30 years of Share a Caring Christmas

Christmas event still going strong more than 3 decades later

ONEIDA >> More than three decades ago Carol Neveu of radio station WMCR and the late Harold Nye started a community outreach program, that’s become a local tradition.

The 31st Share a Caring Christmas took place Saturday at Nye Ford in Oneida.

Tis year’s sponsors included Romagnoli’s Christmas Tree Farm, St. Pat’s Elementary, Pizza Pub, Oneida-Madison Coop, J. Homer Ball Funeral Home, Pepi’s Pizza, Tops, Oneida Savings Bank, Tim Horton’s, Oneida Fire Department, Walmart, Jreck Subs, Little Ceasars, Dunkin Donuts, Hood, Lowes, Queensboro Farm Products, Oneida Floral and Campell-Dean Funeral Home.

The event features awide variety of local entertainers — students and adults — as well as a toy collection. This year bicycles, dolls, toy trucks and games — some gently used, others new — were gathered and will find new homes on Christmas morning via the Salvation Army.

Organizer Carol Wimmer said more than 25 local businesses contributed gifts as well as food for the event. Madison County Dairy Princess Erica Reale and her court assisted with refreshments as Nye Automotive Group’s colleagues and an array of volunteers made sure everyone who attended had a good time.

Wimmer said all of the toys donated stay local. “The toys are taken to the Salvation Army, where they are sorted and then are distrib- uted to families through the Salvation Army and Oneida’s Karing Kitchen Holiday Program.”

PHOTO COURTESY CAROL NEVEU From left, Linda Wimmer, Carol Neveu, the late Vivian Warren and Mike Healy pose for a photo at the first Share A Caring Christmas. Next to Santa is Neveu’s son, Andrew.

JOHN HAEGER-ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER Kyle Meagher , 12, and Ben Christensen, 13, both of Westmoreland, pack up toys during the 31st annual Share a Caring Christmas on Saturday at Nye Auto in Oneida.