Toy, food drive set for Dec. 9

Holyoke’s 11th annual toy and food drive has been relocated this year to the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce/Mike Neill State Farm offices at 118 N. Interocean Ave.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

There will be a safe, isolated drop-off in the chamber office hallway, adjacent to the State Farm offices on the south side. Other drop boxes will be located at State Farm, where new unwrapped toys and nonperishable food items can be taken.

These items will be distributed to local children and their families this holiday season through the Adopt a Family program coordinated by Zion Lutheran Church.

Forty-six families and nine singles are scheduled to benefit in the Adopt a Family community program.

As of Monday morning, Nov. 30, organizers were still needing community people to commit to adopting 15 families. This involves purchasing gifts for the children in the designated family and picking up the food boxes to deliver to them with the gifts prior to Christmas.

Information about ages, interests and clothing sizes of children are available for the families to be adopted.

Those interested in taking part in this program by adopting a family may call the Zion Lutheran Church office at 970-854-2615.

Regent Park and Carriage House have traditionally hosted the annual toy and food drive, making it a fun event for residents and their guests.

However, due to COVID restrictions this year, the location was changed to the chamber of commerce/State Farm offices.