Dear Friends:
This year, the Amherst Survival Center has re-focused our Holiday Gift Program and we’re excited to let you know the changes. We are prioritizing children ages 0-18 whose families use our Food Pantry, and the Program will have three components:
With community support, we will offer families with school-age children who use our Food Pantry extra food (a “boost”) in the month of December, since the month includes a school vacation week.
2. Holiday Gifts: Books & Games!
We hope to distribute specific (but not personalized) gifts to children ages 0-18. Gifts will include: new books, family games (board games, card games, video games), and warm accessories (new mittens – last year’s most popular item! - hats, scarves).
All Food Pantry families will be given the opportunity to choose age-appropriate games and books for their children in December. Donations can be brought to the Center starting in mid-November, and distribution will happen in the Center throughout the month of December, at the convenience of the receiving families.
3. Access to Sidney Smith Toy Fund: We will have applications available for the Sidney Smith Toy Fund for all families with children who live in Hampshire County. Administered through the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Toy Fund offers families a $25 gift card to area malls.
In last year’s program, each participating child was able to receive 5-7 books. For many of these children this was an incredible start to their own library. We’re hoping we can duplicate that this year.
Seeking Donations:
We are seeking donations of the following. Please bring these items to the Center in mid-November (as gift distribution will start the first week of December):
· New books (for children of all ages)· Games: board games, card games, video games (for children of all ages)
· Mittens, gloves, hats, scarves
· Nutritious child-friendly foods
For more information, please contact:
Tracey Levy
Program Director
413-549-3968 x 102
Amherst Survival Center on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/amherstsurvival/
