Each year, the Rindge Woman’s Club organizes a collection drive to ensure children in town have something to open on Christmas Day, and with assistance from Franklin Pierce University, one of those gifts is a new book.

Marilyn Griska, who organizes the Woman’s Club “Operation Santa,” said the tradition stretches back to the late 1980s, long before she entered the club, and Franklin Pierce has been part of that endeavor nearly as long.

Each year, the Woman’s Club puts up giving trees at multiple locations around Rindge, including the TD Bank, Ingalls Memorial Library and WalMart. The trees are decorated with tags that provide the age and gender of a child, as well as some gift requests. Griska said the people of Rindge are eager to help fulfill those wishes.

“The tags disappear within days. It’s a big community project. People expect it now – around Thanksgiving, people start asking, ‘Where’s the tree?’” Griska said. “I can’t keep the tree full.”

Griska said Operation Santa usually focuses on children living in Rindge, but this year, added families who are being assisted by Shelter from the Storm, a transitional shelter based in Jaffrey that assists people who need help getting back on their feet. Five families from Shelter from the Storm are being provided with gifts.

This year, there were 74 children, including those from Shelter from the Storm, who will be impacted by Operation Santa.

In addition to the Giving Trees, Franklin Pierce University also provides a special contribution – books. This year, a total of 34 FPU staff and faculty donated 80 books for 40 children.

“They’ve been so good to the children of Rindge. They’re not just a university on the hill,” Griska said.

Griska said that over the years, she has seen Franklin Pierce find highly specific book requests, and come up with an entire series when a child asks for the first entry. In one instance, she said a child was struggling with reading, and her mother asked for books to assist her phonics. With sponsorship from the Chamber of Commerce, a phonics program was purchased, and Griska said that child has been able to improve her reading.

She said books are a common request on children’s Christmas lists.

“I’ve talked to so many mothers who say, ‘Oh, my kids love to read.’” Griska said. “ Every educational source knows that instilling a love and interest in reading is so very important.”

In addition to the books donated, Griska said the accounting department at FPU has adopted an Operation Santa, making all of the wishes of the children come true and providing a gift for the primary parent. Griska said Operation Santa doesn’t usually buy gifts for adults, unless they have a disability, but Griska said it’s a big help.

“These parents, who struggle so hard, are shocked, and often tearful learning of this kind gift,” Griska said.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.