SOUTHAMPTON — For almost three decades, the Southampton Woman’s Club has made an annual donation to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.
“I’ve been a member of the Woman’s Club for 28 years, and I think we’ve done it every year,” said Sue Kozub, a member of the club’s board of directors. “It’s right in the budget.”
The Southampton Woman’s Club, founded in 1917 as the Home Economics Club, engages in various charities and acts of service, including annual scholarships for Southampton students.
When it comes to donating to the toy fund, Kozub noted that there are various local opportunities to help children have a memorable Christmas.
“But there’s no such thing as too many toys,” she noted.
Named after a former business manager at the Gazette, the Toy Fund began in 1933 to help families in need during the Depression. Today, the fund distributes vouchers worth $40 to families for each child from age 1 to 14. Eligible families must live in any Hampshire County community except Ware, in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury, and Leverett, and in Holyoke in Hampden County.
18 Degrees Family Services for Western Massachusetts at 59 Interstate Drive in West Springfield verifies families’ eligibility and the Gazette covers costs associated with the drive, freeing all donations to fund the vouchers.
Donating feels more significant than ever amid the pandemic, Kozub said.
The toy fund is “wonderful,” she said and provides the money for toys to children who need them. “Especially now, there are a lot of children that probably won’t have a Christmas because of COVID.”
Nancy Dumont, treasurer of the Woman’s Club, said that donating to the toy fund fits with the organization’s mission. This year, the club donated $20.
“We try to do what we can to help out charities and town events, and we are happy to donate to the toy fund,” Dumont said.
The following stores are participating this year: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Blue Marble/Little Blue, 150 Main St., Level 1, Northampton: Deals & Steals, 1 Pearl St., Northampton; High Five Books, 141 N. Main St., Florence; The Toy Box, 201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Once Upon A Child,1458 Riverdale St., West Springfield; Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, 227 Russell St., Hadley; Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., Village Commons, South Hadley; The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 W. Bay Road, Amherst; World Eye Bookshop & Magical Child Toy Store, 134 Main St., Greenfield; Holyoke Sporting Goods Co., 1584 Dwight St. #1, Holyoke.
Donations to the Toy Fund may be mailed to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA, 01061, or made through Gazettenet at www.gazettenet.com.
Checks should be made payable to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.