Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) is again running its Thanksgiving Basket Program in conjunction with Newtown Social Services.

For more than 40 years, the program has ensured that local families — including individuals and couples — in need have food for the holiday season. Most years, the club works to have families adopted by classrooms, businesses, families, clubs, and individuals. Items are then delivered to one central location the Friday before Thanksgiving, when they are sorted for the intended recipients.

Small collections and final donations are also collected on that Friday, and then each family receives their full collection by late afternoon.

Social Services coordinates the families receiving the donations.

Last year, due to COVID, WIN had sponsors deliver the items directly to the recipient families instead of gathering everything in one place and having families pick items up. The club plans to use the same process this year. Social Services does reach out to each recipient family to make sure that they are comfortable with this plan. Recipient families will again have the option of picking their items up at Social Services if they prefer.

With this in mind, time is of the essence.

WIN Thanksgiving Co-Chair Cyndy DaSilva said this week that the club expects to have between 70 and 100 families that will be in need of sponsoring this year.

“The goal is to provide each family with food for the Thanksgiving meal, but to also provide them with staple food items, paper goods and toiletries to get them through the holiday season,” she said.

Sponsors are needed as soon as possible. Fellow Co-Chair Mandy Monaco will assign sponsors for the recipient families. She can be reached at 203-426-5600. DaSilva can also be reached for additional information at 203-994-0208.

Food drives will still be held at some local schools and organizations, the women announced this week. Items collected through these drives will be donated to FAITH Food Pantry, which works with Social Services to provide for these same families.

Newtown Community Center is hosting a public collection location. The public is welcome to drop off donations any time the center, at 8 Simpson Street, is open: Monday through Thursday, 6 am to 9 pm; Friday, 6 am to 8 pm; Saturday, 7 am to 5:30 pm; and Sunday, 7 am to 5 pm. Donations will be accepted at that location through Friday, November 19.