Christmas came early for the volunteers who organized Sunday’s Fill-A-Cruiser toy drive at Sippican Elementary School, as they looked upon one another flabbergasted by waves upon waves of the generosity shown by townspeople dropping off bags of clothes, bicycles, footballs, basketballs, and a great variety of boxed and wrapped toys.
“It was our honor in the [Volunteers at Sippican Elementary] (VASE) organization at Sippican School to have collaborated with the Police Department this year, in order to help make this event come to fruition during these challenging times. We were overwhelmed at the generosity that was shown from those within our community who wanted to help fulfill wishes and needs of children while spreading some much-needed holiday cheer,” said VASE President April Rios, who managed the collection with Marion Police officer/school resource liaison and event organizer Alisha Crosby.
In collaboration with the Marion Police Department, and led by retiring Chief of Police John Garcia (Santa), Sippican School Resource Officer Matt McGraw, the Marion Police Brotherhood, Crosby, Rios, Barbara Moody, and volunteers welcomed a parade of cars and pickup trucks that pulled into the school’s bus loop in a steady stream that began at 10:00 am and ran until noon.
Sippican Principal Marla Sirois reports that the support of community partners in the Christmas season is a continuation of support the school received at Thanksgiving when The Loft School and collaboration between Marion’s Council on Aging and the Recreation Department resulted in Thanksgiving baskets and gift cards to 24 Sippican students and their families.
According to Sirois, a total of 40 children from 17 families connected to Sippican are receiving support for the Christmas/winter holidays. The First Congregational Church of Marion and its Missions Team provided gifts to over 25 students and extended support to some families within just two weeks. Susan Smith, chair of the Missions Team, Alice Shire, Missions member, and Pastor Mary Ann Purtill from the First Congregational Church of Marion were especially helpful in supporting Sippican families. Sippican staff members and Marion Police Department are sponsoring the remaining 15 students.