Gifts For Kids History

The Gifts for Kids (GFK) program was started in 1990 by Pat McDougal with the support of members of the (then) South Norfolk County Council for Children who wanted to help area children during the holidays. That first year twenty-five children who were identified by the Department of Social Services received gifts, books and clothing during the winter holiday season. The program was so successful and the recipients so grateful that the second year the numbers of children grew to 125. Each subsequent year a new social service agency was added and the number of children served by Gifts for Kids increased.

In 2010 we provided holiday gifts to more than 900 children. The Cottage Street School in Sharon was the first school to organize classrooms to provide gifts and today more than one hundred classrooms in Sharon, Foxboro, Dover, Waltham and Medfield participate.

In 2010 Gifts for Kids served nine agencies including the Dedham Youth Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Father Bill’s/Mainspring House in Brockton, and Cole Harrington in Canton. The number of donors is now over 1000 people from South Norfolk county and beyond. Elementary, Middle and High School students, girl scouts, boy scouts, churches, companies, and temple groups as well as Eastern Bank, Sharon Credit Union, and other companies have organized to help with the effort. Gifts for Kids has also received grants and funding from Rodman Ford, Eastern Bank, and Dedham Savings.

The need that brought about the creation of the Gifts For Kids program increases every year. Fortunately, the spirit of caring, giving and sharing in the first few who responded to those needs has grown apace. Word of mouth continues to enlarge the donor base every year. Today, just as in 1990, the growth of Gifts For Kids is fueled by the goodness in all people and their willingness to serve others.