The 2015 Tag-A-Gift program kicked off Monday, November 23, with the decorating of a tree in the lobby of Edmond Town Hall.

Tag-A-Gift is a collaboration of the Newtown Junior Women’s Club (NWJC) and Golden Opportunities to provide holiday gifts for less fortunate children and senior citizens in town. NJWC coordinates the collection and wrapping of holiday gifts for children, and this year for elderly residents, too, as part of the larger Holiday Basket drive led by The Newtown Fund.

Residents are invited to take a tag and fulfill the wishes for that child or elderly person, then return the unwrapped, new present(s) and tag to the location where they selected the tag, no later than December 9 for children, or December 18 for senior citizens. The identifies of the individuals, couples or families who request help from The Newtown Fund are kept anonymous. The Fund works in conjunction with Newtown Social Servics.

“Tags are already disappearing. People want to give back,” said a pleased Laura Branchini, of NJWC, who was admiring the Edmond Town Hall tree, Monday morning. She was joined by Knettie Archard, and Neil and Susan Callghan from Golden Opportunities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the elderly, as well as Edmond Town Hall Operations Manager Sheila Torres.

Volunteers and members of The Newtown Fund will distribute children’s gifts on December 12, said Ms Branchini. 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, when all donations are sorted and then delivered to the families who will receive food and gifts in time for the holiday.

Volunteers for Golden Opportunities will deliver seniors’ gifts to various facilities, after December 18.

Ms Archard, director and founder of Golden Opportunities, is happy that this year’s Tag-A-Gift includes senior citizens.

“The older people are a forgotten population,” she said, and without gifts provided through the generosity of the Tag-A-Gift program, many would not be having a very merry holiday season.

Additional Tag-A-Gift Locations

In addition to the “Giving Tree” at Edmond Town Hall, Tag-A-Gift trees or wreaths are located at Newtown Country Club, 2 Country Club Road; Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street; NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street; Savings Bank of Danbury, 20 Church Hill Road; Stop & Shop in Sand Hill Plaza, 228 South Main Street; Taunton Press, 63 South Main Street; and Wesley Learning Center, 92 Church Hill Road.

“All gift requests are fulfilled,” Ms Branchini said, so extra donations of cash and/or gift cards are welcome. Items on tags not “adopted” are purchased through The Newtown Fund.

The Newtown Junior Women’s Club is a nonprofit, civic organization, devoted to promoting civic, cultural, educational, and social activities to benefit the community. Find out more about this organization at newtownjuniorwomen.com.

The Newtown Fund was incorporated in 1959 to provide emergency relief to Newtown citizens in need. Information about the Newtown Fund can be found at thenewtownfund.org.

Learn more about Golden Opportunities at goldenopps.org.