EASTHAMPTON — Mayor Karen Cadieux has been busy this month making sure children in Easthampton have gifts under the Christmas tree.
Using about $15,000 in donations, Cadieux and assistant Nicolette Growhoski bought toys for 230 children, loading up trailers supplied by the city’s police department. Families picked up their toys Monday. Cadieux said she’s been involved with the toy fund since it started 24 years ago and does just about everything except hand out the bags.
She spent Saturday bagging up remote control cars, jewelry kits and more, bought in bulk and grouped by age and gender to be equitable.
“Everybody gets the same item,” Cadieux said. “It’s 100 percent, completely fair.”
Every child gets two gifts, and families get a roll of wrapping paper and tape, Cadieux said. The Helping Hands Society also donated books for each child and a $25 gift card to Big E’s Supermarket for each family.
“It’s an incredible community program,” she said.