Town Seeking Shoppers to Donate Presents for Children

While helping to meet the needs of South Windsor residents falls under the prevue of the town’s human services department year round, at this time of year, so does playing Santa.

The department, along with a handful of volunteers and a very generous community provide gifts for South Windsor families that have either low income or financial hardship.

After Thanksgiving, the department invites residents to ‘adopt’ a family or a child by shopping for them for the holidays. Donations are brought to the human services department and distributed to families by Dec. 16.

Currently, the town has provided for about 200 children but is still looking for donors for about 10 children, said director Andrea Cofrancesco on Wednesday.

“We’re looking for either people who want to donate random gift cards in $25 increments to the department stores or things kids would like Old Navy, Claire’s, GameStop – those could go toward gifts we have to purchase,” Cofrancesco said.

“Some people don’t want to do a whole family so they give us money and we go out and do the shopping, so we use the gift cards to supplement.”

Those adopting a child are given a wish list created by a parent that includes necessities like coats, boots and hats as well as fun items the child would like.

In addition, the department always welcomes gift cards to grocery stores. The Thanksgiving basket program last week depleted the reserves.

Also, the department will occasionally hand out gas cards, depending on a person’s situation.

Cofrancesco said their needs are usually quickly met.

“The community is extremely generous but we serve a lot of people. People are so generous in this town that we put the word out and they get it to us.”

For information on shopping for a child or to donate, contact Cofrancesco at 860-648-6357.