle.
By the time she's covered her car costs and kept a roof over the family's head, Robito has about $300 left to cover other expenses for herself and the children, ages 4 to 13. It leaves little money for anything other than the necessities, like the holidays.
"Raising the four has its ups and downs, but there are a lot more ups than downs," Robito said. "They're great kids; they're my life. And I don't know what I'd do without Santa's Helpers at Christmas time."
A privately run and financed organization, Santa's Helpers in currently in its 37th year of operation. Well-known in its community, Santa's Helpers aids about 400 Salisbury children each year. According to former Salisbury school nurse Susan Foley who worked with the program for decades, if a child in need lays his or her head down in Salisbury, Santa's Helpers will be there to assist.
"It's not just toys," Robito said. "Far from it. They'll buy whatever a child needs. Oh, my God, they're wonderful."
After years of a poor economy, unemployment, high energy costs and government cutbacks, this year, the need is as great as its founder Betty Cloonan has ever seen it.
"People who have helped Santa's Helpers in the past are now in need of our help," she said.
Santa's Helpers grew out of a mothers' club at the local church that provided after-school activities for their own children. It turned into a holiday program when Cloonan realized the degree of need in town. For Cloonan, some Salisbury children not finding gifts on Christmas morning simply isn't acceptable.
Cloonan works with local school officials, and applications for Salisbury's Santa's Helpers program are available at the nurse's office at Salisbury Elementary School and for Salisbury families at Pettengill House.
As important as toys are at Christmas, getting kids what they need to live through the rest of the year is just as critical. Cloonan interviews every family that applies to the program, and gifts are individualized for each child. They may include winter jackets, hats, gloves, boots, sneakers, sleepwear, school outfits, even underwear."
"And we try to get each child his or her favorite wish toy, plus other gifts that are age-appropriate," Cloonan said.
Cloonan insists that every gift be individually wrapped and that all items are new.
"Who wants to get something used for Christmas," she can often be heard saying. "Christmas is such a special time."
Cloonan has spent years acquiring her contacts with generous merchants who help when she calls, but the program depends on the generosity of businesses, organizations and individuals to contribute gifts and money to serve the cause.
One central donation drop-off site for gifts is Linda's Alpha Omega Salon in Salisbury Square. Its employees make gifts and candy that are auctioned on behalf of Santa's Helpers and have worked for the program for years, Cloonan said.
The group's largest fundraising event, its Benefit Auction, takes place on Nov. 20, the Sunday before Thanksgiving at Blue Ocean Music Hall at Salisbury Beach. Admission is free, and the bidding starts at 1 p.m., but those in the know get there earlier to preview the gifts, which are plentiful and include gift baskets, certificates from local businesses, Bruins and Celtics tickets, a number of homemade quilts, chairs from Amesbury Chairs, an autographed photo of Bruins great Kenny Hodge, and dozens more.
As children's presents accumulate, Cloonan and her band of elves start wrapping in preparation for the day in mid-December when Santa's Helpers pull up, load their trucks and make deliveries to local homes, so kids can wake to find treasures on Christmas morning.
"It's the look on the children's faces when they get to school and talk about the things they got for Christmas that's so great," Clooney said. "They have toys and clothes, just like everyone else."
Checks can be made payable to Santa's Helpers and mailed in care of Salisbury Elementary School, 100 Lafayette Road, Salisbury 01952.
Contributions of gifts and checks should be in by Dec. 10.
Raw Video: Demonstrations Ahead of NATO Summit
Raw Video: Powerful Quake in Northern Italy
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Mary Kennedy Mourned at Private Funeral in NY
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Blind Chinese Activist Arrives in NY
G-8 Leaders Hope Greece Remains in Eurozone
SpaceX President: 'This Is Not Failure'
Blind Chinese Activist Leaves for US
Raw Video: Obama Greets Leaders at Camp David
Big Job: G-8 Tackles Euro Crisis
Raw Video: SpaceX Rocket Launch Aborted in Fla.
Video Surfaces of Alleged Abuse at Kansas School
Legal Expert: Trayvon Martin Case Murkier Now
Facebook Shares Close Up Just .23 at $38.23
Chicago Braces, NATO Has Arrived
Documents Shed New Light on Trayvon Martin Case
Man Arrested in Miss. Highway Shootings
Obama and Hollande Tackle Eurozone Crisis
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
