Residents and Groups Make Spirits Bright With Township's Holiday Program

Each year, the Hillsborough Social Services Department helps assure local families in difficult financial times that Christmas will indeed be special, with presents under the tree for everyone. 

The township program collects donated gifts for families registering with Hillsborough CAN and distributes them in the days before Christmas. This year, 318 individuals—including 146 children under 16—will open presents donated by township residents and service groups.

"I try to give a little to help myself, but I think it's a fantastic thing Hillsborough does at the holidays each year," Ron Skobo, who now heads the township's Social Services Department, said.

The program begins in September, when the township begins collecting information from potential beneficiaries, including requested gifts for individual members. 

With help from Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co. no. 2, which places donation boxes for donations around town, hundreds of residents check off one or two gifts for the program

"Mary Mother of God Church is one of our largest sponsors, taking 100 people annually that their parishioners provide gifts for," a township memo on the program Skobo provided notes. "There are also many other local churches and businesses that contribute to our program, each sponsoring the capacity of individuals that their organization can support."

Once all of the donations are received, members of Boy Scout Troop 186 begins sorting the gifts, and on Saturday, 25 members of Hillsborough Rotary Club came to the municipal building to act as Santa's helpers for this year's distribution.

"Without the combined efforts of the large organizations and individuals that give their resources, this program would not be what it is," the memo noted.