The Salvation Army Adds Vaccines to Christmas Bureau Salvation Army

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — In a normal year, The Salvation Army’s Christmas Bureau helps bring gifts and food to around 2,500 CNY families. That means around 10,000 people, according to Gina Lazara, Public Relations & Special Events Manager at the Salvation Army.

Those families also had a new opportunity this year when registration began on Monday. They could get vaccinated.

The Salvation Army has partnered with Onondaga County to provide free vaccines at the event’s registration.

Lazara said that adding the vaccines is a great opportunity for these families.

“And they’re registering their families for Christmas so they can get food and toys; they can turn around and say ‘oh look there’s a vaccine clinic there and I haven’t had a chance to get down and do it yet,” Lazara said. “Might as well do it while I’m here.”

Lazara also said that the county jumped at the opportunity to join their efforts.

“They were able to say, ‘if you guys are going to be there and this is a population we haven’t really hit yet that needs to be vaccinated,'” Lazara said. “Let us come to you. We’ll take care of everything, we’ll set it up. We just want to be there at the same time as you.”

The event will have some precautions this year, however. After having a drive through version last year, they are trying to limit the size of the crowd by spacing out when people arrive.

“We’re gonna give them a time slot, a three hour window, and we’re asking them to please come during that three hour window,” Lazara said.

Registration for the Christmas Bureau began on Monday and will run through Wednesday.

Those who choose to receive the vaccine can get their second dose on Thursday, December 30 at the Civic Center.

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