On Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Harbor Crab Co will host its annual Kris Kringle event. All are invited to meet at the Harbor Crab Co in Patchogue at 6 p.m., where there will be an hour of festivities.

Afterward, everyone is loaded onto buses to visit families being “Kris Kringled.” Santa, carolers, and community members present recipients with monetary support, holiday cheer, and love.

Kris Kringle started about 19 years ago. A group of friends and businessowners were celebrating the holidays, and they realized they didn’t need gifts and instead chose to use the money to help families in need. Since then, other businessowners, friends, and families have gotten involved. Twelve days prior to the event, sponsors donate $1,000 or more a day.

The Kris Kringle Fund works tirelessly all year to raise money for local families in need. Often, these families experience financial difficulties after facing circumstances beyond their control. Each year, the Kris Kringle Team reaches out to local support staff of local schools and churches to identify families whose current circumstances meet the criteria described in the Kris Kringle mission statement.

One of the coordinators, Michele LaMartina, explained the significance of Kris Kringle. “It gives people in the community hope; it gives them faith. It makes them believe again, whether it be believing in themselves or believing in humanity,” she said.