MONROE - The Christmas Stocking program is one of Monroe's most successful, long-lived, community projects.
In the beginning, people were unfamiliar with the program and its mission, so the Monroe Woman's Club turned primarily to the community's businesses for donations to support the Christmas Stocking Fund.
Businesses are still a cornerstone of the program's support network.
During the program's 60th anniversary in 2011, Lucy Kubly recalled having to write letters to businesses for donations when she was a committee chair from 1953 to 1957.
"It was harder for us, because it wasn't done before," she said. "These businesses, it was the only thing that we could get to start."
Kubly died in August 2014, at the age of 94.
Volunteers this year will assemble 500 holiday food boxes at Dearth Motors.
In 1956, Dearth Motors first donated its space for packing 70 food boxes. Before that, the club had packed food boxes at the First National Bank Annex and, in the earliest years, in the Green Room at the Ludlow Memorial Library.
The Stocking grows
Monroe's Woman's Club reported receiving $400 in donations for the 1950 Christmas Stocking. That amount, along with the club's own contribution, went to fill food baskets for 37 families and for toys and clothing, worth $242, sent to the children in 25 homes.
The Christmas Stocking fund jumped to $728 for 1953.
By 1956, the Christmas Stocking had a budget of $1,000, thanks in part to Monroe's first United Fund.
Mrs. Alvin Kubly - Lucy Kubly - was quoted Nov. 21, 1956, in The Monroe Evening Times: "Each year Christmas Stocking grows. Each year the price of food and clothes goes up. Last year was the most expensive." That 1955 cost was $957, with merchants giving discounts on purchases and individuals donating food.
The toys and clothes to the children "are given as gifts, not as charity, which is the aim of Christmas Stocking," Lucy Kubly added.
The food boxes included ham, peas, beans, bread, butter, carrots, cranberries, eggs, Jello, peanut butter, sugar, apples, oranges, coffee, cheese, popcorn, candy and homemade cookies and jams.
This year, 500 Christmas Stocking food boxes will to go out to about 368 families. Large families receive two boxes.
More than 290 volunteer shoppers have gathered toys for boys and girls. And besides the coats, children and teenagers will get coupons worth $20 to put toward the purchase of jeans, a sweatshirt or hoodie, and boots or shoes. In 2013, 800 children were given Christmas gifts.
The words of Monroe Woman's Club 2014 Publicity Coordinator, Sue Barrett, echo the sentiments of Lucy Kubly.
"Like many large projects, there are a lot of expenses, and we are grateful for the generosity of our community, which continues the Christmas Stocking tradition that was started over 60 years ago," Barrett said.
"People who donate can know they are helping children and families in need have a happier and merrier Christmas this year. We really appreciate everyone that contributes in any way; Christmas Stocking is a real gift from the whole community."
-Historical quotes and numbers were taken from past editions of The Monroe Times and The Monroe Evening Times.
In the beginning, people were unfamiliar with the program and its mission, so the Monroe Woman's Club turned primarily to the community's businesses for donations to support the Christmas Stocking Fund.
Businesses are still a cornerstone of the program's support network.
During the program's 60th anniversary in 2011, Lucy Kubly recalled having to write letters to businesses for donations when she was a committee chair from 1953 to 1957.
"It was harder for us, because it wasn't done before," she said. "These businesses, it was the only thing that we could get to start."
Kubly died in August 2014, at the age of 94.
Volunteers this year will assemble 500 holiday food boxes at Dearth Motors.
In 1956, Dearth Motors first donated its space for packing 70 food boxes. Before that, the club had packed food boxes at the First National Bank Annex and, in the earliest years, in the Green Room at the Ludlow Memorial Library.
The Stocking grows
Monroe's Woman's Club reported receiving $400 in donations for the 1950 Christmas Stocking. That amount, along with the club's own contribution, went to fill food baskets for 37 families and for toys and clothing, worth $242, sent to the children in 25 homes.
The Christmas Stocking fund jumped to $728 for 1953.
By 1956, the Christmas Stocking had a budget of $1,000, thanks in part to Monroe's first United Fund.
Mrs. Alvin Kubly - Lucy Kubly - was quoted Nov. 21, 1956, in The Monroe Evening Times: "Each year Christmas Stocking grows. Each year the price of food and clothes goes up. Last year was the most expensive." That 1955 cost was $957, with merchants giving discounts on purchases and individuals donating food.
The toys and clothes to the children "are given as gifts, not as charity, which is the aim of Christmas Stocking," Lucy Kubly added.
The food boxes included ham, peas, beans, bread, butter, carrots, cranberries, eggs, Jello, peanut butter, sugar, apples, oranges, coffee, cheese, popcorn, candy and homemade cookies and jams.
This year, 500 Christmas Stocking food boxes will to go out to about 368 families. Large families receive two boxes.
More than 290 volunteer shoppers have gathered toys for boys and girls. And besides the coats, children and teenagers will get coupons worth $20 to put toward the purchase of jeans, a sweatshirt or hoodie, and boots or shoes. In 2013, 800 children were given Christmas gifts.
The words of Monroe Woman's Club 2014 Publicity Coordinator, Sue Barrett, echo the sentiments of Lucy Kubly.
"Like many large projects, there are a lot of expenses, and we are grateful for the generosity of our community, which continues the Christmas Stocking tradition that was started over 60 years ago," Barrett said.
"People who donate can know they are helping children and families in need have a happier and merrier Christmas this year. We really appreciate everyone that contributes in any way; Christmas Stocking is a real gift from the whole community."
-Historical quotes and numbers were taken from past editions of The Monroe Times and The Monroe Evening Times.