December 15, 2025 by Haley Hammer (‘29)
During the month of December most are counting down the days until the holidays, not focusing on midterms, but more likely winter break and traveling. However, for this festive season, some aren’t as fortunate. Luckily, there is an organization that helps provide many young children and families with toys, and clothes to help spread joy and love. The mission of “Give a Child a Christmas” is to provide children in the capital region, no matter what financial status they’re in, an enjoyable holiday season with toys and warm clothing. I had the privilege of speaking with the adviser and Saratoga Springs High School teacher Mrs. Amy Krogmann, a volunteer for ‘Give a Child a Christmas’ who supplies over 600 families with packages to put under their tree. Below is an excerpt from our conversation.
Q: How did ‘Give a Child a Christmas’ begin? What is the program’s mission?
A: This is my 30th year teaching and when I first started, there was another teacher there who ran the program, and it is an outside agency that we help. There is a woman named Lori Dudka whose grandmother started it like 60 years ago. This was passed down in the family from her grandmother, to her mom. What they do is basically just help families in need. People will contact them, and she puts together a little wish list with families or individual children like within Saratoga County around this area and we provide their entire Christmas, with some outfits and toys.
Q: Is it food as well?
A: No it’s just in lieu of Santa Claus is the best way to say it It’s there’s we do gifts toys so what Lori does as she provides us you know they’re their clothing sizes and then they’re interest as far as their hobbies go like are they interested in books or are some craft or sports team and try to get them gifts based on that. This kind of leaves you on your own to do the Christmas shopping for them with things that they would like. We used to do it as the Navy base in town, with 60-70 families a year. Now Lori took charge with Saratoga County with roughly 40-50 families.
Q: How is this advertised?
A: I send it out to the entire staff, usually at the beginning of November and give a little bit of information about it. We have our administration in school adopt children together. The guidance office does, different academic offices do, and sometimes clubs do. Teachers do it individually, some teachers as well will adopt children. Or they’ll shop with their children.
This has become like a family tradition for me and my children. When my kids were little, I would take them with me so that they could have an understanding and appreciation for the others in need within our community. That’s one of the main things that people really love about it, is that you’re giving back to kids within your community and you’re helping them out.
Q: From what I’m gathering this is a local organization right and is it just Saratoga? Are there many schools involved?
A: It’s just Saratoga County! For example, Lori will meet someone in CVS and find them that way. It’s more through word-of-mouth, but very similar to Franklin Community Center.
We cross check with Franklin community center or different places to try to make sure that families aren’t using more than one resource. We do want everyone to have an opportunity to have something?
Q: Where do you see you Give a Child a Christmas in the future? Maybe expanding to other holidays?
A: I think that it’s just that it’s just a traditional time of year thing, there’s other clubs and things that take events at like thanksgiving time that do the food drives. This is kind of like a standalone thing, but I hope that when I leave that there will be someone in the school who will take over you know Saratoga high school’s role and how we’ve done it for like I said the 30 years that I’ve been here.
Q: What inspired you to get involved and take a leadership role in this program ?
A: I was a donor. I was a person who donated when I first started teaching I would adopt a child or two, and to do the shopping. When the woman who originally ran the program retired, she came to me and asked me to take over her possession, which I gratefully accepted.
This organization truly shows how giving and kind people can be when others are in need. This December, donate your time to an organization indeed, helping everyone get the holiday season they deserve.