Program helps needy families at Christmas

Friday, Nov. 07, 2014

OREM – Josefina Mozas, a single mother of five, didn’t know how she was going to be able to afford Christmas for her kids. She could hardly feed them and buy clothes for them, so the idea of Christmas and the children’s hope for presents, always frighten her.

Then last year she read about Sub for Santa in the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish bulletin.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes. Even though I was embarrassed to accept our situation, I decided to call to that number,” said Mozas.

Mozas grabbed her phone and made the call that made last Christmas special for her kids and for her. She went through the application process, and “one day I got a phone call from a lady asking me if I had time to review the list of things for my kids with her,” Mozas said. “I started crying.” 

The Sub for Santa is a local Christmas assistance program run by United Way that matches sponsors with needy families. According to United Way, last year over 5,100 children in 1,400 families were served through the program Sub for Santa.

An application process is required to verify that the families being helped are those in the most need. Families wanting to be considered for the program must attend an application workshop, to help determine need.

The children helped by the program are aged infant to 16. The application process for Sub for Santa will close at the beginning of December. 

This year the program is only open to Utah County residents.

“The difference between this program and Angel Tree is that the families accepted for Sub for Santa will have direct contact with the sponsor who purchases the gifts and delivers them to their homes,” reads in the United Way web page.

The applicants are also given handouts and information on cost-saving tips, budgeting, low-cost gift ideas, and even ideas for Christmas traditions. 

“When my sponsor came home to drop off the presents, my kids couldn’t believe it. They wrote some thank-you notes for her.  It was just such a great experience and feeling,” said Mozas.

Sponsors who participate in the Sub for Santa program provide two or three new clothing items, two new toys and a book for each child  no later than Dec. 21.

For information on applying for the program, call 801-356-6200 or visit https://www.unitedwayuc.org/sub-santa/applicants-sub-santa. 

To volunteer, call 801-356-6300 or visit www.subforsanta.org.