Newtown Middle School Student Council Members have begun their annual drive to collect donations for the Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) annual Thanksgiving Baskets effort.

The Student Council collects items each year for the basket campaign. Other local schools also collect for the campaign. The middle school's collection began on October 14 and runs through November 18.

The NMS Student Council is overseen by teachers Nadia Papalia, Abigail Olsen, and Elizabeth Iaciofano.

Donations for the middle school's collection can be dropped off at the school's main entrance, which is on the southern side of the building at 11 Queen Street, during school hours.

WIN's Thanksgiving Baskets program is a townwide drive to provide local families food to last from Thanksgiving into the holiday season. Social Services compiles a list of families in need in the Newtown area, which is kept confidential, and WIN matches participating organizations with a family, or donations are matched with a family's needs. Items are delivered to residents who have requested help in time for Thanksgiving, with additional supplies to help the individual residents, couples, and families through the holiday season.

According to WIN Vice President Colette Ercole a range of items is needed for this year's campaign. Desired donations include fruits, vegetables, soups, applesauce, jelly, peanut butter, beef stew, chili, tuna/chicken/Spam, canned pastas, pasta sauces, gravy, tomatoes of all kinds, pastas, rice, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, hot and cold cereals, powered milk, pancake mix, pancake syrup, newborn to size 6 diapers, baby wipes, baby food, 100 percent fruit drinks, juice boxes, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, health and beauty aids, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, bath soap, sanitary products, incontinence products, individually wrapped toilet paper, paper towels, condiments, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, laundry supplies, and snack foods.

[mappress mapid="421"]