WORTHINGTON — Hilltown Holiday Help has kicked off its 2021 effort to provide gifts to children in need in the Hilltowns.
“We’ve been doing this for over 2o years,” noted Kim Savery, the director of community programs at Hilltown Community Health Centers.
Last year the community effort, a collaboration between the Hilltown Community Health Centers and the Gateway Regional High School National Honor Society with the assistance of other organizations, gave gifts to more than 100 children. This year, organizers expect the need to be even greater.
Hilltown Holiday Help provides toys, clothing and books to children from low- to moderate-income families. It has also delivered needy families cords of wood, holiday meals, help with utility bills, and gifts for teens and adults.
Wish list forms for those in need can be picked up from Hilltown Community Health Centers workers from Oct. 25 to Nov. 26, and requested from the organization via phone and email. Savery can be reached for these requests at 413-685-3500 and ksavery@hchcweb.org.
Gifts will be delivered or picked up curbside from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10. Families with children up to 12 years old in the Hilltowns are eligible for the program.
People can donate at gofund.me/07d58b7c, or mail checks to Attention of Kim Savery c/o HCHC Finance Office at 58 Old North Road, Worthington 01098 with checks made out to HCHC (Hilltown Community Health Centers) and Holiday Help in the memo. Both donations of funds and donations of gifts are welcome.
Savery said the staff at Hilltown Community Health Centers looks forward to the fundraiser, and volunteering for it, every year.
“We have a ball,” Savery said.
The Haydenville Congregational Church is holding an Italian dinner fundraiser, with those who place orders able to pick up their food on Nov. 6.
The Rev. Donald Morgan, pastor of the church, said money from the fundraiser will go to general church expenses.
“It’s very important, especially during this COVID time,” he said of the fundraiser. “This will help us to continue and maintain our budget.”
Morgan also said that the church is still meeting over Zoom and has not yet resumed in-person services, although he said that spirits at the church have been “very good,” and that the hope is to resume in-person services soon.
The dinner will consist of homemade lasagna with either vegetarian or meat sauce, salad with Italian dressing on the side, rolls, and a homemade spice cake with buttercream frosting. Each meal will cost $20, and serve a generous amount of food to one person.
“We can make up to 150 meals if that’s how many orders we get,” said Trish LaFreniere, the church’s lead fundraising organizer.
LaFreiniere also said that she has an excellent team of people helping her.
Orders can be placed for the dinners through Saturday, Oct. 30, and can be made at haydenvillechurch.org.
Food pickup will be at the 141 Main St. church from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 6.
“It will be delicious,” LaFreniere said. “It’s homemade sauce.”
Three Plainfield Firefighters completed Basic Six training this month, bringing to six the number of firefighters who have completed this important training in 2021.
Plainfield Fire Chief David Alvord said the training gives basic fire instruction at a high level.
Olan Thompson, Ron Weeks and Andrew Provost spent six days over six consecutive weekends taking the training, which culminated with a live fire exercise at the burn building in Sunderland.
The firefighters got 44 hours of training in areas including fire ground operations and safety, search and rescue, and hose operations.
“These are all subjects that are critical,” Alvord said.
Brandon Nevins, Dan Shearer and Lt. Jamie Wooldridge all completed Basic Six training as well during the spring.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.