To the Editor:

Women Involved in Newtown held the annual Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive in collaboration with Newtown Social Services on Friday November 22nd.  The number of families in need this year increased significantly from previous years, but Newtown rose to the occasion as it always does! 

Many individuals, families, schools, churches, clubs and businesses in Newtown stepped up and donated food, paper goods and toiletries to help these needy families through the holiday season. Many of our local schools held food drives to ensure that the goods these families received would keep them well supplied into 2014.  We would like to thank Middle Gate School, Newtown Middle School, Sandy Hook School, Reed Intermediate School and The Fraser Woods School for their very successful food drives and contributions.  We are also grateful to Berkshire Motors for the community food drive that they held and the bountiful contributions it provided.

Many volunteers were on hand all day to sort and organize the goods received.  Their participation in this program was essential to making sure that all food was checked in and dispersed to the families properly.  The amount of goods coming in for the families is overwhelming, and we could not process it all without these wonderful, hands-on volunteers; many thanks to all of them!

Newtown has faced a most difficult year, but it is heartening to see that the generosity and kindness of our community has remained intact.   We are a very special town where the citizens make a habit of reaching out to each other in times of need.  We at WIN are very lucky to witness this goodwill firsthand through the Thanksgiving Basket Program.  WIN would like to wish everyone a happy holiday and peace in the new year.

Sincerely,

Cyndy DaSilva and Mandy Monaco

Co-Chairs WIN Thanksgiving Basket Program

17 Main Street, Newtown                    December 4, 2013