More than 20 years ago, the Wilton-Lyndeborough Women’s Club raised funds to buy gifts for a family in need. In the subsequent years, they were able to expand that effort by several families.

Last week, the entire club was put to work making up tags for holiday Giving Trees for more than 60 children.

Outgoing women’s club President Alyssa Lavoie said the effort has grown substantially over the years, and the community has stepped up to meet those needs – evolving into the community’s Giving Trees, where the women’s club collects wish lists from families in need and hangs them from trees in public locations for residents to claim.

The trees went up last week, and Lavoie noted that many of the requests are for things like winter clothing and household necessities.

“There are a lot of requests for pants, shirts, shoes, winter clothing, gloves, hats, even things like bedsheets and towels,” Lavoie said. “Toys are often secondary. Many are families who have need for the basics. These are families that really need the help.”

Incoming club President Rachael Ray of Lyndeborough said for some families, these gifts will mean the difference between nothing and something under the tree.

“Some children wouldn’t have this otherwise,” Ray said.

The club gathers the wish lists through the guidance offices at the district schools, which help connect families in financial need with the program.

“They can go to the schools and have it be known that it’s a need, so the children don’t feel so burdened by it,” Ray said. “It does stay anonymous, and the children might not even know their family struggles.”

Lavoie said the community is always eager to assist.

“People look forward to this. They’ve already started asking when the tags are coming out. There’s a lot of expectation of help and support for this particular initiative,” Lavoie said. 

This year, trees were put up in the J.A. Tarbell Library in Lyndeborough, the Wilton House of Pizza, the Copper Kettle in Wilton, Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library and Wilton Town Hall. Gifts must be returned, gift-wrapped, by Dec. 13. No gifts will be accepted after Dec. 15 without approval. Unclaimed tags or unreturned tags will be provided by the Wilton-Lyndeborough Women’s Club.

Operation Santa comes to Rindge

Rindge’s annual Operation Santa began Monday, with the arrival of Rindge’s own Giving Trees in four locations: Ingalls Memorial Library, TD Bank in Rindge, Walmart in Rindge and Verizon at Cheshire Marketplace.

Organized by the Rindge Woman’s Club, the more-than-30-year old tradition has been ensuring that children have a happy holiday. The process has been designed to have no forms or disclosure of financial or personal information. Families simply have to make a phone call asking for help and provide a wish list of clothes or toys for children up through the age of 18, with at least six gifts provided per child.

Tags with the information on the Christmas wishes will be hung on the trees, which anyone can take to fulfill a requested wish.

Those who chose to help can take a tag to fulfill a requested wish. Since each child has at least six requests, people should only buy that one item and return it wrapped to the site where they obtained the tag by Saturday, Dec. 16.

People who need help or have questions, or know of a family in need, should call 603 899-3083. All information is kept strictly confidential.

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