Tree is decorated with donations

Date: 12/15/2008

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



Thanks to the gracious contributions of local residents, local families in need will receive plenty of warm and stylish gear for the season.

East Longmeadow Council on Aging Program Coordinator Sandy Grabierz put a call for donated winter items such as gloves, mittens and hats. Soon the senior center was inundated with items most brand new or personally knitted. Instead of storing all of the items away until the official donation time, Grabierz and others put together a tree.

The items will benefit the YWCA battered women's shelter and the Springfield Rescue Mission.

"The stuff has been coming in in droves," Grabierz said. "We have [things for] women, men and children."

Executive Director Carolyn Brennan added that some of the donations came from those "who use the center and some who don't." She said others who are physically unable to get out used this opportunity as a chance to contribute as well.

Donations started being gathered back in the fall.