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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor CHICOPEE With the holidays just around the corner, many people forget that not everyone gets to make out a list of what they want to receive as gifts, knowing they have a good chance of getting everything on their lists. That's where Stuff a Stocking steps in. Stuff a Stocking is a local non-profit organization that provides holiday joy for needy families and children in Chicopee. "Our main goal is to raise funds for families in need during the holidays," Jorge Morgado, a director of the organization, said. "We want to help make sure the kids get toys." The organization's goal during the holiday season is to try to give each needy child two or three gifts, which means Stuff a Stocking needs to raise approximately $30,000 a year. Gifts are like coffee and gift cards to pharmacy stores like CVS are given to seniors in need as well. This year Stuff a Stocking is celebrating its tenth anniversary of helping Chicopee families down on their luck. Families residing in the city with children in Chicopee schools who may need assistance with buying holiday gifts can call Stuff a Stocking at 726-9046, leaving their information on its answering machine. Volunteers interested in helping out may call the number as well. "The teachers and the schools are really involved," Morgado said. "They know who the needy families are." Last year, the organization helped a total of 825 children and 57 senior citizens 340 families by giving them presents they might not have received otherwise. The gifts gathered are delivered to families approximately one week before Christmas. This year, the presents will be distributed Dec. 15. Fundraisers take place throughout the year to gather funds for this ambitious holiday undertaking. A spaghetti supper that took place Nov. 15 at the Lodge of Elks in Chicopee raised more than $1,800. This year's spaghetti supper had a former recipient of help during the holiday season donate $20. "He came in a suit and said he was on his way to a job interview," Morgado said. "He thanked us for helping him out before he turned his life around." The biggest fundraiser, however, is the breakfast buffet with Santa coming up on Dec. 9. Starting at 8 a.m. and continuing until noon, families can come to the Moose Family Center on Fuller Road for a full breakfast buffet for $5 a person. Approximately 500 people attended last year's breakfast with Santa. Corporate sponsors also provide much needed help for Stuff a Stocking's holiday mission. Baystate Rug and Flooring, where Morgado serves as vice president, makes regular donations to the non-profit organization. Chicopee Electric Light is participating as well by giving a low energy compact fluorescent bulb for every new, unwrapped toy donated at its site. "Every year our numbers drop," Morgado said. "We are always looking for help, especially from corporate sponsors." New toy donations and other monetary donations are always welcome, he added. Stuff a Stocking doesn't just focus on helping out during the holidays, though. "If a crisis strikes, we try to help if the funds are there," Morgado explained. An example of this kind of assistance is the Celtics bus trip scheduled for Dec. 12. Funds raised from the trip will go toward four-year-old Hunter DoCarmo's college fund. Hunter's mother, 31-year-old Chicopee teacher Christine DoCarmo, was killed in a car accident. "We're always getting new people to react to," Morgado said. "There are always new families that need help." Stuff a Stocking, while in its tenth year, works on a year to year basis, depending on how much is donated. "We're really strong right now," Morgado stated. "We want to end this year strongly." |