Parishioners donate more than 200 Christmas gifts and coats for local children
OLD TOWN, Maine — More than 200 area children were given Christmas gifts and winter coats this year through a “giving tree” program at the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord.
The parish placed “giving trees,” holding tags with Christmas gift requests from area children in need, in each of the parish churches including the Holy Family Church in Old Town, Our Lady of Wisdom in Orono, St. Ann of Bradley and the St. Ann in Indian Island.
Parishioners took the tags, made the purchases, and brought the donations back to the churches.
“In the end, the parish was able to help over 200 children with 295 packages,” said Robin Perkins, administrative assistant at the parish.
Students of Alton Elementary School, Helen S. Dunn School in Greenbush, Leonard Middle School in Old Town, Old Town Elementary, Dr. Lewis S. Libby in Milfird, Viola Rand Elementary in Bradley and the YMCA preschool in Old Town received the gifts.
“Children who requested a coat as a Christmas present were given both a coat and a gift this year,” Fr. Kyle Doustou, pastor of the parish, said. “Thanks to the Knights of Columbus and generous parishioners, no child has to do without a gift to have a warm coat.”
Additionally, parents who requested diapers as their young child’s gift received diapers and wipes as well.
“The parish made the decision that diapers were not a Christmas gift for any child and parishioners purchased diapers, wipes, and gifts for all children 2 and under,” Perkins said.
The schools were surprised with the number of gifts and the fact that donors had wrapped their offerings.
“As one counselor put it when the gifts were delivered, ‘There are so many wonderful gifts and they are wrapped!’” said Perkins. “She had already planned a wrapping day when the gifts were delivered only to discover they had been wrapped by the parishioners.”
The Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord collected more than 200 Christmas gifts and winter coats for area children this year. (Courtesy of Dave Guthro)
Despite the pandemic and financial difficulties affecting many, all gift tags taken from the “giving trees” were returned with a gift for the first time in memory.
“Fr. Doustou challenged the parishioners to ‘shine the light of Christmas’ in our community this Advent and the parishioners have made that light brighter by lighting the faces of children in need with these special Christmas gifts,” Perkins said.