Deck the halls and do a good deed
December 5, 2020 | By Lisa Scagliotti UPDATE: This story was updated Dec. 9 with new information on the Christmas tree sales.
During this holiday season, much like the past eight months, Vermonters are looking to adapt their celebrations and traditions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While there may be fewer in-person opportunities to celebrate with friends and family, there are still creative ways to support favorite causes this year. One doesn’t need to look too far to find holiday efforts that extend a helping hand to various members of the community.
Here is a collection of examples. In some cases, there are earlier posts on Waterbury Roundabout with details, so the link is there to click to go to that information. Newer items are described below.
If there are others to add, please drop us a note at waterburyroundabout@gmail.com.
Benefit tree sale marks its 30th year
The trees arrived on Thanksgiving morning and volunteers set up the annual sale to benefit local food shelves alongside the Wesley United Methodist Church on South Main Street.
According to Skip Flanders, one of the organizers of the annual event, this year’s first shipment was smaller than usual – just 250 trees, fewer than half of the usual inventory. “The demand this year for trees is high down south,” Flanders said.
The supplier in Canaan, Vt., was able to fulfill the fundraiser’s order for enough to likely raise several thousand dollars that will go to the Waterbury Area Food Shelf, the Duxbury Elf Food Shelf and the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund.
A second shipment arrived on Monday, Dec. 7, with another 150 trees in the 6-8-foot range.
The sale marks its 30th year this year having started in 1991 by Ed and Robin Lemery and their family in Waterbury Center after the death of their teenage son Jason that year in a car crash. They looked for a way to brighten a dark holiday by taking on a project to help others and it quickly became a tradition raising thousands of dollars each year for the organizations that help community members feed their families and manage financial emergencies.
The setup still works as an on-your-honor affair. Trees are marked with tags to indicate prices of either $25 for smaller trees and $40 apiece for the rest. Buyers are asked to leave payment in a lockbox at the church either in cash or checks made to the Waterbury Food Shelf, Flanders said.
The sale ru
Harwood sophomore class tree sale this weekend
Every year, the 10th graders at Harwood Union High School have a tree sale at American Flatbread in Waitsfield as a class fundraiser that helps start them off for saving for their senior year class expenses including their gift to the school when they graduate.
The sale is this weekend, Dec. 11-13. Hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Trees will range in size from 5 to 10 feet. Customers are asked to wear masks and keep distance from others while choosing their tree. Payment by cash or checks made out to Harwood Union Class of 2023.
School wreath sale pivots for pandemic
The annual Crossett Brook Middle School PTO wreath sale has adjusted given COVID-19 but it’s still happening through Evergreen Gardens in Waterbury Center.
Toys for Tots
Barrels are strategically placed throughout the community to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys for the annual U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
Local coordinator John Cummings of Duxbury said he has a dozen barrels to collect through Dec. 20. Washington County coordinators in Montpelier will ensure that donations are distributed to deserving youngsters in the communities where the collections are done, Cummings said.
Barrel locations are: Waterbury Village Market, Aubuchon Hardware, Waterbury True Value, Waterbury Service Center, KC's Bagel Cafe, Waterbury Village U.S. Post Office, Park Row Cafe, Lake Champlain Chocolates, The Forge gym, Zenbarn restaurant, Zenbarn Farms CBD and Duxbury Auto Tech.
Toys appropriate for children from birth to about age 12 are recommended. Contact Cummings at 802-760-7484 with questions.
Monetary donations are also accepted on the website toysfortots.org. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit public charity.
Harwood Interact Club’s annual drive supports families in need
Harwood Union High School’s Rotary Interact Club is holding its 17th annual Gifts Of Kindness drive to support the Circle Inc. emergency shelter in Barre. The collection this year focuses on gift cards rather than clothing, toys, and household items. It runs through Dec. 15.
Read more about the drive here.
Special delivery for seniors
The Waterbury Historical Society's Outreach Education Committee’s project to send gifts to local seniors through the Meals on Wheels program at the Waterbury Area Senior Center has had a great response. Enough volunteers have stepped up to supply the effort with plenty of treats. Organizers say they are all set. “We have a very generous, caring community,” said thankful coordinator, Margo Sayah.
Be a Santa for a Senior
Tags on the 'Be a Santa for a Senior' tree at Kinney Drugs list seniors to buy for. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti.
Those still wanting to do something for seniors in the community might check out the “Be a Santa for a Senior” tree at Kinney Drugs. The store is partnering with the Waterbury Area Senior Center for this gift-giving program.
Inside the store, a tabletop tree is decorated with tags with the name and gender of a senior. Under the tree is a note with suggested gift items to purchase in the store. Choose an item and return it with the tag to a cashier and it will be wrapped and delivered to the giftee.
Shoppers have until Dec. 15 to contribute to that effort. See the store for more details.
Two Giving Trees focus on gifts for children
Bridgeside Books continues its tradition of collecting children’s books to donate to the nonprofit Children's Literacy Foundation based in Waterbury. CLiF gets the books to low-income, at-risk children in rural communities in New Hampshire and Vermont. The collection continues up to Christmas.
Read more about the Bridgeside Books tree for CLiF here.
Meanwhile, Waterbury Public Library is hosting the Community Giving Tree this year to provide gifts for children in need in our community. Last we heard, the tags with gift request details were nearly to all taken. The final day to drop off gifts is Dec. 14. Check with the library during its regular hours to see if there are any requests left. Read more details here.
Stowe Street Cafe looks to ‘pay it forward’
Stowe Street Cafe owner Nicole Grenier announced a new idea called the “Pay It Forward Meal Program” where people can make a donation to help the cafe “pay meals forward.”
“Donations will be shared directly with the Waterbury Area Food Shelf and as soon as it's safe, we'll also offer special coupons to invite members of our community to come inside and enjoy a free meal or beverage on the house,” Grenier explained in the announcement. “Have you seen someone go out of their way to help a neighbor? Or, maybe you know someone who could just use a nice meal right now. With your help and our collaboration with the Waterbury Area Food Shelf, together we can turn your contributions into small but mighty acts of kindness.”
Brave Coffee Co. has pledged the first big donation by offering to match the first $1,000 in contributions.
Donations in any amount are appreciated. See the cafe’s Facebook page for more information. Questions? email: info@stowestreetcafe.com.