To the Editor:

Another wonderful Christmas for 321 children and 149 families in our community. When thinking about the Christmas baskets and all the children you helped, two words came to mind -- amazing” and community. The definition of amazing is “causing great wonder, astonishing, startling impressive, and especially remarkable.”The definition of community is “a group of people having particular characteristics in common.” We certainly do live in an amazing community. It seems as if everyone in our community did something! Just two simple words that have a powerful meaning – thank you to our amazing community.

We are always afraid we will leave someone out but decided to be brave and share the many people and groups that helped make 2017 so successful!

Many, many wonderful individuals that took 321 angels and bought 3 beautiful gifts for each child (many times adding extra surprises). How lucky the children are!

● Numerous individuals who made monetary donations. Without you the Community Basket Program couldn’t exist. Thank you.

● Organizations and businesses that donated so generously: Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columbus Aux., American Legion Post 514, American Legion Aux., Sons of the American Legion, Goodrich Refrigeration, Upstate Niagara CoOp, MMH Imaging Dept., CPH Lab, Goodnows Ins. Agency, NUMED, Stockholm Historical Society, Quad Town Lions Club, Hammill Funeral Home, BWFD, Helena FD, No. Law. FD, TOPS, Deer River Construction, 2 Mama Birds, STEWARTS, Gabriel Group, Home Depot, Summer Festival, BOCES, Squeak Creek Honey, Elm Circle Photography, Tri-Town Packing, Stickney Maple Syrup, Spirits of Downtown, Marion Bradish-Art Studio, High Peaks Winery, Baskets by Ann French, Brasher IGA, Tri Town Chamber, Altar Rosary Society, Power Authority, B & W Quick Stop, SeaComm Federal Credit Union, Stauffer Farms, Brookfield Power, Cuts N a Bit More, St. Regis Realty Inc., Dr. Michael Guldman DDS, Yard Sale Queens Kathy Newtown and Mary Phillips, and Arconic.

● Local churches that took angels and bought gifts, Victory Baptist, Life In His Arms, United Methodist, St. Patrick’s and St. Lawrence Catholic. Bless you.

● St. Lawrence Central Elementary, Middle, and High School - where do we start! Administrators and staff bought angel gifts, had food drives, brought in used toys, donated money from the Jeans Com. and 5th graders. Mr. Bob’s Tech Class made wooden cars, trucks, and a wagon. Cafeteria staff helped collect boxes. Sports teams: girls’ basketball, boy’s hockey, boy’s basketball all helped with sorting and organizing food and used toys. Administration and secretarial staff were always there with support (letters, announcements, collections, etc.) Middle school students had a December “Reading Is a Gift” challenge and bought books for every child on the Community Basket list! Even retired administrators and teachers supported our students. SLC is so awesome!

● St. Patrick’s Catholic Church graciously allows us to use the Parish Center to collect toys, gifts, and food. We are so lucky to have such a large facility and wonderful support from our church community.

● SLC Elementary Christmas Sale gives children, their families, and the Community Basket Program lots of smiles! Children buy gifts for all of their family members with the help of many volunteers. (These gifts are donated by school staff and community members). All the proceeds go to the Community Basket Program. Children love giving, especially to those they love! A happy, holiday event!

● Final Week Wrap-Up Teams (they pack, sort, shop, haul, tape, organize, number boxes, and put the finishing touches on gifts and food), Boy Scouts (deliver apple breads to LBSH residents), Seacomm Federal Credit Union volunteers, Arconic volunteers, and especially Santa’s Elves ( they help with food and gifts at Saturday Morning Pick-Up).

Words can’t express our appreciation and gratitude for your support. Thank you, Bless You, and may 2018 be happier and healthier than 2017!

Community Basket Committee Friends

Brasher, North Lawrence and Winthrop