7538-R2_ML&P_TownOfBuxton_2019-2020_Web

Buxton Toy Box 1995-2020

Report to the Selectmen 2020 BUXTON TOY BOX SPREADS CHEER EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC Report to the Selectmen 2020 T T B S I Since 19 5 the Buxton Toy Box has made Christmas merry and bright for Buxton children ages birth to 18. This program is supported financially by private donations and all the work is done by v lunteers. Applications to the Buxton Toy o are processed through th Selectmen’s Office at the Town Hall. T is year was the progr m’s 25 th anniversary, and over the years Buxton To Box has collected and distributed toys, books, puzzles, games, clothes, and other necessities for 3208 children in 1574 families. In 2020 the community sponsored gifts for 91 children from 39 Buxton families. Countless individuals, businesses, clubs, libraries, scho ls and churches ca e together to spread holiday cheer. The Elves set up toy box displays with red gift cards and piggy banks throughout town. Thanks to a grant from Narragansett Number One Foundation, each child received new shoes or boots plus socks. The Toy Box Committee also extends a special thank you to Gorham Sand and Gravel for sponsoring many special toys and sports equipment requests and to Colonial Tree for helping us get the word out. In order to operate safely during the pandemic, the Toy Box Committee suspended wrapping Christmas presents for recipients and instead provided wrapping supplies to the families. This allowed volunteers to shift to remote responsibilities allowing for social distancing inside the Toy Box Workshop. Even so, the Toy Box Elves sorted food donations from the Buxton Com unity Cupboard, Han aford, churches, civic organizations, and many individuals to provide dinners to each of the 39 fa ilies who requested one. The Toy Box is most active in November and December, but occasionally steps in to help Buxton fa ilies at other ti es of the year. I r , it t l i f i - r t ri s f a d paper go ds s rt s, t f our stru gling Toy Box families. We are so inspired by the generosity of our town. If you wish to donate gifts, time, or funds to the Buxton Toy Box please call Mia Dodge at 207-807-8816. Respectfully submitted, BUXTON TOY BOX COMMITTEE Since 1995 the Buxton Toy Box has made Christmas merry and bright for Buxton children ages birth to 18. This program is supported financially by private donations and all the work is done by volunteers. Applications to the Buxton Toy Box are processed through the Selectmen’s Office at the Town Hall. This year was the program’s 25 th anniversary, and over the years Buxton Toy Box has collected and distributed toys, books, puzzles, games, clothes, and other necessities for 3208 children in 1574 families. In 2020 the community sponsored gifts for 91 children from 39 Buxton families. Countless individuals, businesses, clubs, libraries, schools and churches came together to spread holiday cheer. The Elves set up toy box displays with red gift cards and piggy banks throughout town. Thanks to a grant from Narragansett Number One Foundation, each child received new shoes or boots plus socks. The Toy Box Committee also extends a special thank you to Gorham Sand and Gravel for sponsoring many special toys and sports equipment requests and to Colonial Tree for helping us get the word out. In order to operate safely during the pandemic, the Toy Box Committee suspended wrapping Christmas presents for recipients and instead provided wrapping supplies to the families. This allowed volunteers to shift to remote responsibilities allowing for social distancing inside the Toy Box Workshop. Even so, the Toy Box Elves sorted food donations from the Buxton Community Cupboard, Hannaford, churches, civic organizations, and many individuals to provide dinners to each of the 39 families who requested one. The Toy Box is most active in November and December, but occasionally steps in to help Buxton families at other times of the year. In March, with the closing of in-person gatherings and food and paper goods shortages, the program provided groceries to many of our struggling Toy Box families. We are so inspired by the generosity of our town. If you wish to donate gifts, time, or funds to the Buxton Toy Box please call Mia Dodge at 207-807-8816. Respectfully submitted, BUXTON TOY BOX COMMITTEE

Carolyn Snell David Johnson Mia Dodge, Chairman Carolyn Snell David Johnson Mia Dodge, Chair

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