Students wrap holiday gifts for veterans in the Lincoln Academy Dining Commons
The holidays are looking brighter for veteran families this year, after Lincoln Academy Ambassadors and dorm students volunteered to wrap over 200 presents for the nonprofit organization Task Force Veterans Visits. Thirty students from the Ambassadors club and Boarding program worked together for over two hours to carefully wrap and organize gifts for families, under the guidance of Lynda and Hilary Petersen, club advisor.
For each of the last 10 years, Lynda Petersen of Watertown, CT has been collecting gifts and clothing for needy families along the East Coast. Lynda sponsors children of deployed troops and veterans who are struggling to make ends meet. Beginning the day after Christmas, she scours clothing and toy sales and collects donations throughout the year. Her goal is to send toys, books, or outfits for children aged newborn to ten. Last year, with funds from many donors, she provided enough toys for 80 children from families Lynda knows in various groups both locally and online. “The biggest challenge”, Lynda says, “is to wrap over 400 gifts and ship them before Christmas”. Until now, a small group of retired friends have helped her complete the task. But, for the last four years, Lincoln Academy students have jumped in to help. Lynda saw this as a great opportunity to support student volunteers and wrap a van load of presents in a single day. Sophomore Milo Small said, “It feels very rewarding to know that we’re doing something to help kids in need, and it is such a special thing that I’m so happy I got to help out with”. Lucy Dang ‘27, added “I’m really happy that I could help parents by being a Secret Santa and wrapping presents for them. It made me think about my family in Vietnam”.
Each child receives a minimum of a toy, book, and outfit, and items are chosen based upon family wish lists. Candy canes, coloring books, crayons and matchbox cars are included as well. Lynda will travel the East Coast delivering presents to many families and ships the rest. Says Lynda, “Task Force Vet Visits is very grateful for the help of the students in wrapping the gifts. They did an amazing amount of work in a very short time! Their contribution to the Christmas Kids project will be even more appreciated by the children who discover the presents under their trees!”
