Newtown Fund Holiday Effort May Fall Short

For the first time that anyone connected to the Newtown Fund can recall, the fund is in danger of falling short this year in providing a happy Christmas for all local families that are in need.

“We will wind up with more than 90 families on the list this year, and not all of them – including some with a lot of children – have been adopted,” said Sandy Stockwell. “We’ve had as many as 125 families a few years ago, and all of them were adopted.”

The booming economy of the past few years may have begun to lull people into a sense that there is no one in need of help, but in fact there are many in the community who need assistance, Ms Stockwell said.

“Even if someone lives in a big house, you don’t know if they have lost their job, or have cancer and no medical insurance,” she said.

There are individuals (usually senior citizens) as well as families on the list that is provided through the town’s social services department to the Newtown Fund. The recipients are anonymous; only a number is used to identify them when the gifts are purchased, wrapped and delivered on Depot Day, December 18.

Donors who adopt families provide a Christmas basket of nonperishable food items and gifts for the recipients. Gifts for children up to age 12 are provided through the Junior Women’s Club Tag-A-Gift program.

“Many of the families have teenagers who are too old for toys through Tag-A-Gift, but we still want to provide gifts for them,” Ms Stockwell said.

The Newtown Fund provides gift certificates so the recipients can get perishable food items directly from local supermarkets, and gift certificates that can be exchanged for other items such as prescription drugs, hair cuts, and gasoline.

Volunteers also purchase blankets, sheets, comforters, and other household linens to be distributed to the families.

“Monetary donations are greatly needed,” Sandy Stockwell said. “And volunteers also are needed to help deliver the gifts on Depot Day.”

Anyone who is interested in helping should call the Newtown Fund at 426-6565, follow the voice-mail instructions, and leave a message. Messages will be answered within the week. Monetary donations may be mailed to The Newtown Fund, PO Box 641, Newtown 06470. Write “Basket Project” on the memo line of the check.

This year’s “Tag-A-Gift” tags were placed on trees and wreaths at Newtown Savings Bank in Sand Hill Plaza, Fleet Bank, Union Savings Bank, and the Wesley Learning Center. There are still some tags that have not been taken. All gifts should be purchased and returned, unwrapped and with the tag attached, to these locations by Monday, December 13. They will be wrapped by the Juniors and delivered to Sandy Hook School the night before Depot Day.

All donated nonperishable food and gifts are to be dropped off at Sandy Hook School on Saturday morning for delivery on Depot Day. Delivery by the volunteers will begin at noon.

This year’s Newtown Fund Basket Program co-chairpersons are Colleen Honan, Judy Rosentel, and Doreen Kostecki.