WESTHAMPTON — Colleen Basile has been donating to the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund for two decades now. But this year, the Westhampton woman decided to up the ante.

Basile and her husband, Frank, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 20. In lieu of gifts for the special occasion, Colleen Basile said, the couple played host to about 120 of their friends and family on the day of their golden anniversary and requested they donate to the Toy Fund instead.

Altogether, the Basiles and their guests raised $1,305. The average gift amount was in the range of $75 to $100, said Pat Maleno, Gazette business office supervisor.

“When you’ve been married to someone 50 years, there’s not a whole heck of a lot you need,” Basile said. “We just thought we needed to celebrate 50 years, so we threw ourselves a big party. We said no gifts, put out a little collection box, and people could give or not.”

Basile said she is particularly fond of the Toy Fund.

“I think every kid deserves to have a Christmas,” she said.

The Gazette’s Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund, which will run through Dec. 31, provides eligible families with redeemable certificates to participating local retailers who may use them to purchase holiday gifts.

“And it’s local, and the money stays local,” Basile said. “I just think it’s a great charity.”

Named after a former business manager at the Gazette, the fund began in 1933 to help families in need during the Great Depression. Today, the fund distributes vouchers to families for each child from age 1 to 14. Eligible families can live in any Hampshire County community, except Ware, or in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury and Leverett.

Berkshire Children and Families at 220 Russell St. in Hadley, verifies families’ eligibility and the Gazette covers costs associated with the drive, freeing all donations to fund the vouchers. Most families who receive assistance are referred by social service agencies.

The following stores are participating this year: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Deals & Steals, One Pearl St., Northampton; JCPenney, 341 Russell St., Hadley; The Toy Box, 201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Wilson’s Dept. Store, 258 Main St., Greenfield; Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, 227 Russell St., Hadley; and Target, 367 Russell St., Hadley.

Of her and her husband’s efforts, Basile said: “We have some very generous friends.”

The Basiles also own and operate Bay State Machine Co. and work in Northampton. There, Colleen serves as chief financial officer as well as the office manager, which are two positions she has held since 1989, according to the company’s website.

For work-related functions, Basile said that, in the past, she and Frank have orchestrated raffle events in which the proceeds also are donated to charity.

Donations to the Toy Fund may be dropped off at or mailed to the Daily Hampshire Gazette at 115 Conz St. in Northampton, 01060. They can also be made at
toyfund.gazettenet.com.

Checks should be made payable to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.

Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.