How would you like to make someone’s holiday season a little brighter this year by providing Christmas gifts for a neighbor’s family? It’s easy to do – here’s what you need to know.
The Caring Community of Gray/New Gloucester is a volunteer group organized in 2007 to coordinate holiday assistance for individuals, families and senior citizens residing in either of the two towns. The tremendous support from the community has been instrumental to the program’s success.
Each year, the CCGNG accepts applications for holiday assistance and then solicits sponsors to provide gifts for young children at Christmastime. The CCGNG then matches up applicants with sponsors. Sponsors can request if they’d like to help an individual child or families with two or more children. The CCGNG provides information and guidelines for the sponsors … so sponsors know exactly what to do and what is needed.
To ensure program sustainability, gifts are for children 14 and under and the family Christmas meal component been discontinued; however, food for a Christmas meal can be picked up at the local food pantries if you sign up prior to pick up days. Contact the Gray Food Pantry at 657-4279 mailbox #3 or the New Gloucester Food Pantry at 926-3260 for more information.
Last year 215 local children received Christmas gifts through CCGNG because of community members’ generosity. There is an urgent need for sponsors again this year. Individuals, families, neighborhoods, civic organizations, school groups, businesses and churches can be sponsors. The cost to provide gifts is $50-$75 per child. To become a Christmas sponsor, contact Mike Marcotte at gngcaring@gmail.com.
Every year there are more families than there are sponsors, so monetary donations are being solicited as well. Checks, payable to CCGNG, can be sent to CCGNG, P.O. Box 1244, Gray, ME 04039.
As for those seeking assistance, applications are due by Friday, Dec 1. Forms can be picked up as well as dropped off at all GNG schools, the Gray Public Library, and at both Town Halls in the designated CCGNG boxes. Direct any questions to Christina Foster at 233-0828 or winkers92@yahoo.com.
