Christmas Jubilee Organization
Our Long Heritage
November 16, 2016 Hometown Stations - Lima
Wapakoneta’s Christmas Cheer Program is underway.
It began in 1983 with twelve families receiving assistance that year.
In 2015 they were able to help 312 families have a nicer Christmas by providing food and toys for the children.
The program is organized by the Wapakoneta, Buckland, St. Johns and Uniopolis Fire Departments.
This is the 34th year of lending a helping hand and they are asking for your help to make this year’s Christmas Cheer program a big success.
“We are looking for any donations whether it’s monetary or canned goods, non-perishable goods, new gifts whether wrapped or unwrapped,” said Kendall Krites the chair of the Christmas Cheer committee.
December 15, 2018 Hometown Stations - Lima
Over hundred Wapakoneta area families will have a better Christmas thanks to the annual Christmas Cheer program.
The program began in 1983 with 12 families and in their 36th year they are helping 120 families, by delevering food staples like milk, potatoes and cheese and presents for the kids
That number is significantly lower than last year, where they had over 200 families. Organizers attribute the decrease to a better economy locally. But because of the same good economy donations of food and toys are up as well,
“The community support is always great and it is this year again, as it has been in previous years," says Kendall Krites the Chairman of the Christmas Cheer Program. "The support is outstanding. Our gifts that have been donated, the numbers are up, the can goods the numbers are up, which are all signs of a good economy. So the giving has been fantastic this year."
The Christmas Cheer Program helps people that live in the Wapakoneta School District, as well as residents that are serviced by either the Wapakoneta.
St. Johns, Uniopolis or Buckland Fire Departments. The program is collaboration between the fire departments, the school district and area boy scouts and service clubs.
Christmas Cheer committee is disbanding
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Wapakoneta Daily News
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16 Apr 2021
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To the editor:
It is with much regret that we announce after 38 years of serving the local community, that the Christmas Cheer Program has ended. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the local community and surrounding area all these years.
We cannot thank enough all of the supporters: businesses, churches, service clubs, Wapakoneta Schools, City of Wapakoneta & individuals for their tremendous support throughout the years.
Out of respect for the Buckland, St. Johns, Uniopolis & Wapakoneta Fire Departments we would ask that the Christmas Cheer Program name not be used in the future for similar programs.
We ask the community to keep in mind those less fortunate in the community.
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Again, thank you for your support.
Sincerely, Christmas Cheer Committee
December 17, 2022 Hometown Stations - Lima
Wapakoneta, OH (WLIO) - People in the Wapakoneta School District are making sure that everyone has the chance to have Merry Christmas this year. After the Christmas Cheer program ended a couple of years ago, a group of people got together to continue their mission and created the Christmas Jubilee. Businesses and individuals stepped up with money and donations to help fill the requests of over forty needy families in the school district. Each of the Wapakoneta Schools also held a food drive to collect items to give to the families. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from Wapakoneta were on hand to help load the many boxes each family got and take a little pride that they helped give someone a better Christmas.
“They are getting to see how good it feels to give back to the community,” says Becky Puff, of the Christmas Jubilee Committee. “They also need service hours for rank advancements and merit badges and things. So, this is a good way for them to help give back and I hope it makes them all feel as good as it does me.”
Puff says they are hoping to grow the event to help more families in the future. If you would like to help with their mission, you can log on to the Christmas Jubilee's Facebook page.
