Holiday Angel Gift Giving

AIDS Community Resources is hosting their annual Holiday Angel Gift Giving Program this winter season. So far, more than 200 people have become angels this holiday season.

Wil Murtaugh of AIDS Community Resources says many give because they've lost a loved one from AIDS. "So many people have been touched from losing someone that they don't want to have someone else go through that pain. At this time of the year people are extremely generous and want to do whatever they can to support people."

Shirley Bacon's sorority, Lambda Kappa Nu, is an annual angel. "Part of our main thrust is to create awareness and relief to those with AIDS, so this is really exciting."

AIDS Community Resources says people can choose to give to entire families or just to an individual. The organization will give angels a list of personal needs for a family; including simple supplies like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. "Personal care you cannot buy with foodstamps," Murtaugh says.

Gifts have been filling entire rooms at the Resource building, and according to those that work there, people can still become angels until all the gifts are delivered on December 23rd.

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Gingerbread Exhibit Brings Holiday Cheer

The 24th Annual Gingerbread Exhibit at the Erie Canal Museum in Downtown Syracuse is now on display. The creations create a boom in business for the museum, who sees 5000 visitors including 20-25 school groups in the month of December.

There are multiple categories of gingerbread creations and designers don't have to stick to just house-like structures. Some of the pieces exhibited include Santa Claus, carousels, the Wizard of Oz, Rapunzel and Noah's Ark.

Yesterday a 24-year veteran of the exhibit named Margaret Solomon was at the museum. She votes for her favorite creation every year and told me that each season the exhibit gets more and more impressive. This year, as in some years past, she voted for a white church.

Anyone can enter a gingerbread creation in the contest. Solomon said she always thinks about it but becomes intimidated by what she calls the "fabulous" decorations. Voting takes place through this week and winners have ribbons placed in their cases for the remaining duration of the exhibit.