NASHUA – While jingle bells, jolly elves and the flaky white stuff seems far off, preparation for the holiday season is upon Greater Nashua and the Souhegan Valley as The Telegraph and United Way’s Santa Fund officially kicks off today.

For more than 50 years, the Santa Fund has been able to give local low-income families a chance to relax during the holiday season by providing assistance with Christmas presents, so that no family has to choose between paying their living expenses or buying their children gifts.

As in recent years, the three local nonprofit agencies that will benefit from this year’s fund are The Front Door Agency and The Salvation Army in Nashua and SHARE Outreach, located in Milford.

The United Way will again serve as the fiscal agent for the Santa Fund.

Despite the pandemic, much remains the same this year when it comes to raising funds for the program.

New, though, will be an online auction spearheaded by the United Way of Greater Nashua.

The auction, set for November, is in need of items from area businesses valued at $250 and up. In addition, an auction sponsor is being sought, with all proceeds going toward the fund.

Donations can be dropped off at the United Way of Greater Nashua, located at 20 Broad St. in Nashua.

Gift cards – from a variety of locations, including Chunky’s Movie Theatre, Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble – are again a high-need item, as are young men and teenagers’ clothing, as well as infant clothing and socks for people of all ages.

Other donations being sought include pajamas, books, mittens, winter coats, jeans, boots, graphic novels, legos for all ages and other toys.

The agencies are asking that the gifts be new and unwrapped.

Santa Fund monetary donations will be accepted online again this year. Those wishing to make a monetary donation can use their MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express card on a secure online portal. The Web address for that portal is http://www.tinyurl.com/santafund2020.

Donations also can be made by texting 2020santa to 41444.

Checks may be made out to the United Way of Greater Nashua, with Santa Fund written in the memo line.

Cash donations can be dropped off at the United Way of Greater Nashua’s office.

This year’s online campaign thermometer is accessible at https://app.mobilecause.com/public/campaigns_keywords/graph2#/139595/fundraising/wall.

Finally, The Telegraph will again publish donors names in each Sunday’s edition beginning in late October. Donor names also will be listed under a special link on The Telegraph’s website – www.nashuatelegraph.com. The Telegraph also will serve as a drop-off site for donations of goods. with Christmas presents, so that no family has to choose between paying their living expenses or buying their children gifts.

Additional drop-off locations for goods will be announced in the coming weeks.

For additional information, contact Telegraph Publisher and Editor Matthew Burdette at 603-594-1240 or mburdette@nashuatelegraph.com or United Way of Greater Nashua President Mike Apfelberg at 603-882-4011.