Giving tree help Life’s WORC

Life’s WORC is looking for support from the community to make the holidays brighter for the people they serve.
Life’s WORC, a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1971, provides “comprehensive residential support programs, services and family support to individuals with developmental disabilities, mental retardation and autism.” Serving Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, it has 34 home and 13 community-based programs and supports 1,200 individuals.
Through its annual Holiday Gift Project, Life’s WORC collects donations and gifts to benefit those many individuals. Jessie Miller, an Executive Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator with Life’s WORC, said that about 3,000 gift giving cards were distributed this year. They can be found in various business and community organizations. Queens participants included Christie & Co. Salon Spa de Beaut/, Rego Park Forest Hills Lions Club, American Legion Auxiliary Unit and Youth Getting Involved.
Lois Christie, the founder and CEO of Christie & Co., said that the salon has been involved with the Holiday Gift Project for several years and described having the tree with the gift tags as being as much of a tradition as having the Rockefeller Christmas tree. As a community-based salon and business, she said that it is important to support organizations such as Life’s WORC.
“We feel it’s a great way to get all of our clients involved and bring a little more awareness,” Christie said.
Each card features a Life’s WORC program and enables people to either make a monetary donation or send in some type of gift that will assist the entire program.
Miller extended her appreciation to those who have already supported the Holiday Gift Project.
“It truly is a help and a benefit to all of them,” she said. “No matter how small or how big, it’s just great to have caring people in the community who are willing to share.”
All gift giving cards must be returned by December 22. Cards can still be picked up at Christie & Co., which is located in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Bayside.
“I’d like us to run out of tags,” Christie said. “Hopefully each year we do better than the last.”
For more information on Life’s WORC Holiday Gift Project, contact Miller at 516-741-9000, Ext. 242 or Matthew Zebatto at Ext. 241. More information on Life’s WORC is also available at www.lifesworc.org.