Newtown Fund Begins Depot Day Drive

The Newtown Fund has launched its annual Holiday Basket Project. Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up to adopt a family that will receive gifts and food baskets on Depot Day, December 16.

Donations also are welcome, as is help on Depot Day itself. Sandy Stockwell of Stockwell & Bates is chairman of this year’s event.

The town’s social services department provides information about the needs of families and individuals, usually senior citizens, that are to be the recipients of the holiday baskets. The recipients’ names are kept confidential.

“We already have 78 families and expect to have a few more before Christmas,” Ms Stockwell said. “That’s a few less than last year, but not much of a difference.”

Thousands of individuals and families have been helped over the years since a group of local residents including the late Joseph P. Chase organized the first Christmas Basket project more than 40 years ago.

Letters have been sent to those who “adopted” families last year. Anyone who is interested in adopting or donating gifts should call Cathy Sullivan at 426-0538. New clothing, blankets, new toys and other items are needed.

Anyone who is willing to serve as a driver to deliver the gifts on Depot Day, or to otherwise help out that day, may call Doreen Kostecki at Bob Tendler’s office, 426-7679, voice mail 102.

The Newtown Junior Woman’s Club will be holding its Tag-a-Gift project for children in conjunction with the Holiday Basket project.

All donated food and other items are to be dropped off at Sandy Hook School by 9 am on Depot Day. Delivery will begin at noon.

Tax deductible contributions, payable to the Newtown Fund, may be sent to: The Newtown Fund, PO Box 641, Newtown, CT 06470.