Operation Sunshine hotline is now open

The holiday season is a time for giving and one organization is doing just that.  Operation Sunshine is kicking off their holiday campaign.

Families who need help through the holidays can call their hotline, which opened up today,  to see if they're eligible for assistance.

People can also call to donate money. The mission started in the 1960s and Operation Sunshine hopes to raise $68,000 for families throughout Central New York.

"You see some of the family's that are helped by it. And when you see them and all the efforts that are involved in it, you don't realize how much you have until you see families affected by operation sunshine," said Dave Dudajek of the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

A family in need can either call the hotline at 732-2379 or reach out to one of the five agencies partnered with the operation.

Agencies: Catholic Charities of Oneida and Madison Counties, the Rescue Mission of Utica, Catholic Charities of Herkimer County, the Neighborhood Center of Utica and the Salvation Army of Utica.

The hotline is open Monday, Thursday and Wednesday of next week and M-F through December 7^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.