Norwich City Schools works to make Christmas special

NORWICH – Dozens of volunteers are pitching in to ensure every child in the Norwich City School district will have gifts to open this Christmas.

Norwich school social workers, in collaboration with The Place and the Toys for Tots organization, have worked diligently throughout the month of December to organize and implement the gift drive that has been done by the district since 1980.

Now 27 years later, organizer/school social worker Kelly Collins-Colosi says this year has been the biggest yet. “We are providing gifts for approximately 500 children,” she said.

Colosi also explains an additional $1,000 was granted to the program by the late Robert Smith. “The reason we can do so much this year is partially due to the money we received from Mr. Smith,” said Colosi. She also said senior and student government president Cassidy Griffin was responsible for writing the grant which made a difference in the gift-giving efforts this year.

The toy drive, which kicks off early in the Christmas season, is done in a variety of ways. “There are two trees in Wal-Mart, one at The Place and community residents and teachers can, and have adopted many of the children,” said Shelly Barlow, who works at The Place.