Each year the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks collects and distributes gifts and toys to special families in the Woodgate, Thendara, and Old Forge, Eagle Bay, and Inlet area.
Diane Amos, Town of Webb School, Key Club and Builders Club Advisor with some of the students that assisted with the Christmas for Kids Gift Wrapping Party.
In 2011, this very worthwhile program provided gifts and toys to 98 children in 52 families. The distribution included over 300 gifts, theatre tickets, knitted articles, a book, a jar of peanut butter and a ham for each family. Gifts were also provided to the Otter Lake Fire Department for their fire truck Santa distribution program.
This year Kiwanis again partnered with the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots Program, which greatly helped in providing the appropriate gifts for all ages of children.
Gift and toy collection locations were located at Adirondack Bank, Brooker True Value Hardware, Community Bank, Dan’s Big M, George’s Thing, Inlet Department Store (ACE), Kinney Drugs, Old Forge Department Store (ACE), Smith Marine and Old Forge Hardware.In addition, there were toy collection sites at the following Post Offices; Old Forge, Eagle Bay, Inlet, Thendara and Woodgate.
The Strand Theatre assisted with discounted movie tickets. Kinney Drugs donated the wrapping materials and the employees of the Enchanted Forest/Water Safari did an internal gift drive, which helped greatly.
The Town of Webb School Key Club and Builders Club were major contributors to the success of the wrapping party. The wrapping party was held at the North Woods Community Center. Jim and Diane Connerty provided a spectacular pizza party for all the volunteer wrappers.
Chris Gaige, chairman of the Christmas for Kids project, said there were more gifts and toys and more help and cooperation for this year’s project than ever before.
He recognized the generosity of the entire Central Adirondack community and also Snodeo attendees who generously donated at the event. Also, a number of community members made financial donations.
“It’s the support of the community that makes this project a success,” Gaige said.
