SOUTHWICK – While checking names off your Christmas shopping lists this year, the Deedy family and Southwick’s Community Table food pantry hope there’s room for one or two more.
Joseph Deedy, owner of Moolicious Farm Ice-Cream, has teamed up with the pantry to help make the holidays brighter for families in need in Southwick, as well as Granville and Tolland.
Moolicious is hosting a toy drive now through Dec. 16 for new, unwrapped toys, as well as wrapping paper. Helping in collection efforts are the high school honor society and Lifestyles Salon in the Grist Mill Plaza on College Highway.
Toys can be dropped off at Moolicious daily from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. as well as at the salon during business hours. This is the first year to collect toys for the pantry.
‘Last year Sally (Munson, pantry director) said there are families looking for gifts but there was no avenue for them to collect toys,” said Deedy. “The pantry gives Christmas dinners but they can’t handle a toy drive, so we are doing it.”
The goal of the drive, dubbed Secret Santa and the Angry Elves, is to collect toys for 140 local children from infants through age 16.
“The most need is for 12-13 year old boys and girls,” Deedy said.
Young teens can be difficult to shop for, but Deedy said even a $10 gift card to a store could make their Christmas morning.
Moolicious will be the pick-up site for the toys, which will be given to parents along with the wrapping paper Dec. 21.
Deedy said the drive is just starting but people have already been generous.
“It’s our first year and we’ve had some people already show up with toys,” said Deedy.
