Police have installed The Mitten Tree in the police station lobby at 3 Main Street.

Police Officer Maryhelen McCarthy, who coordinates the annual project for the needy, asks that donors provides gifts of new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, and other items of small apparel.

The town Social Services Department helps police distribute the gifts. The tree will remain in the lobby, where gifts of small apparel may be left through December 31. The lobby is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Also, from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, December 1, Newtown police and Redding police will conduct a Holiday Food Drive in front of the Big Y market at Newtown Shopping Village, 6 Queen Street.

Police are seeking nonperishable food items to be distributed to the needy by the town Social Services Department.