The Season That Keeps On Giving

I posted a blog last week letting you all know about some wonderful opportunities to celebrate this holiday season by "adopting your neighbor" and spreading holiday cheer.  I just want to give a quick update on some ways community members are celebrating the season of giving:

The "Be a Santa to a Senior" giving tree is up at , hung with wish list items for .  The tree has over 30 gift tags that customers can take with them to purchase items at Lang's or anywhere else, that will go directly to Seniors here in New Canaan.  Santa's Hotline elves will collect those gifts and any unfulfilled wishes on December 16th. This is an annual program done with cooperation from the , Lang's Pharmacy and Home Instead.

A local group "" has adopted a family's wishes for this holiday season.  No sooner did I hit enter to send the email with the wishes, than I got back an email back from Zumba teacher Michele Ayoub that the toys were already ordered and on their way to New Canaan.  Proceeds from the next several classes will also be used to help raise money to purchase the always needed, but not so fun to shop for "Gift Cards" to Kohls, Target or Macy's that some of our teens have on their wish lists.  Likewise, employees have adopted a New Canaan wish-list as well.

Just yesterday we had a group of drop off "remember me" bags for seniors who are homebound this season.  The Human Services Dept will bring these little gift bags along with them on home visits during this season to remind our seniors that there are people out there who are thinking about them this holiday season.

The porch was adorned yesterday morning with holiday trees that were used over the weekend as decorations for the   As well, the is pitching in again this year to provide holiday trees to families in need.  All in all we expect these trees to be part of the celebration this year in almost twenty homes here in town.

These are just some of the myriad of ways our residents are taking steps this holiday season to share the spirit and reach out to their neighbors.  How are you celebrating the season of giving?  Feel free to add on to this article by posting responses about your experiences with giving this season.

P.S. Before I hit the send button, I just received a phone message about someone wishing to donate toward membership fees at the ....and another message about a youth group that wants to set up on Elm Street and give out free coffee and just wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.  Just amazing!