For more than 50 years, The Newtown Fund has helped Newtown’s residents in need around the holidays in December. Most referrals come through the town’s Social Service Department or local clergy. It is a registered 501(c)(3) charity, which makes all donations tax deductible.

The Holiday Basket Program holds its collection and distribution on what is referred to as Depot Day — a Saturday, approximately ten days prior to Christmas. Before deliveries are on their way to the families, there is a lot of organizing, wrapping, and lists to check and double check.

Onsite organizing starts on Friday, the evening before Depot Day. On Depot Day, those adopting families drop off their family’s holiday “basket” and other volunteers deliver them to their destination. Fraser Woods School on Main Street has again agreed to host Depot Day 2014, to be held December 13.

It has become a festive, happy event and an integral part of Newtown’s holiday festivities. It is a great way for whole families and individuals to get involved and be part of the true meaning of the season. Many clubs and organizations have played active roles for years.

There are plenty of opportunities to help whether it is to donate one needed item for one family, dozens of the same thing, or to volunteer time.

See below for the areas of help needed. Newtown Fund volunteers hope that you will join them.

Adopt a Local Family: All food for holiday meal and gifts for each family member.

Contact Layne Lescault for complete details, at 203-270-6481 or lclescault@hotmail.com.

Financial Donation: Mail check payable to The Newtown Fund and mail to The Newtown Fund, PO Box 641, Newtown CT 06470.

Donate Items: New clothing, bedding, toys, food, etc. Contact Ms Lescault for specific needs or other suggestions (203-270-6481 or lclescault@hotmail.com).

Purchase A “Wished-For” Gift For A Newtown Child: Each child (ages 0–18) whose family is being helped with the Holiday Basket program is allowed two wished-for gifts.

The public is asked to pick up an ornament with a tag listing the gender, age, and wish.

Tags will be available at these locations around town:

Bagel Delight, 30 Church Hill Road; Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street; Newtown Savings Bank (main branch), 39 Main Street; NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street; Stop & Shop, 228 South Main Street; and Wesley Learning Center, 92 Church Hill Road.

Tags are also available through the Newtown Junior Women’s Club Tag-A-Gift Program (203-364-0466) and Education Connection (860-567-0863).

Items purchased through this program need to be returned to the location where the tags were picked from by December 11, so that all gifts can be collected, wrapped, and delivered to Fraser Woods for Depot Day.

Help Unload Items For Donation: Depot Day set up work will be done Friday, December 12, from 4 to 10 pm at Fraser Woods School, 173 South Main Street. Depot Day will then take place at the school on Saturday, December 13, from 7:30 until 9 am.

Contact Ms Lescault for details.

Wrap Gifts & Help Organize: Gifts and items going to families are delivered to Fraser Woods unwrapped, so they need to be gift wrapped before they are delivered to their recipients.

Help is needed Friday night and Saturday morning at Fraser Woods.

Contact Ms Lescault for details or to volunteer.

Deliver To Families: Deliveries will be ready to go out from Fraser Woods at 11 am December 13.

Contact Ms Lescault for details or to volunteer.

Help In Kitchen: Volunteers are also needed to help organize breakfast and lunch for the Depot Day volunteers.

Contact Linda Bates, 203-270-9312.

For more information about The Newtown Fund or to volunteer for the Holiday Basket program, visit thenewtownfund.org.