The Poultney Women’s Club thanks the many community members and local businesses that helped make the 2020 Christmas Tree of Giving a huge success.
“Living in the fears of a global pandemic and the unknown that COVID-19 brought to this holiday, the club was feeling the stress of not knowing if the changes to our Tree of Giving process this year would work. It is safe to say that our community rallied around us with tremendous support, and the project was a huge success,” said club president Jaime Milazzo.
This year more than 90 children from 36 families in the community were given the opportunity to have a safe and happy Christmas with gifts they otherwise may not have had.
Donations of books, toys, hats and mittens, socks, art supplies, toiletries and warm blankets were gathered and distributed to families in early December. Monetary donations were used to purchase Walmart gift cards for each family to use to help supplement their Christmases this season.
Along with children who were helped by the club, 22 senior citizens were gifted full stockings of necessities and treats, each accompanied by a creative and fun handmade Christmas card by students at the Leap Frog Nursery School in town.
“It goes without saying we are so proud of this community and how they have continued to support the Tree of Giving project each year. It is their kindness that helps to sustain this gift for our local families,” said Milazzo.
The Poultney Women’s Club thanks the following businesses and organizations: the Adam N. Maslack Charitable Corporation, First Light Technologies, Williams Hardware, Original Vermont Store, Goldenbrook Construction, Leap Frog Nursery School, Lakes and Homes LLC, Poultney Rotary, Poultney High School Interact Club, Poultney High School Booster Club, Bomoseen Grange, RSVP of Rutland, Revive Church, St. Raphael’s Ladies Guild and the United Methodist Church of Poultney Sylvia’s Circle. A special thank you goes out to all the individuals and local community members too numerous to list who donated generously to this year’s project.
