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Social services plans shopping event and Giving Tree to support about 50 children this holiday season
Summary
The township’s social services staff described a third annual toy drive and a new in-person shopping event pairing children with first responders; the Giving Tree at the community center will supplement the effort.
Hampton Township’s social services staff told council on Oct. 8 they will host a third annual toy drive and a new shopping event to help families on the department’s caseload celebrate the holidays.
Staff said last year’s program helped about 37 families and that this year the department has identified 51 children on its caseload. Rather than simply delivering gifts to parents, staff proposed a “shopping with Hampton’s Heroes” event at Walmart where children and teens would pick gifts with first responders from the township. The department plans to solicit donations of Walmart gift cards and gift items from township staff and community members; Walmart has also offered contributions.
For children who do not attend the shopping event, staff will again operate a Giving Tree at the community center with ornaments listing age and gender; last year the tree had about 95 ornaments and the community largely fulfilled the requests. Staff said they hope the shopping event will serve 20 to 25 children and that the Giving Tree will help cover the remainder of the cases.
Council members thanked staff and said they would participate; staff asked for volunteers and for donated gift cards or items to be returned by Dec. 8 to allow time for sorting and delivery.
Clarifying details: staff reported 51 children on the department list; goal of shopping event is 20–25 participants; Giving Tree ornaments last year numbered about 95 and produced roughly 80–85 returned items.
