The Sidney F. Smith Toy fund has received more than $55,000 this holiday season, providing vouchers for families to buy toys and other presents for their children.
The amount given this year signals a slight return to normalcy regarding toy fund donation totals, after the fund raised some of its highest donation totals ever in the previous two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $55,000 raised this year compares to $66,000 in 2021 and $82,000 in 2020, which is believed to be the highest amount ever received.
“Once again the readers of the Daily Hampshire Gazette have shown their support for their neighbors in need,” said Gazette Publisher Shawn Palmer. “After a year that was a financial challenge for many, our readers gave generously and Hampshire County is in a better place because of it.”
The $55,000 figure matches the amount donated to the fund back in 2019, the last toy fund campaign before the pandemic started.
Many donors often give in memory of a loved one. This year, many shared their stories with the Gazette about the reasons they donate to the fund.
Eileen Claveloux of Sunderland recalled how she gave in memory of her parents, who loved Christmas so much her father knocked down the walls of their home to build a holiday hearth. Northampton restaurant Joe’s Cafe gave in honor of a former server and to give back after patrons supported them through the pandemic.
And the 13 grandchildren of the late Maria and Richard Aquadro gave $1,000 collectively to honor their memory.
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, or in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury and Leverett, and in Holyoke in Hampden County.
In addition to those who shared their stories, many others chose to give anonymously, including some of the largest amounts donated.
Donations to the Toy Fund can be made at any time of year, not just the holiday season, and may be mailed to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA 01061, or made through Gazettenet at www.gazettenet.com.
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; Plato’s Closet, 1472 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, 134 Main St., Greenfield; Holyoke Sporting Goods Co., and 1584 Dwight St. No. 1, Holyoke.
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
