Additional Information about Holiday Baskets
HOLIDAY BASKETS PROGRAM
The Holiday Baskets Program, a totally volunteer project, has been supplying food and gifts to people in need from Aspen to Blue Lake for over 30 years. It is a 501 C3 program sponsored by the Aspen Interfaith Association, coordinated by Christ Episcopal Church, and supported by dozens of Rotarians.
People are referred to the program by social service agencies who have pre-determined the needs. The individuals and/or families and are then “adopted” by individuals, the faith community, schools, businesses, and other groups. The “Adopting Angels” buy new gifts for each member of the family. In 2012, 227 families , 1037 people, received “baskets”.
There are always more families in need than are “adopted”. In 2012, 182 were “adopted” and 45 families (222 people) were provided provisions. The gifts for these “non-adopted” families are contributed by individuals and groups who choose a gift tag and then purchase the requested gift. The sheriff, communication, police,and fire departments as well as schools all participate in choosing gift tags. The Aspen Chamber Resort Association collects toys at its annual expo. All these donated gifts are collected at Christ Church were they are sorted and wrapped for the individual families. Items that have not been donated are purchased. In 2012, the Holiday Baskets Program received grants from the Thrift Shop, Aspen Elks, Aspen Rotary and the Martin Foundation.
There are four ways people in the community can participate in this program: make a tax deductible donation, adopt a family, donate new toys and clothing, and volunteer at Christ Church to sort and wrap gifts.
In addition to gifts, each recipient in the program also receives a $20.00 City Market Food Gift Card, so, for example, a family of five would be given $100.00 in gift cards. These gift cards are often used to purchase food for a holiday dinner. If the program is able to pay cash for the food gift cards, a 5% discount is available. Therefore it is important for the program to have funds available by late November when the Food Gift Cards need to be purchased.
For more information, please contact Anne Blackwell, Holiday Baskets Chairperson at the address below:
HOLIDAY BASKETS PROGRAM
C/O Christ Episcopal Church
536 W. North Street
Aspen, Co. 81611