by Sharon Challenger
“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.” Those lines from the poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, have been heard by hundreds of children throughout our communities and towns over the years. Luckily for some children, many of St Nicholas’s helpers have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that something will go into their stockings, and on their holiday tables this year.
For the past 14 years, Carolyn Anderson of Killingworth, has worked with residents from Haddam and Killingworth and volunteers from other towns, in an effort to help families in need in Hartford, Connecticut.
The overall poverty level in Hartford is a staggering 30.1%. What does this mean? The 2020-2021 Federal government poverty tables indicate the annual income would be $26,200 for a family of four. https://uwc.211ct.org/federal-poverty-levels-4115-33116/
The sad reality is that Hartford has the lowest median income in the state and the highest poverty rate. According to https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-connecticut/ “Hartford, unfortunately, ranks as the poorest place in Connecticut thanks to combination of low pay and a lack of jobs.”
When money is lacking for the basic necessities, such as food and shelter, it can lead to a sense of hopelessness and failure. It can have a life-long impact, even affecting future generations.
The tragedy of that probability is what motivated Carolyn and the volunteers for the past 14 years to brighten the lives of those in need. Their Hartford Kids Holiday event gives Hartford children the opportunity to give holiday gifts to their family. Carolyn believes that “the sense of empowerment is really important.” It has the power to change lives, and this Annual Event has done exactly that. Over the years, as many as 4,500 kids have participated in the Annual Hartford Kids Holiday Event.
In the beginning she partnered with the Hartford Boys & Girls Clubs. She explained, “This is when I met my friend and collaborator Monique Price-Taylor.” Monique works with the schools and manages “the big job of actual event logistics.”
In years past, volunteers brought donations to Hartford where they helped the children choose gifts and also wrapped the gifts for them. This year the mission expanded, however. It was the first year that they were able to deliver food for families.
This year the students in the 4th and 5th grades at Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School raised $230 and donated 12 bags of groceries. The money raised went to purchase gift cards which were used to purchase turkeys for families. All in all, food was provided for fifty families!
Generous donations were also given by members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Killingworth Congregational Church. The funds were used to provide food and extra items for the Holiday Event.
Carolyn realized 2020 would prove to be a challenge due to Covid-19, but she would not be deterred. With all the restrictions the virus forced upon us, she had to find a way to make it work without putting people at risk. The planning had to begin promptly because the possibility of schools closing was a reality.
The saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” is true! After brainstorming how the event could be managed, she and her volunteers decided to make use of the internet. Carolyn’s daughter enlisted the help of a friend who is a website designer to build a website where they could list all the gifts. They then gathered, categorized, and inventoried the collection of gifts. Each item was listed in an excel spreadsheet which they uploaded along with photographs onto the website.
The meticulous planning paid off. Monique was able to reach out to Hartford’s Milner Middle School Principal to let him know the children could shop online for their gifts starting in November. The burdens all Principals and educators faced during this crisis has been overwhelming. As Carolyn explained, “it was amazing that the principal agreed to this in the middle of all the commotion in September.” But he did, (kindness and generosity always prevail) and as a result, nearly two hundred children were able to remotely choose four gifts for their loved ones, from the website.
After the gifts were selected, the volunteers wrapped and delivered them to the school on Nov 12, 2020. The in-school students were able to bring their gifts home and the school arranged times for the remote students to pick up theirs.
(photos by Roxanne Chukwurah, Milner Middle School)
The generosity of our communities is reflected in the fact that donations continue to roll in. One woman made up over 200 coffee mugs filled with candy canes. An 88-year-old lady knitted 54 pairs of mittens and her 92-year-old friend knitted scarves and hats. Another volunteer rented and drove a U-Haul truck to bring the gifts up to the school.
So many people chipped in to help with donations that Carolyn was able to adopt three more families in need. They plan to help those families with food for the Christmas holiday as well as other items they may need.
Currently she is working on helping to provide items for a family who was recently displaced from their home due to a fire.
For next year, she hopes that during “spring cleaning” people in our communities will think about setting aside items they would like to donate.
Items such as new and “gently used” gifts for moms, dads, teens, and kids are always welcome. For kids: Toys, games, books, balls, dolls, and stuffed animals in great condition. (All stuffed animals visit our washing machines and dryers.) Men & Teen Boys: Sweaters, winter hats, gloves, casual shirts, socks, flashlights, travel size colognes. Women: Costume jewelry, knickknacks, baskets, decorative bowls and plates, sample lotions and soaps, holiday ornaments. Coffee mugs are popular gifts for men and women. (volunteers fill them with candy canes.)
To donate or volunteer, please call Carolyn Anderson at (860) 663-3481 for more information.
