Westborough's Free Holiday Store Officially Opens Wednesday

Westborough's Free Holiday Store officially opens on Wednesday, and it's too early to tell how many families it will serve, Coordinator Cathy Cairns says.

That said, "we assume they will be very similar, if not more" than the 69 families served last year, Cairns says.

Co-sponsored by Westborough Youth and Family Services and the Rotary Club of Westborough, the store will be open from Wednesday to Dec. 23.

New unwrapped toys and books, and gift cards, may be dropped off in collection boxes at Westborough Youth and Family Services' office in the Forbes Municipal Building, the Westborough Public Library, the Westborough Fire Station, and Avidia Bank.

All monetary donations should be sent to the rotary club, Cairns says. All checks should be made out to the rotary club, for the holiday store.

The holiday store needs books ranging from baby to chapter, Cairns says.

"We like to make sure that every child gets at least one book," she says.

Families in need can receive applications at the WYFS office, or by calling the office at 508-366-3090, or online, Cairns says.

Individual, private appointments will be made for families to choose about three toys per child, plus a book, plus a hat and mittens handmae by Willows at Westborough residents, she says.

Westborough Girl Scouts will decorate the holiday store.

Rotarians spent Saturday morning bringing donations to the holiday store.

"That's what Rotary's all about: what can we do for the community?" President Dave Kaiser said.

"I think a lot of people don't realize that here in a community like Westborough -- everybody looks at Westborough as being an affluent community -- there are families that are struggling and a lot of children who don't have the luxury of having a lot of toys and gifts. This is, hopefully, a way just adding a little extra cheer in children's lives."