Donate Gift Cards to Support “The Giving Tree” at the Hub

Help Andover families in need this holiday season

November 30, 2020 • Saved under Andover Organizations
By Susan Chase
Created especially for those who may be communicating with Santa for the first time, a copy of this fill-in-the blanks letter to the Jolly Old Elf may be requested  from TheAndoverHub@nullgmail.com by supportive parents. Drop off letters to Santa in the decorated letterbox in front The Andover Community Hub at 157 Main Street. The Hub will then forward the letters to Santa at the North Pole.

A community-wide campaign to encourage the “spirit of holiday giving” to Andover residents in need will began on Friday, December 4, with the lighting of The Giving Tree at The Andover Community Hub. 

Members of the community are encouraged to drop off donations in the form of gift cards any time between Friday, December 4 and Friday, December 18.  Donations can be put through the mail slot — decorated and re-purposed as the “Gift Box” — beside the Hub’s front door.

Ramifications of COVID are making life especially difficult this year for some members of the Andover community, and the Hub encourages any who can to lend a helping hand during this traditional gift-giving season. The Hub will work with the Town and with AE/MS to distribute the donations received to those residents most in need.

 Donations in the form of gift cards are encouraged because of the flexibility and ease with which recipients can use them, whether for gifts for their own families or to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and household goods. The Hub is also encouraging donors to keep local businesses in mind (Pizza Chef, JJ’s Market & Deli, Belletetes, Mane Street Salon, Repeat Boutique, and others) when purchasing gift cards. COVID has been tough on local businesses, as well.

 Residents are encouraged to make their donations as early in the season as possible in order to allow time for recipients to do their holiday shopping.  But donations even at the last minute are still much appreciated to meet last-minute needs or to be held by school and Town officials for use when future needs arise.  

 

When considering the amount of a gift card, it’s suggested that smaller denominations are more flexible and therefore preferred.  Any amount is helpful and very much appreciated, but, for example, multiple $25 or $50 cards as opposed to a single $100 card are more flexible in meeting more and varying needs.

 Residents who might prefer to mail gift card donations rather than leaving them at The Hub may do so by sending them to The Andover Community Hub, PO Box 157, Andover NH 03216. The Hub’s goal is to encourage donations from at least 100 Andover residents, but the hope is we’ll easily exceed that goal.

 In addition to The Giving Tree, and just for fun, there will also be a specially decorated letterbox under the tree for sending letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole.