Hartford-Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers

12/21/2025

12/16/2025

In the words of a grateful recipient parent:

“I honestly don’t even have the words to properly say thank you to whoever sponsored my family and all of the volunteers who helped make this possible, please know how grateful we truly are. We are blown away by everything in our holiday basket, and I can’t wait to see my kids’ faces when they unwrap everything. Because of you, we’ll be able to have a wonderful Christmas dinner and make special memories. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

As parents waited in line for the Saturday pick-up, they traded stories about a tough year, a broken down car, getting fired, losing family. They also smiled and exchanged tales of their children’s successes, and their antics, too.

🔹192 families with 385 children received winter jackets, boots, hats and mittens, snowsuits, dresses and hoodies, Barbies, Nerfs, Minecraft, puzzles and trucks.

🔹192 families received a generous food gift card as well as a big bag of gorgeous apples, made possible by Willing Hands.

🔹204 seniors received a generous food card.

BSA Troop 260 Wilder Vermont set-up at St. Paul's Episcopal Church WRJ last week and returned on Saturday to carry contractor bags bursting with presents for each family as well as those apple bags. While we supplied a pizza lunch for them, they cleaned, mopped, and rearranged St. Paul’s to pristine order.

THANK you to everyone who participated so generously this year! As the saying goes, 'tis better to give than to receive, and for all of you who gave from your hearts, we are deeply grateful. From all of us at HNHBH, warmest blessings of the season! 💗💓💗

12/14/2025

Tremendous thanks to BSA Troop 260 Wilder Vermont for helping us on pick-up day! Another annual gift of generosity!

12/11/2025

Two BIG donation days are a wrap! Thank you to our generous and creative sponsors for fulfilling so many children's wishes (and to our generous volunteers too). We ooohed and ahhhed over so many gifts! These golden shoes were a volunteer favorite - someone will be thrilled to open THESE. 🥰

12/09/2025

Today and tomorrow are drop-off days for the 233 amazing sponsors supporting 190 families with 381 children! Tremendous generosity and we are *grateful*!

3pm to 8 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church WRJ at 749 Hartford Avenue in WRJ (next to the ) today OR tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10th.

11/23/2025

🎄 A Heartfelt Thank You… and a Request That Truly Matters 🎄

First, a huge thank you to every one of you who stepped up to speak for a child this season! Your kindness is making magic happen. ✨

As we move into the next phase of supporting the families and seniors served by Hartford–Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers, we’re asking for help with something incredibly important: food cards.

https://holidaybasketsvt.org/donate/

These food cards go to every family we serve, about 170 households, and to every senior, more than 200 individuals. They are often the difference between a sparse pantry and a holiday meal shared with comfort and dignity.

This year, we’re hoping to increase the value of each food card, because we all know how expensive food is.

If you’re able, please consider making a donation toward the food card fund. NO amount is too small, every contribution helps nourish a family or brighten the day of a senior who might otherwise go without.

🌟 Your generosity feeds more than just a meal… it feeds hope.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community and for helping lift our neighbors during the holiday season.

11/15/2025

If you are looking for a way to kick off YOUR holidays in the spirit of giving, HNHBH could use another 50+ sponsors. We have 30 unsponsored teens and enrolling families with younger children. 🎄🎄🎄

With the generous help of community sponsors, HNHBH provides requested toys and clothing for children, while kind donors enable us to purchase fruit baskets for seniors and to provide food gift cards for all.

11/11/2025

Tremendous thanks for these special cards to accompany the gifts we send! 🥰🥰🥰

Send a message to learn more

11/08/2025

We need you!

With the disruption in food benefits this is a particulalry complicated time for families trying to prepare for the holidays. If you are able to help, this is the time to step up! 🥰

The initial matching for children is nearly complete. But we have 100 +/- teens without sponsors and about 30 under-12-year-olds without sponsors.

Please sign up to sponsor (purchase physical gifts or gift cards) at https://holidaybasketsvt.org/sponsor-a-child

11/01/2025

To date, 284 children have signed up, and we're expecting another 100 to follow.

Thanks to many of you, 191 of these children have been sponsored! Thank you - we're overwhelmed with gratitude! We need more of you however.

Will you consider sponsoring a child? It's the perfect way to kick off your holiday season, filled with love, kindness, and generosity! 🎄❤️ 🎄

https://holidaybasketsvt.org/