Newtown swamped by charity for victims, families

Volunteers looks over tables full of donated toys at the town hall in Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. / AP Photo/Seth Wenig

NEWTOWN, Conn. Peter Leone was busy making deli sandwiches and working the register at his Newtown General Store when he got a phone call from Alaska. It was a woman who wanted to give him her credit card number.

"She said, 'I'm paying for the next $500 of food that goes out your door,'" Leone said. "About a half hour later another gentleman called, I think from the West Coast, and he did the same thing for $2,000."

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Funerals and tributes for Newtown victims

Money, toys, food and other gifts have poured in from around the world as Newtown mourns the loss of 20 children and six school employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School a little over a week ago. The 20-year-old shooter, Adam Lanza, killed his mother before attacking the school then killing himself. Police don't know what caused him to massacre first-graders, teachers, school staff or his mother.

Saturday, all the town's children were invited to town hall to choose from among hundreds of toys donated by individuals, organizations and toy stores.

The basement of the building resembled a toy store, with piles of stuffed penguins, Barbie dolls, board games, soccer balls and other fun gifts. All the toys were inspected and examined by bomb-sniffing dogs before being sorted and put on card tables. The children could choose whatever they wanted.

"But we're not checking IDs at the door," said Tom Mahoney, the building administrator, who's in charge of handling gifts. "If there is a child from another town who comes in need of a toy, we're not going to turn them away."

The United Way of Western Connecticut said the official fund for donations had $2.6 million in it Saturday morning. Others sent envelopes stuffed with cash to pay for coffee, and a shipment of cupcakes arrived from a gourmet bakery in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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The Postal Service reported a six-fold increase in mail in town and set up a unique post office box to handle it. The parcels come decorated with rainbows and hearts drawn by school children.

Some letters arrive in packs of 26 identical envelopes — one for each family of the children and staff killed or addressed to the "First Responders" or just "The People of Newtown." One card arrived from Georgia addressed to "The families of 6 amazing women and 20 beloved angels." Many contain checks.

Postal worker Christine Dugas sorts letters at the post office in Newtown, Conn., Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, including a letter addressed to "The families of 6 Amazing Women and 20 Beloved Angels.

/ AP Photo/Julio Cortez

"This is just the proof of the love that's in this country," said Postmaster Cathy Zieff.

Many people have placed flowers, candles and stuffed animals at makeshift memorials that have popped up all over town. Others are stopping by the Edmond Town Hall on Main Street to drop off food, or toys, or cash.

"There's so much stuff coming in," Mahoney, of Newtown, said. "To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming; you just want to close the doors and turn the phone off."

Mahoney said the town of some 27,000 with a median household income of more than $111,000 plans to donate whatever is left over to shelters or other charities.

Sean Gillespie of Colchester, who attended Sandy Hook Elementary, and Lauren Minor, who works at U.S. Foodservice in Norwich, came from Calvary Chapel in Uncasville with a car filled with food donated by U.S. Foodservice. But they were sent elsewhere because the refrigerators in Newtown were overflowing with donations.

"We'll find someplace," Gillespie said. "It won't go to waste."

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[beatleove]

Nice video in memoriam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0YFlLf-po

[beatleove]

Nice video remembrance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0YFlLf-po

[nleeklee]

Some of those who are for the suggestion of the NRA may have provided some of the donations to Newtown, but some who are for the NRA's suggestion have not. Think. If the NRA's suggestion is not pursued, then more shootings will occur. Will those who support the NRA continue to give donations in equal numbers to all subsequent shooting victims' families? This seems pretty crazy. But it would be consistent. Have those who have given this time been affected by the media to give? I would say that most people siding with the NRA are not affected so by the media. Also, I believe NRA supporters are thoughtful and intelligent. Therefore, I believe that most of the people who gave any donations do not support the NRA's position regarding arming guards at schools. If our country took up the suggestion of the NRA, then perhaps NRA supporters would provide donations, because they would know this would be the last time they would have to do it. But maybe they wouldn't anyway. Definitely if we do not take up the suggestion of the NRA, the outpouring of support will only further vilify gun owners. And the vilification has come from the hearts of those who donate, and it is furthered by their donations. After all, the focus is on the victims' families, and what has happened to their children. The focus is on where we are now. And so there must be something bad now, something in existence that is bad. And that is the guns. (Note, not the perpetrator) The focus is not on something that doesn't exist,that could exist,that would make things better, namely, guards at schools with guns. Therefore, the dices are loaded already. Out of sight,(existence), out of mind. It is very easy to be stupid. Think.

[Jayson1953]

I'm cynical about contributing to United Way as it irks me that a charity employs people who earn in excess of $100,000. I've been searching many of the news articles for an official donation site for the purpose of razing the existing Sandy Hook elementary school and building a new one. I watched a news report about survivors not wanting to enter the building again, which is easily understood. I think many people would prefer to have a specific objective for their donations, other than the United Way siphoning off their "20%" administration costs and redirecting funds to something they want to fund.

[nehicks]

Not to be a grinch in this, but, why do all those who have donated feel the need to donate for these families, but ignore those who are in need throughout the year? Toys for Tots couldn't get enough donations to hand out presents to all the children they try to help. Food banks have run out of food this holiday. Children don't have coats for the cold weather, because people aren't donating to organizations that help the steady crop of poor people in this country. Do these people, because they are alive, not warrant the same kind of compassion, the same kind of "love", from the people of this country? I am not trying to belittle the sad turn of events in Newtown, but, that money could have gone to help thousands of people, as opposed to one town.

[legacyabq]

hmmm.. plus, the median income is 111,000 which ain't exactly going broke..
But it's not their fault, people just want to be nice to feel better and express their sorrow.. Would be nice though, if we could do this in normal times also, and not just in response to tragedy.

[askagain]

It is heartwarming to see so many people donating to the families in Newtown. It is less heartwarming to read the criticisms of some posters. The residents of Newtown may be affluent but that doesn't change the sadness and hurt suffered by those who lost family members. Those who give should be congratulated, not vilified. And why should people who have succeeded financially in life be vilified?

[nleeklee]

Is something vilification if it is true?

[nleeklee]

hmm, interesting. my sister in law was killed in a mass shooting in California, and no one sent money or things to the families who were left after that. i wonder why? actually, the families of these children are much more well off than the families of the people who were killed along with my sister in law. did some of these donors feel guilty that they were spared? are they trying to buy off karma now? i know that a lot of people in this country follow karma and don't really know anything about true spirituality, which is the bible. it probably has to do with the media making this thing so huge. i think it is a political thing too. i am not mad that my brother didn't get money from strangers, or that the families of the other victims didn't get money from strangers. one thing i would like to know it this, who is giving this money and all these things? is it those who are against the solution of the NRA? i wouldn't be surprised. they are trying to buy off the gods of the future shooters so that their families and children are not killed. it makes sense. they know killing will happen, because the plan of the NRA won't be implemented. and they don't want it to be. they just want the killing to happen to someone else. let's find out who these donors are, and see who gets killed in the future, so we can see if their plan worked.

[legacyabq]

That's.. um, an interesting idea.

[nleeklee]

hmm, interesting. my sister in law was killed in a mass shooting in California, and no one sent money or things to the families who were left after that. i wonder why? actually, the families of these children are much more well off than the families of the people who were killed along with my sister in law. did some of these donors feel guilty that they were spared? are they trying to buy off karma now? i know that a lot of people in this country follow karma and don't really know anything about true spirituality, which is the bible. it probably has to do with the media making this thing so huge. i think it is a political thing too. i am not mad that my brother didn't get money from strangers, or that the families of the other victims didn't get money from strangers. one thing i would like to know it this, who is giving this money and all these things? is it those who are against the solution of the NRA? i wouldn't be surprised. they are trying to buy off the gods of the future shooters so that their families and children are not killed. it makes sense. they know killing will happen, because the plan of the NRA won't be implemented. and they don't want it to be. they just want the killing to happen to someone else. let's find out who these donors are, and see who gets killed in the future, so we can see if their plan worked.

[pcdc23]

The monetary and material gestures of generosity are sincere and well-intended from those across the country, but does Newtown actually need any of this support? Isn't this one of the wealthiest communities in the country? Why not donate to a local needy family or school in need in the name of Sandy Hook and send a card or letter to those at Sandy Hook expressing your sentiments and that you have made a donation in their name. Just an idea...