Drivers Needed For

Newtown Fund’s Upcoming Delivery Day

By Shannon Hicks

The Newtown Fund has received 75 requests for some help this holiday season, and residents responded with promises to help every one of those people whether they are families, couples, or even single people having a tough time making ends meet. The fund, working once again with the town’s Social Services department, is less than two weeks away from Delivery Day — the culmination of its annual program that tries to make sure everyone in town has a happy holiday season.

Delivery Day (formerly called Depot Day) this year will take place on Saturday, December 15, at Sandy Hook School. That morning the donated gifts, food items, and gift cards that have been donated by various people, groups, and organizations are collected at the school on Dickinson Drive, where other volunteers wrap the items and organize them before they are delivered to homes all over town.

While all families, couples, or singles have been “adopted” by residents, there is still time for more people to help make this year’s program a success.

“Now the need is for help on Delivery Day,” said Rick Mazzariello of The Newtown Fund.

Residents can volunteer to deliver the holiday baskets to the adopted families on the morning of December 15. Contact Mr Mazzariello (270-9190) about being a driver; baskets will not be available for delivery until 11 am.

Financial contributions to the Newtown Fund are still being accepted, and will help purchase necessities and additional food for baskets on Delivery Day. Tax-deductible checks should be made payable to The Newtown Fund and mailed to PO Box 641, Newtown CT 06470.

“All of the money goes directly to the families. There are no administrative costs,” Mr Mazzariello stressed.

For those who have time to fill a specific request this weekend, Newtown Junior Women’s Club is in charge of Tag-A-Gift trees this year. Ninety ornament tags were created recently by the members of Middle Gate Brownie Troop 157 and then put on trees set up by NJWC at the Newtown Savings Bank branch in Sand Hill Plaza; Wesley Learning Center, behind Newtown United Methodist Church at 92 Church Hill Road; and Union Savings Bank, 1 Commerce Road.

Residents are invited to pick up an ornament and go shopping for the item requested on that ornament, and then return the new, unwrapped item to the location where the Tag-A-Tree ornament was picked up. Gifts should be dropped off by Monday, December 10, so that NJWC members have time to coordinate what was received and what will still need to be purchased before Delivery Day.

Donations of food, new clothing, and new toys can also be dropped off on Delivery Day between 7:30 and 9 am, and will also be used to fill the baskets being delivered that day.

All donations received on December 15 will be used.