For the second year, the Charlestown Democratic Town
Committee (CDTC) has teamed up with Operating Engineers Local 57 to collect
Christmas gifts for South County children who would otherwise get nothing for
Christmas.
The children are under the supervision of the RI Department
of Children, Youth and Families, range in age from infants to young people
about to “age out” of the program when they reach age 18.
At the urging of his wife Bev, CDTC Vice-Chair Tim Quillen
got his union involved and then the CDTC. Bev Quillen is a high school teacher
and advisor to her school’s community service club. They aimed to reach those
children who were not served by other holiday programs, such as young girls
under DCYF care who had babies of their own.
Armed with lists with the first names of the children, their
ages and their Christmas wish lists, CDTC members proceeded to collect or buy
what the children needed. In most instances, the children’s wish lists focused
on necessities such as clothes and toiletries; toys were, in many cases, more
like an afterthought.
Tim Quillen reports that town Democrats and Local 57
members, aided by town employees, friends and neighbors, not only fulfilled completely filled the
wishes of every assigned child, but had enough extra to provide even give many
more DCYF children an unexpected
Merry Christmas.
