With a surface area of 196,935,000 square miles to cover during just one night, even magical Saint Nick can use a little help this time of year.

That's why Bonnie McGoldrick and Debbie Beach think of their Mt. Morris office as Santa Claus' satellite workshop for Livingston and Wyoming Counties.

For 10 months of the year, Bonnie and Debbie are the Public Relations Specialist and PR Assistant for The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming, respectively. But as the weather cools, they and other members of the Arc family don their elf hats to warm the hearts of kids and families.

While The Arc is most widely known as a provider of services to developmentally disabled individuals, its seasonal efforts, which begin with the Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive, directly reach non-disabled neighbors as well. Its Breakfast with Santa and the Angel Wreath Gift Giving Programs also reach community members of all ages and abilities.

"During the holiday season, we spend a lot of time collecting, wrapping, and distributing gifts so that we can help provide wishes to many families and little children," Debbie says. "But just like Santa does, we have a lot of helpers."

The transformation of The Arc offices into a Winter Wonderland began on Monday, November 3 with the kick-off of the annual Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive. Sustained entirely through food and cash donations from Arc employees, friends, and local businesses, the Drive fed 52 area families this year.

Each year, deserving families are identified by Arc Service Coordinators, Case Managers, Family Advocates, and other human services employees. Every family receives a large laundry basket overstuffed with a 10-pound-plus turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, desserts and more.

"Not only do they get a Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, they also get two or three meals afterward," Debbie says.

By the time the turkeys have flown the coop, Arc "elves" are already busy with their next charitable endeavor: Breakfast with Santa. Breakfast with Santa is a free event presented by The Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation, with support of SUNY Geneseo student volunteers and donations from Burger King, C&R Foods, McDonalds, Tim Horton’s, and Wegmans.
 
This year's Breakfast with Santa was held Saturday, December 5 at Geneseo United Methodist Church, and it included magic, music, crafts and a special visit from Santa.

Santa does double-duty at The Arc's Breakfast with Santa, which consists of two sessions: children 12 and younger dine with Santa at 8:30 am, while older kids and adults with disabilities get together with Saint Nick at 10:30 am. In total, more than 220 children, parents, and other adults attended this year.

"What sets Breakfast with Santa apart from all other Arc events each year is that it brings together people of all ages and abilities," says Arc Foundation Secretary Cheryl Englert. "It is a community event in the truest sense of the word."

Rounding out The Arc's seasonal efforts is the Angel Wreath Gift Giving Program, which runs throughout December. For this program, Arc employees unite with people served by the agency to collect, wrap, and distribute toys for children who are served by the agency's Head Start and Special Services programs.

With the Angel Wreath program, kids' holiday wish lists are presented as anonymous tags on a wreath. Arc employees voluntarily select tags from the wreath and shop for the 5-7 items listed. Each child also receives a handmade stuffed animal and a winter clothing item, donated by community member Dorothy Varley. This worthy program gives needy children with disabilities a Christmas that they would not normally have due to the generosity of donated new toys and clothes.

The program will benefit about 123 Head Start and Special Services children this year. In addition, SUNY Geneseo students pitch in with gifts for their siblings and parents.

A fitting conclusion to a generous holiday season – and while they may not travel 196,935,000 square miles in a single night, Santa's helpers at The Arc certainly cover a lot of ground.

"It's a lot of work, and well worth it," Bonnie says. "But with all these gifts, I don't know how Santa is going to fit down the chimney."