Editor:

So many families today are spread apart with more and more folks alone for the holidays.

Over the past 12 years, the Central Vermont Council on Aging, with the help of countless community volunteers, has brought holiday cheer to those homebound seniors and disabled individuals who would otherwise have no holiday meal. Last year, volunteers delivered almost 200 meals and gift boxes on Christmas day. Their reward was the look of pure joy on a person’s face who feels alone on a holiday.

This project is funded entirely by community donations. We are looking for donations of food for the Christmas Day dinner (turkey, pies, rolls, gravy, stuffing, etc). Additionally, we will be filling shoeboxes with small gifts: warm hats and gloves, hand lotion, note paper, decorative items, home-made goodies and grocery store gift cards. You may fill a box and wrap it (please mark the box for a male or female) or donate items for boxes to be filled later.

We are also looking for volunteers who can share the gift of time both before and on Christmas Day – helping with cooking, packing gift bags, and making deliveries to seniors on Christmas Day.

You can make this holiday season more meaningful by giving of your time and talents to those in need. If you would like more information on how to help, please call the Central Vermont Council on Aging at 479-0531. Please mail or bring donations to our office at 59 North Main St., Barre, VT 05641, on or before Friday, December 20.

Chris Shaw

Central Vermont Council on Aging