82 Families Receive Gifts In The Newtown Fund’s Holiday Basket Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Due to the efforts of dozens of volunteers, the coming Christmas holiday will be a brighter one for 82 local needy families, comprising more than 200 people, participating in the Holiday Basket Project.

On Saturday, December 17, The Newtown Fund held its annual Delivery Day for the Holiday Basket Project, staging the event at Sandy Hook School on Dickenson Drive.

The Newtown Fund is a volunteer-based nonprofit group that is solely funded through donations

Early in the morning, families and businesses who had “adopted” needy families for the holiday season, brought a variety of gifts, household items, and gift cards to the school.

Volunteers then organized and wrapped those items, which were later delivered to the needy families across town, explained Doreen Kostecki, president of The Newtown Fund.

To participate, needy families apply to the town social services department, describing which items they would like to receive.

The adopting families then receive a list of desired items, which they purchase and then transport to the school for delivery to the needy, Ms Kostecki said.

The adopting families do not know the identities of the families to whom they are donating gifts, she said. The donated items are listed by code numbers, not family names. Recipients’ names are not disclosed.

Linda Bates of Stockwell & Bates was the chairperson of Delivery Day.

The late Joseph P. Chase organized the first Christmas Basket project more than 45 years ago.

Tax-deductible contributions for its charitable work, payable to The Newtown Fund, may be sent to: The Newtown Fund, PO Box 641, Newtown CT 06470-0641.