Wethersfield Toy Drive: ‘Tis the Season for Giving
WETHERSFIELD - The holiday season is typically a time where local food banks and other elements of town social services see the greatest need. But this Christmas, Wethersfield is trying to give struggling families that and a little extra.

       The Department of Youth and Social Services will be holding its annual Holiday Gift Program, an initiative that, last year, provided more than 150 Wethersfield kids with toy/gift donations.

       â€"And they didn’t just get one,” said Assistant Director of Social/Youth Services Erica Texiera. â€"They would get anywhere from four to five gifts.”

       The gifts come courtesy of local businesses, residents, nonprofit organizations and the Wethersfield Police Department, which holds its own yearly toy drive. This year they’ll launch it at the annual tree lighting Dec. 3. Residents are asked to bring a new, unwrapped gift to help fill a police squad car.

       â€"We have a lot of generous businesses and residents that have supported the Department for all the needs we have in town,” said Youth/Social Services Director Kathy Bagley. â€"We have a generous community. They really come through with all the toys and items.”

       And then, the parents get to shop for their kids. A variety of toys and gifts, broken into categories by age groups ranging from newborns to 18, will be set up in Town Hall’s Council Chambers Dec. 17. All items are given away for free.

       Interested residents are asked to bring proof of their last four weeks of income to Town Hall and fill out an application by Dec. 15.

       So far, between 80 and 100 families have signed up, according to Bagley. She expects the number to grow and exceed last year’s demand.

       â€"We’ll probably see a greater need--we’ve seen a lot greater need based on the numbers at our food bank,” she said.

       This year, the food bank has averaged around 150 families served per month. That’s at least 2,500 pounds of food given out per month--a maximum over the previous year.

       â€"People are working-it’s just very minimal pay,” Texeira said. â€"They’re working very hard, but not making that much money. People are working two to three jobs just to make ends meet.”
MORE WETHERSFIELD NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Nov 24 2015  |  COMMENTS?