OGDEN -- Parents, here's your chance to show your children how spoiled they are.
Saturday, you can take your kids to the United Way of Northern Utah offices and have them hand toys, clothes or gift cards for those in need over to Santa Claus himself.
And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've given your kids their most important present of all this holiday season -- the good feeling created by thinking of others.
United Way of Northern Utah will hold its biggest toy push in its recent history Saturday, because coffers of holiday gifts at the various service organizations are low this year.
"There are a lot of people that won't get anything if we don't get on it," said Zeb Williams, communications manager of United Way of Northern Utah.
Williams said he believes the reason fewer toys are being collected this year than last is that people are settling into the recession.
"I think people are a little bit desensitized to it. I wonder if they know or feel how much people do need it."
Visits with Santa and other activities will be going on throughout the day at the United Way of Northern Utah offices Saturday in promotion of the toy drive.
Included in the events will be an opportunity for participants to go onto the United Way of Northern Utah website and log their community service into its Light Up the Season holiday campaign, which lists the good deeds done by area residents this month.
But Williams said the giving itself should be fun for people.
"I think some of the most lasting memories we have from Christmases are those times when we were able to help others," he said.
And he said stopping by to hand gifts to Santa is easy compared with other ways of helping others this time of year.
"This is a really unique way to do it, because it's just so easy and fun," Williams said. "There is no signing up. There's no commitment. You just pick up some toys, you drop them off. It's a good thing."
The United Way of Northern Utah is pushing for items for teenagers this year, he said.
"Because resources are limited, it's sad, but the older kids are not getting as much as the younger kids."
Williams suggests that people donate the same types of things they are buying for their own children this time of year, such as electronics and name-brand clothing.
He recalls an instance when he was in seventh grade and he saw a fellow student change another student's whole outlook by purchasing some name-brand clothes for her.
Because of those societal pressures, Bob Hunter, president and CEO of United Way of Northern Utah, said gift cards are a good present for teens in need.
That way, they get to pick out for themselves what clothes or items they would like to have when they return to school, he said.
"The teens are carefully screened," Hunter said. "Those who receive contributions really need them."
Williams is promoting the joy of picking out gifts for others.
"There's something kind of fun about picking stuff out," he said. "If you miss buying cute clothes for your kids and cute toys, pick something out for someone else who needs it."
The Saturday toy drive will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but contributions also are being accepted from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday.
The United Way of Northern Utah offices are in the north end of the Red Cross building at 2955 Harrison Blvd., Suite 201.
For more information, call United Way of Northern Utah at 801-399-5584.
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