To the Editor:

So this is what amazing looks like! This, my friends, is the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce Chamber Angels program.

What is the program you ask?

The Guilderland Chamber of Commerce reaches out to the Guilderland School District nurses’ offices and asks them to identify families that could use some support during the holiday season. Each school reaches out to families it is working with and asks them to make a Christmas list for us.

We receive lists of items: clothes, toys, bedding, hygiene products, game and more — all anonymous.

We reach out to members, organizations, town offices, neighbors, and businesses to adopt some angels.

What an amazing year it’s been! Your chamber successfully provided 17 families with presents! Over 300 presents were on our list! We also received over 50 more!

The most amazing part of this program is the people who reached out and participated.

We have been a catchall for hundreds of presents. Members, neighbors, businesses, and passers-by have been walking in the office with armfulls of presents.

Tuesday was D Day! Hundreds of presents needed to be logged, categorized, and sorted by family and school.

At 2 p.m., the doors flew open and our Chamber Angels drivers showed up to deliver to our schools. Shout out to Joe Ruggiero, Tim Halloran and his handsome Marine son home on leave, Sal Merola, Matt Hanzalik, Lowell Knapp, and Carl Duda. We were so thankful to see them load and drive away!

Today I thank you all so very much! Carol VanValkenburgh, you are one amazing lady — the best organizer! Cindy is our wrapping angel. Kathy Burbank and Steve Wacksman, hugs for all your support.

I also thank TM Bigsby, Jen Smith, Erin Moore, Crossgates Mall, the Guilderland transfer station, Tim the Guilderland Police Benevolent Association, Tim Wiles and the Guilderland Public Library, Tracy Mayer and KeyBank, Vonya Riley and the staff of Pizzeria Uno, and so many more!

What a month it’s been!

So now we rest, knowing their stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

Merry Christmas to all! I love you all!

And I love our little town!

Michelle Viola-Straight

President

Guilderland

Chamber of Commerce