Members of the Head O’ Meadow Elementary School PTA presented donations to three local charities on January 23 following the school’s annual Holiday Giving Shop, held before winter break in December.

This year’s PTA Holiday Giving Shop was run by PTA members Alyson Smith and Melissa Yomazzo. As in past years, it was set up on the stage in the school’s cafetorium. As previously reported in The Newtown Bee, PTA members created bags of different items for students to choose from for gifts. Each gift bag was sold for $4, and $1 from each bag went to a charity. Students selected a charity to give each dollar to by placing a bead in a bin. Gifts ranged from candy and treats for dogs to golf tees.

In total, this year’s Holiday Giving Shop raised $1,445 for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, FAITH Food Pantry, and the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program.

“We’re so proud to support you guys,” Ms Smith said, as she, Ms Yomazzo, and Head O’ Meadow lead teacher Carol Danenberg presented checks to representatives of the three charities on January 23.

Based on how students voted during the shop, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, represented by Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation President Jenny Hubbard, received $614; the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program, represented by coordinator Frank Casey, received $459; and FAITH Food Pantry, represented by Vice President Jill LeBlanc, received $372.