Local organizations to host Free Holiday Store
By Mary Shane Contributing Writer

Doreen Rebh, the administrative assistant at Westborough Youth and Family Services, shows off some of the items that will be available at the Free Holiday Store. PHOTO/MARY SHANE

Westborough - Westborough Youth and Family Services (WYFS) and the Westborough Rotary Club are collecting new, unwrapped toys for infants through teens for this year's Free Holiday Store.

The Free Holiday Store provides new toys for families in need. WYFS works with local service organizations to identify the families who make appointments with WYFS. During a visit, a staff member from WYFS takes the family on a private "shopping" spree in the store for three or four gifts per child and also provides wrapping materials.

"The Rotary handles the giving and receiving and WYFS handles the social work part of it," WYFS Director John Bademhausem said.

"Gerry Gross of the Rotary Club does the leg work," explained Doreen Rebh, WYFS administrative assistant. "He brings the bins to the drop-off locations and then picks up the toys and delivers them to WYFS."

Collection bins are located indoors at both TD BankNorth locations, both Bank of America locations, all Citizen Bank locations, Mill Pond School, the Police and Fire stations, and the WYFS office on the second floor of the Forbes Municipal Building. The Rotary Club will also have a collection box at its Festival of Lights.

In addition to traditional toys, Bademhausem suggested donations of crafts, magic kits, dressup costumes, sports equipment, sweatshirts, CDs and DVDs. Rebh encouraged people to keep current toy recalls in mind when purchasing toys; a list of recalled toys is available at the WYFS office.

Gift cards and gift certifi- cates make great gifts for teens, according to Rebh and Bademhausem. Cash and checks will also be accepted at the Rotary Club and the WYFS office. Checks should be made out to the Westborough Rotary Club and designated for the Free Holiday Store. Donations of gift bags, wrapping paper, ribbon and tape are also welcome.

Toys will be accepted through Monday Dec. 24. On Christmas Eve, WYFS will contact local agencies to off er any remaining toys to distribute to those families that had not participated in the program.

"We want to have enough toys so parents have the opportunity to get their kids something special for the holidays, even if they can't aff ord it," Bademhausem said.

Last year WYFS and the Rotary collected about 1,500 toys and helped approximately 80 families.

The Free Holiday Store will be open Monday Dec. 3 through Friday Dec. 21.

For more information or to schedule a private shopping appointment, call Doreen Rebh at the WYFS office at 508-366-3090 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and between 9 and noon on Friday.