Submitted by Kathleen Amoia
(November 10, 2025) — Donations are needed for the Annual Hartford Kids Holiday Event. For 19 years, a network of friends and residents of both Killingworth and Haddam have joined together and collected new and gently used items so that low-income Hartford children have the chance to give holiday gifts to their families. It also has been an opportunity for Haddam-Killingworth High School students to help out and acquire community service hours.
Partnering with Hartford Public Schools, these volunteers bring the collected donations to the school, set up the event and help the kids choose the free gifts. Wrapping is also part of the experience and so wrapping paper and Scotch tape are among the needed items. To date, more than 6,000 students have participated.
The success of the Hartford Kids Holiday Event has always depended upon the generosity of people in our towns. The kids look for gifts for their parents, their siblings, even baby brothers and sisters. Among the gifts they often search for are stuffed animals. However, the category of greatest need is donations for men and teen boys. The list for the latter includes sweaters, hoodies, winter hats and gloves, socks, basketballs, soccer balls, and flashlights.
Among the gifts the kids love to find for their mothers and grandmothers are costume jewelry, pocketbooks, knick-knacks, lotions and soaps and holiday ornaments. Kids buying for kids look for stuffed animals, toys, games, balls, and dolls. For babies, any new items are much appreciated.
This year there is a special request for financial donations. Monies given will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards for holiday meals for families most in need.
Carolyn Anderson can be contacted at 860 575 2932 to arrange pick-up or to answer any questions you might have about the program or donating. The Hartford Kids Holiday Event celebrates the spirit of the season and allows kids to be gift givers within their own family circles. The deadline for donation collection is December 1, 2025.
