Holiday Basket Program

Seeks Adopting Families

By Kendra Bobowick

Again this year, volunteers can help bring food and gifts to the tables of residents in need. The Newtown Fund Inc is sponsoring the Holiday Basket Program, which anonymously provides families in need with the generosity of adoptive individuals, groups, and families.

Often on wish lists for senior residents are socks and warm blankets. “It’s heartbreaking,” said fund President and Basket Program Chairman Linda Bates. She feels that families in town “have a greater need this year; they seem to be poorer.” While the town’s Social Services Department helps to identify the families, Ms Bates is anxious to find basket donors. “We have to get all the families adopted, and give donors time to shop,” she said. The fund also welcomes financial contributions.

“We always need money for gift certificates for food, gas, shoes,” she said. The fund cannot accept perishable items, but welcomes gift cards to local grocery stores.

Church and civic groups, neighborhoods, etc, can all become involved in adopting a family, she said. The effort also provides funds to the Masonicare at Newtown for those residents’ personal needs such as haircuts and other “little things” not covered by their medical care.

Gift basket coordinator Rick Mazzariello is “looking for adoptive families, now.” And also advises families in need to contact the Newtown Social Services.

This week he will begin matching families with adopting volunteers, he said. On December 17, all baskets will be assembled and delivered. Those who adopt should bring their items to the Sandy Hook Elementary School between 7:30 and 9 am where volunteers including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will help assemble, wrap, and label the goods and gifts. Around 11 am another group of volunteers will deliver the baskets.

Another program involves the Tag-A-Gift Program coordinated by the Newtown Junior Women’s Club. Christmas trees will be placed in several locations throughout town and decorated with tags. People can take a tag, buy the gift on the tag, then return it to the tree.

Roughly 75 families, or 99 adults and 93 children needed help last year, and this year’s estimates are similar, Mr Mazzariello explained.

The Newtown Fund, Inc began in the 1950s through a group of concerned citizens who felt a need for an emergency fund for residents in the community. The fund also assists other charitable organizations and often provides seed money to local nonprofits. The fund receives its own funding through donations, and contributed to the establishment of Newtown Youth & Family Services, The Children’s Adventure Center, the Newtown Senior Center, Nunnawauk Meadows, and the Family Life Center. The fund currently contributes to Kevin’s Community Center. The fund is available year-round for immediate help. During the holiday season the fund relies on its sole fundraiser by sending letters to contributors and relying on publicity.

Contact Newtown Social Services at 203-270-4330. Contact Mr Mazzariello at 203-270-9190.