Town Hall Elves prove that giving is better

By PETE FONTAINE

Even Ebeneezer Scrooge, that cold-hearted miser who despised Christmas in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, would not have balked at participating in the Johnston Town Hall Employees Adopt-A-Family program.

Each year around this time, Mayor Joseph Polisena’s Town Hall Elves, as a spokesperson wanted the Town Hall employees to be known, reaches out to a local school to find a family in need.

Last Friday afternoon, one of the Elves showed the Sun Rise this year’s collection that she said, “this photo doesn’t come close to expressing the thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity that went into this year’s Adopt-A-Family project.”

There inside a second floor office were upwards of a record-setting collection of 80 gifts – most of which looked as though they were professionally gift wrapped – that the Elves wanted to show Johnstonians instead of posing for a photo.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” one of the Elves offered. “The Town of Johnston Employees, along with Mayor Polisena, have made it possible for a family to have a very Merry Christmas.”

Yet another of the caring and sharing Elves said: “These children will be dressed warm this winter with coats, hats, gloves, scarves and PJ’s that are all part of this special collection.”

With school about take its Christmas recess, because of what is an all-time act of generosity for the Adopt-A-Family program, the children of the in-need family will be able to enjoy stockings that were stuffed with candy and treats.

“On Christmas morning,” another of Mayor Polisena’s Elves said, “the children will have dolls, basketballs, Legos, Lazer Tag, board games and books to enjoy. There was even an overwhelming response for non-perishable food that was heart-warming to say the least.”

To which another of Polisena’s Town Hall Elves related: “Everyone put such love and care into picking out snacks and food for the family to go along with Price-Rite gifts Cards. It’s our way of saying Merry Christmas – with love – from the Johnston Town Hall employees who again responded to a call to help a family in need that otherwise would not have had a Christmas at all.”

The act of caring continued Monday when Polisena’s Town Hall Elves asked for help to confidentially deliver the piled-high amount of 80-plus gifts.