The Town of Smithtown Recreation Department hosted a packed house for its annual Tender Years Treasury on December 3rd. According to the town, well over 120 young residents independently shopped for holiday gifts at the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center. All of the gifts were priced at $5 or less, and handcrafted by approximately 35 Smithtown resident vendors over the age of 60.
“They really outdid themselves this year,” said Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim. “This is always such a special occasion.”
Approximately 25 student volunteers, organized by the Smithtown Youth Bureau Department, chaperoned children so that they may independently pick out holiday gifts for family and friends. Popular items available include jewelry, scarves, hats, wreaths, ornaments, pot holders, key chains, and more.
The Recreation Department and the Senior Citizens Center team organized the entire event, which included an upscale boutique, cookie decorating station, holiday crafts, a homemade quilt raffle, balloon sculptures, free gift wrapping and refreshments, courtesy of the Smithtown PTA.
Children were also able to drop off letters to Santa Claus, to receive a return letter from the North Pole.
The Tender Years Treasury is an annual event for Smithtown children, grades K-5, to independently shop for handcrafted gifts made by local senior citizens during the holidays.
“We bring together the generations,” a representative told LongIsland.com.
Smithtown’s Youth Bureau has a volunteer corp of about 700 students registered to chaperone the younger kids during the event. When the town puts on a program that provides community service they send out an email announcement looking for volunteers.
The Tender Years Treasury has been going on for “way over ten years.”
Parents who bring their kids get a break while students guide the young shoppers through the experience.
“Many times we hear that student volunteers were young shoppers who remember older students taking them around,” said the representative.