Groton Distributes 485 Food Baskets, 225 Bags of Toys

Families lined up at Groton Human Services on Friday to pick up 485 food baskets and 225 bags of toys for the holidays.

The distribution will serve 625 children, slightly more than the 580 served last year.

“It’s all donations,” said Heidi McSwain, financial assistant with Groton Human Services. “Every single toy was donated. Every single bike, all the food, the gift cards . . . I can’t even begin to imagine how much (it cost).”

Rita Diffey, of Groton, picked up a food basket for a neighbor, who has a grown son and granddaughter.

“I think it’s good,” she said.

Toys packed in red, green and blue bags lined the the hallways of the Groton Human Services office and piled up in offices. Volunteers from the University of Connecticut served hot cider and gingerbread in the morning.

Food baskets included rolls, stuffing, dessert mixes, pasta, corn bread, rice, canned fruit and vegetables and cookie mix. Each family also received a frozen turkey or a voucher to pick up a turkey.