Spirit of the season

Social Services program will make Christmas special for 81 needy Hillsborough families.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Santa’s got lots of helpers in Hillsborough — just visit the township’s Social Services Department to see how busy those helpers have been.
   Bags of toys, clothes and other gifts donated for distribution to 81 families registered with the department fill every spare office and nook in the Municipal Building. Throughout the month, the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, church groups and many individuals have been "adopting" the families, filling their wish lists.
   "We have about 80 families we take care of during the year," Social Services Director Tom Ormosi said. "Especially during the holidays we try to make it a little special."
   The stuffed rooms will soon be overflowing as Hillsborough Fire Company No. 2’s toy drive wraps up and the donations are delivered to the Municipal Building on Wednesday. For the fire company’s ninth annual toy drive, the fire company was aiming to collect toys for 279 people in 81 families.
   "When the toys are dropped off, volunteers and office staff in the Health and Social Services office match the toys with the appropriate age child," Mr. Ormosi said.
   Mr. Ormosi said the gifts will then be distributed to the families, along with food donations from the Hillsborough Food Pantry on Friday.
   "People have been very generous," Mr. Ormosi said.
   In 2004, the holiday toy drive benefited 86 families, including 157 children, participating in the Hillsborough Township holiday programs.