8686-R1_ML&P_BuxtonAnnualReport_2022-2023_Web

Buxton Toy Box 1995-2020

Buxton Toy Box 1995-2020

Report to the Selectmen 2023 BUXTON TOY BOX LIGHTS UP ANOTHER HOLIDAY SEASON Buxton put its generosity and community spirit on full display in 2023, helping the Buxton Toy Box brighten the holidays for 80 local children from 41 families. For almost three decades, the all-volunteer Toy Box has provided gifts and clothing to Buxton children from birth to age 18. Gifts come via the red cards attached to Toy Box Christmas trees at numerous area businesses, as well as from local churches and organizations and donations to piggy banks set up by the Elves all over town. The Toy Box also provides families with wrapping materials for all the gifts. Clothing this year included shoes, boots and socks for each child, thanks to a generous donation by the Narragansett Number One Foundation. In addition to the gifts, bountiful holiday dinners were distributed to 31 families – all donated by local families, churches, businesses and organizations. In August, the Toy Box once again entered a float – complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus and their little elves – in the 2023 Buxton Community Parade. Toy Box volunteers do most of their work in November and December. Occasionally, help is provided when individual needs arise at other times of the year. To donate or volunteer for the 2024 Toy Box, please call Mia Dodge at 207-807-8816. We continue to be grateful for the many community members who have stepped up, year after year since 1995, to bring holiday cheer to their neighbors. It makes us all proud to call Buxton our home. 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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