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MIFFLINTOWN -- For some folks, it begins to look a lot like Christmas when they start seeing holiday lights go up on and around houses or hear holiday music playing in department stores.
For Mandy Noss, assistant administrator for Juniata County Children and Youth Services, she knows Santa Claus is coming to town when her phone starts ringing. It won't be confused with jingle bells.
"For the past few years, we were getting a lot of calls around the holiday from people in the community wanting to help out a family or a child," Noss explained. "They were wanting to do something to help people in need, but we never had a formal program."
That's why the Juniata County agency created the Sponsor a Family program three years ago. Now, callers have the option of sponsoring a family by providing Christmas presents or a holiday meal. They can also donate gently used artificial trees and décor to make their homes a bit more festive.
It's also possible to sponsor individual children, too, and fill their Christmas with joy.
"It's helped a lot of people, and people were grateful for it," Noss said. "There's a lot of possibilities for projects here -- people can sponsor a child, a family or a lot of kids."
Each year, the program has helped more and more of those who are less fortunate - nearly doubling from one year to the next.
"It's a great way to help people who might be struggling," she added. "People are matched with families that we've worked with throughout the year."
Noss said the agency gives sponsors a form with specific sizes of clothing, shoes, etc. as well as interests the child has. Information is only indicated by gender and age.
The agency also will provide a deadline for when the gifts must be brought to the CYS office, and they must be wrapped and labeled by gender and age.
For those who want to remain anonymous, "everything is confidential," Noss said. "Buyers also don't know who their gifts are going to.
The sign-up deadline is Friday, Dec. 8. For more information, call (717) 436-7707.