By Jill Harrison
With Christmas around the corner, people in the community need substitutes for Santa to bring them Christmas joy.
Sub for Santa, a program directed by the United Way of Utah County, matches sponsors with needy individuals in the community.
'A lot of kids would go without if they didn''t have it,' said Cheryl Ivie, who said she has been a 'life-time volunteer' for the Sub for Santa program.
She received aid from the program when her son was 6 years old. Sub for Santa provided his entire Christmas, she said.
Her mother also worked for United Way and consequently the family has been involved with Sub for Santa for many years.
'It''s a family tradition now,' she said. 'It''s part of Christmas. Christmas isn''t just about receiving.'
The program needs many volunteers to make the program a success, said Christina Aguilar, Sub for Santa program director. Volunteers help process applications, sort gifts, make deliveries and supply the gifts.
'I think the really neat thing about the program is it''s supported and run through volunteers,' she said.
Volunteers interview families who applied for Sub for Santa aid and then a committee reviews the applications to determine what can be done to meet their needs.
'You get to meet with people face to face,' Aguilar said. 'We have those kind of volunteer opportunities available where you can interact with people and know their stories and get to see what''s out there in the community ... It wakes you up to the reality people have to deal with.'
The program was able to help 5,408 children last year through the Sub for Santa, Angel Tree and Toys for Tots programs.
'You wouldn''t believe all the presents they get,' Ivie said.
Volunteering with the program helps people be aware of how much need is in the community, Aguilar said.
'I enjoy Christmas more,' she said. 'I''m not focused on gifts and things that don''t matter so much.'
Students can volunteer to intake applications beginning the first week of November through the first week of December.
United Way would like the volunteers to sign up early so they can do a weekly shift, said Mary Alice Cannon, the manager of volunteers at Untied Way.
The majority of the families speak Spanish, so Spanish speakers are needed to help with intakes, she said.
To volunteer to intake applications contact Rebekah Olsen at 374-2588.
Other volunteer opportunities include sorting and delivering gifts and sponsoring different individuals.