There is much to be grateful for this week, and one thing I am grateful for is all the amazing ways to give back to the community during the holidays. Edmond Town Hall, at 45 Main Street, is one of more than a dozen Toys For Tots drop-off donation sites in Newtown. Two boxes are in its lobby near the ticket stand and doorways leading towards the theater. The United States Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys For Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys for children and teens. For many, these are the only toys they will receive during the holidays. Each year, donations are given to Newtown families in need through various organizations and churches, as well as to children in surrounding towns who need support. Toys are anticipated to be collected from drop-off locations on Friday, December 16. To learn more or to contribute a monetary donation online, visit toysfortots.org.

The Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard has slated its annual Holiday Gift Wrapping fundraiser. On Saturday, December 10, from 9 am to 1 pm, and on Sunday, December 11, from 11 am to 3 pm, NHS Marching Band & Guard volunteers will wrap holiday gifts for a donation. The event is being held in the NHS old cafeteria, 12 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook. “We will beautifully wrap your holiday gifts for a donation while you run errands or relax with a cup of cocoa in our cozy holiday lounge.” All proceeds benefit the NHS Marching Band & Guard. Sign up to have gifts wrapped by going online to docs.google.com/forms.

Former Newtown resident Faith Vicinanza will be doing her first poetry reading next month, not as a published poet (that ship sailed years ago) but as the recently appointed Town of Southbury Poet Laureate. Faith was recently selected by a panel of three judges to be the first Poet Laureate in our neighboring town. She will formally launch her three-year term on Saturday, December 10, with a 1 o’clock reading at Southbury Public Library, which is at 100 Poverty Road. Faith’s service as Southbury Poet Laureate will also include workshops, as well as readings with other poet laureates in the state. The library is asking for reservations for this free event; call 203-262-0626 or visit southburylibrary.org/events to make one or for additional information. It goes without saying that it would be nice for Faith to see former neighbors if anyone has the time available. Let her know you read about her (again…) in her former hometown newspaper.

Before then, members of Newtown Interfaith Council have announced plans for this year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Gathering. Newtown Congregational Church is hosting the event this year, on Sunday, November 20, at 7 pm. This year’s theme is “Thankful for the Light.” NIC members plan to share texts, prayers or readings trending toward that theme. Attendees will have a few opportunities to participate in on Sunday night. The first will be through spoken and written offerings of what they are grateful for. So this will be a good time to start thinking ahead to next Thursday, when most of us will be asked to do something similar when we gather for dinner and give thanks. The second opportunity on Sunday will be through an offering to FAITH Food Pantry. Shannon Hicks picked up additional information when she attended NIC’s November 10 meeting; see her story and those details in the November 18, 2022, print edition of the paper.

Did you know that Turning The Page, Books Etc, in Monroe, owned by former Reed Intermediate School library/media specialist Pia Ledina has a holiday 2022 catalog? It’s online, and the books listed in it can be ordered online or picked up in store. The full list is available at turningthepage.shelf-awareness.com/neiba-book-guide.

We are sending appreciation to Franco’s Pizza & Pasta restaurant and local music teacher, musician, and instrument/gear tech Joe Proc and Arrowhead Guitars for hosting the second and ultimately successful Guitar Showcase & Student Jam Night on Saturday, November 12. After a well-attended kickoff several weeks ago, this latest event was so popular that it essentially limited Franco’s from seating anyone between 5 and 8 pm who was not there attending the showcase. Based on the turnout, we are excited to hear there are plans to possibly make this a monthly fixture — or to expand it to other local restaurants in the near future. We also want to acknowledge the participating musicians and supporters who stepped into the spotlight and, as we are told, performed admirably: Jake Swindon, Jaden Ng, Dillon Tassitano, Ethan Weichaun, Maggie Mattera, Addy Dellaconte, Mia Sullivan, and Miah Milunich. You are all a bunch of cool cats!

The gauntlet has been thrown. A Bee Publishing employee stopped by the Parks & Rec Department office on Tuesday, when they picked up the gift basket the Bee team won a few weeks ago during the Third Annual Scarecrow Contest. Regular readers already know that this was the third consecutive win for our company’s team in the Newtown Pride category. When our employee was picking up the gift basket — which will again be donated to FAITH Food Pantry to share with its clients, as has been done the last two years — Community Center employee Maria Newfield entered the conversation. “I’m going to win that next year!” she said, smiling, but sounding pretty serious. Maria, we accept your challenge.

I’m not the only one sharing my gratefulness this week. Newtown Congregational Church Organist Phil Crevier’s smallest fan made herself known last weekend. After Phil played one of the early pieces of music for the November 13 worship service, granddaughter Avery — sitting very proudly in the pews with her grandmother Nancy — began tentatively clapping. When Senior Pastor Matt Crebbin noticed the youngster, he too joined her in celebrating the talent Phil regularly shares with the congregation. Bravo indeed!

While this week I am full of gratitude, next week I know I will be thankful as long as you promise to ... Read me again.