8355-R5_ML&P_BuxtonAnnualReport_2021-2022_Web

Buxton Toy Box 1995-2020

Buxton Toy Box 1995-2020

Report to the Selectmen 2022 BUXTON TOY BOX BRIGHTENS ANOTHER HOLIDAY SEASON Thanks to the community’s kindness and generosity, Buxton Toy Box helped bring smiles to the faces of 117 local children from 47 families in 2022. Founded in 1995, Toy Box is run completely by volunteers, providing gifts and clothing to Buxton children from birth to age 18. Gifts come from the red cards attached to Toy Box Christmas tree displays at local businesses, from churches and local organizations, and from donations to piggy banks set up by the Elves all over town. Clothing this year included a pair of shoes or boots and socks, all thanks to a generous grant from The Narragansett Number One Foundation. Holiday dinners also were distributed to 32 families in 2022. Most were donated by individual families, along with 10 dinners from Hannaford and bountiful produce from Snell Family Farm. Much appreciated support came from many other local businesses, including Gorham Sand & Gravel. Applications for the Toy Box are processed through the Selectmen’s Office at Town Hall. For the third year, due to the pandemic, the Toy Box opted against wrapping gifts to reduce the number of Elves congregating at the Town Hall at any given time. Instead, wrapping materials were provided along with the gifts. Also in 2022, the Toy Box proudly entered a float - complete with Santa, children as elves and toys - in the Buxton 250 th Anniversary Community Parade. Most of the Toy Box activities take place in November and December, although occasional help is extended to families at other times of the year. To donate or volunteer in 2023, please call Mia Dodge at 207-807-8816. As always, we are so touched and grateful by the outpouring of support the Toy Box has received over the past 27 years. It’s one of the many things that make Buxton such a special place to live. Respectfully submitted, BUXTON TOY BOX COMMITTEE Report to the Selectmen 2020 BUXTON TOY BOX SPREADS CHEER EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC 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 Report to the Selectmen 2020 BUXTON TOY BOX SPREADS CHEER EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC Since 1995 the Buxton Toy Box has made Christmas merry and bright for Buxton children age 18. This program is supported financially by private donations and all the work is done by volu Applications to the Buxton Toy Box are processed through the Selectmen’s Office at the Town This year was the program’s 25 th anniversary, and over the years Buxton Toy Box has collected distributed toys, books, puzzles, games, clothes, and other necessities for 3208 children in 1574 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 o boots plus socks. The Toy Box Committee also extends a special thank you to Gorham Sand an Gravel for sponsoring many special toys and sports equipment requests and to Colonial Tree fo 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 T Box Workshop. Even so, the Toy Box Elves sorted food donations from the Buxton Communit Cupboard, Hannaford, churches, civic organizations, and many individuals to provide dinners t each of the 39 families who requested one. The Toy Box is most active in November and December, but occasionally steps in to help Buxt families at other times of the year. In March, with the closing of in-person gatherings and food 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 Buxton Toy Box please call Mia Dodge at 207-807-8816. Respectfully submitted, BUXTON TOY BOX COMMITTEE Carolyn Snell, Chair Mia Dodge, Director Bill Nemitz

Carolyn Snell David Johnson Mia Dodge, Chair

Carolyn Snell David Johnson Mia Dodge, Chair

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