UTICA – Kelberman holiday giving is inviting neighbors to help provide holiday gifts and meals for children, families and apartment residents, with sponsorship options that allow people to contribute at different levels.
The organization announced its 2026 holiday giving opportunities on October 15. The appeal identifies three ways to help:
Through the Kelberman holiday giving initiative, the organization announced its 2026 holiday giving opportunities on October 15. The appeal identifies three ways to help:
- Gifts and meals for six children in the Promise Preschool Program, at $200 per child.
- Two holiday dinners for residents of The Link at Sunset apartments, at $800 per dinner.
- Gifts and meals for six families supported through Community Habilitation, at $200 per family.
Full and partial sponsorships are welcome.
Support connected to everyday life
The holiday effort reaches people connected to different parts of Kelberman’s work, from early education to support for greater independence.
Promise Preschool offers full-day classrooms with individualized learning and built-in support. Each classroom has six students, a special education teacher, a support specialist and two teaching aides. Depending on a child’s needs, learning opportunities can include speech, occupational and physical therapies.
The program emphasizes communication, social skills, academics and adaptive living skills. Kelberman also describes partnership with families as central to the preschool’s approach, connecting classroom learning with the people who know each child best.
Community Habilitation centers on goals chosen with the person receiving services. Direct Support Professionals help participants work on areas such as personal safety, money management, social connections and daily living skills.
That support can happen at home or around the community, individually or in groups, depending on a person’s interests and needs. Participants have a leading role in deciding what they want to work toward, and services are adjusted as their goals and progress change.
A season of community support
The holiday appeal follows a recent fundraising success. In a September 22 announcement, Kelberman reported raising more than $20,000 during the 2026 Mohawk Valley Gives campaign. The organization thanked donors, matching partners and the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties for supporting children and adults with autism and their families.
An additional campaign is continuing through October at all Cliff’s Local Market locations. The seventh annual Autism Acceptance Campaign offers register cards for $1, $5 or an amount selected by the customer. In its October 1 announcement, Kelberman said the cards support services for children and adults with autism. The campaign gives customers a way to contribute to the organization’s broader work during an ordinary shopping stop.
How to help
Contributions can be made through Kelberman’s donation page, with the gift designated for holiday giving.
Checks can be mailed to Kelberman Holiday Giving, Attn: Selma Lupardo, 2513 Sunset Ave., Utica, NY 13502. For questions about sponsorships, contact Lupardo at selma.lupardo@kelbermancenter.org or (315) 922-6305.
Image disclosure: The cover and accompanying image are AI-generated editorial illustrations by Utica Phoenix. They symbolize holiday giving and shared meals and do not depict actual Kelberman participants or events.
