BRATTLEBORO — Social service and school officials in Windham County and nearby Cheshire County, N.H., have referral forms this week for the 2013 Brattleboro Reformer Christmas Stocking.
Families that qualify for assistance from the Stocking for this winter who have not received the form from their child's school should contact the school or other social services such as the WIC program.
The deadline for applications to be received by the Stocking Committee is Monday, Oct. 14.
Eligible children 15 and under receive winter outerwear including coats and boots. Younger children receive snow pants, and all receive hats and mittens - many of which are made by community volunteers.
The children are outfitted in November, usually before the cold winter weather begins. The Stocking kicks off its fundraising drive the day after Thanksgiving.
Eligibility of families for warm outerwear for their children is determined solely from the application and the recommendation of the referring agency. Self-referrals are not accepted, and the staff of the newspaper is not involved in the process.
Last year, more than 1,350 children from 612 families were outfitted. The goal remains at $90,000 for this year's fundraiser.