To the Editor:

The annual Newtown Junior Women’s Club, Inc.’s annual Tag-A-Gift program was another great success.  Tags for 200 wished-for holiday gifts for a list of Newtown’s less fortunate kids were hung on trees/wreaths at seven locations.  Hats off to the managers and staff that oversaw and managed the process of acting as tag and collection locations for the unwrapped gifts: Stop & Shop, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown Savings Bank, Bagel Delight, Newtown Youth Academy, Wesley Learning and Newtown Country Club.  These children’s gifts were just a portion of what goes into The Newtown Fund’s “Holiday Baskets” to approx. 83 local families.  

We are grateful too for the Education Connection School Age Program who partnered with us, including having the kids in the local school program make some very creative ornaments to accompany the tags!   As in the past, Girl Scout Troop #50293, also made ornaments—this year it was beautiful woven, felt hearts. 

It is heartwarming how the dozens of people come together to execute the project, itself.  But we would have nothing to contribute to the Holiday baskets on Depot Day if it was not for the 150-plus residents who took tags, shopped and returned the gift to the collection site. What better example of true meaning of “community” and the message of the holidays?

The resulting dozens and dozens of smiles and happiness can be attributed to those who gave to this effort.  Bless you all.

Laura Branchini

President

Newtown Junior Women’s Club, Inc.

PO Box 618, Newtown                    January 13, 2015