ASG and the community gearing up for the Holiday Season

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Lemanu-Talauega Administration will continue this year the Christmas gift presentation to elder citizens of the territory during the annual Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) Christmas Program set for Dec. 02.

“Our senior citizens are grateful for the outpouring of gifts and they look forward to this event every year,” wrote the Governor’s acting chief of staff, Lydia Amisone, in a memorandum late last week to cabinet directors, saying that the gift presentation is one of the “most important initiatives” from the previous year.

And it’s that time of the year again in the planning process of this important event. In ensuring that this year’s program “is memorable”, she informed cabinet directors that each authority, department, and agency “is asked to join this festive event by assisting with the gifts for our elderly citizens.”

The memo includes a document which provides items and specifications of each gift basket, which contains items such as a large throw-blanket, large towel, hand soap, hand sanitizer, wash cloths (3-6 packs), shampoo & conditioner, tooth brush and a tube of tooth paste.

All gift baskets are to be pre-packed and dropped off at the DYWA Center in Tafuna no later than 3p.m on Nov. 18. The DYWA-Tafuna is also the venue for the TAOA Christmas program.

“All directors are also asked to provide one special gift basket,” said Amisone. “Thank you very much for your continued support of this iconic annual event.”

The Senior Citizen Christmas Program is one of the government’s annual programs highlighting the holiday season and honoring the territory’s elders, that was launched during the first-year of the previous Lolo Administration.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC PROGRAMS

Another government-spearheaded annual Christmas program that many in the community look forward to is the one headed by the Arts Council, which is currently taking registration for organizations — such as church youth groups, choirs, and schools. Performances are scheduled from Dec. 07 to Dec. 09.

As of Monday this week, some 23 groups have already registered for this annual community event — which is separate from the Christmas program for choirs from ASG departments and agencies set for Dec. 04 to Dec. 06.  Both events will be at the Fagatogo Pavilion.