Quickly packing canned goods into boxes Friday, November 21 was Danielle Sampson, one of many Newtown High School students helping prepare packages for roughly 80 families in need before Thanksgiving.

Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) member Mandy Monaco oversaw assembly of food and goods packages readied for pick-up Friday at Newtown United Methodist Church hall. The many WIN-terns helped unload cars as more goods arrived, or made sure that each care package was filled.

WIN coordinates with Newtown Social Services throughout the holiday season, seeking individuals, organizations, and school groups to “adopt” each family and provide food, toiletries, and paper goods for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. Social Services Director Ann Piccini was moving through the room filled with items on Friday, helping with the day’s effort.

Ms Monaco and her son Jonathan stacked crates of bread, which would also be distributed to families that day. Kneeling on the floor and sorting through boxes of goods were students Briana Alves, Lydia Field, and Emma Brantl. Carrying packages out the door to waiting cars were Curtis Giles, Jeff DePinto, and Matt Perun.

Ms Monaco greeted them all and looked about the busy room. Mentioning the many families that they would help this year, she said, “It’s enough food to get them from Thanksgiving to Christmas.”

She was grateful to the Newtown schools — Middle Gate, Fraser Woods Montessori School, Reed Intermediate School, Sandy Hook School, and the high school students for the various drives and support they lent to the WIN effort this year.

The families in need received their gifts and baskets that evening.