Christmas Shoppe helping those in need at Christmas

More than 100 volunteers from throughout the community assisted with this year's Christmas Shoppe of the Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center held in the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls on Dec. 19. One group of volunteers is shown just prior to the event, where moms and dads pick out gifts for their children from donations from the community.

Generous donations were received from parishioners of St. Mary of the Cataract Church, Devine Mercy Church, St. Raphael's, Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, St. Peter's R.C. Church in Lewiston and St. Mary's Church in Swormsville. Also, donations were received from local companies, employees of Catholic Health and Mount St. Mary's Hospital, Niagara University, St. Peter's School, Stella Niagara Education Park and others.

Sr. Nora Sweeney, social worker at the Neighborhood Health Center, coordinated the entire event. Those receiving gifts were asked to make a $5 donation to the Magdalene Project in Niagara Falls.