Newtown residents: Thanks but please stop sending so many gifts

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Residents of the Connecticut town that was the setting for the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have said that they appreciate the deluge of gifts from well-wishers all over the world, but ask now that people please stop sending them.  According to the Associated Press, Newtown, Connecticut has received so many gifts and toys that the city is simply unable to process them all.

The town’s first selectman, Will Rodgers, along with the police chief and and school superintendant made the request via the Newtown Bee in an article that included a list of instructions for those interested in donating to Newtown.  Items on the list asked donors to please send no more perishable items unless specifically requested, to contact the receiving board before donating to find out if that type of donation is needed and more.

Since the Dec. 14 tragedy in which 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed 27 people, 20 of whom were children, donations of everything from art to toys to school supplies have poured in from around the globe.  The sheer volume of donated items has outstripped the town’s ability to sort and process them.  Officials have asked people to wait before sending more gifts.

A fund established by the United Way to help the community recover has currently grown to $3.5 million.

[image via Shutterstock]