Thursday, December 9, 2010

northampton - Born in Easthampton in 1910, the oldest of 10 siblings, the late Frances C. Smart lived through the Depression years, when families often didn't have enough money to eat or heat their houses, much less give each other presents on the holidays.

Her niece, LeAnn Mason of Worthington, suggests that may be why her aunt was a devoted contributor to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.

"It was a way to give to families," said Mason. "It was a way for her to help children and to be involved with their Christmas."

The Toy Fund distributes vouchers redeemable at participating area stores to families in need around the holidays. That mission spoke to Frances Smart, and, inspired by her aunt's long tradition of giving to the Toy Fund, Mason last year contributed in her memory.

Smart, who lived for many years in Florence, working as a medical secretary for local doctors, died in 2009.

"She wanted to make it to 100," said Mason. "She made it to 98."

Mason said she was close to her aunt, her mother's sister, spending a good chunk of time at her house as a child.

"My mother used to work at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. So I spent a lot of time at Aunt Fran's while my parents were at work. We also spent all the holidays there," said Mason.

"She had a great sense of humor, but she could be very picky. She was strong, strong willed," she said. Following the death of her second husband, Gordon Smart, for example, her aunt continued to live on her own until shortly before her death, said Mason.

"She loved to do crossword puzzles," she added.

She said her aunt used to talk about the baking she did with her own grandfather, who ran a teahouse next to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in a space that is now a parking lot.

"She had wonderful memories of that," said Mason.

Mason remained close to her aunt throughout her life.

Over the years, she said, she used to compare notes with her aunt who, like her, was an avid canner.

"She told me that one day she canned a phenomenal number of tomatoes - something like 102 quarts," said Mason. "She used to always ask if I'd broken her record."

Mason said she hasn't yet.

She said she considers herself a "big, big Christmas person," each year putting up plenty of decorations around the house and on the building that houses the Red Bucket Sugar Shack, the Kinne Brook sugar shack and restaurant owned by Mason and her husband, Jeffrey.

"It's my favorite holiday of the year," she said, "I want people to have as good a Christmas as I have."

Toy Fund details

Named after a former business manager at the Gazette, the Toy Fund began in 1933 to help families in need during the Depression. Today, the fund distributes vouchers to families for each child from ages 1 to 14. Eligible families in all Hampshire County communities, except Ware, may participate, as well as families in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury and Leverett.

Berkshire Children and Families, at 220 Russell St. in Hadley, is accepting applications for vouchers. The last day to apply is Friday.

The vouchers will be distributed in batches as they are processed, and all should be mailed by Wednesday to give families enough time to shop.

Families can use the vouchers to buy holiday gifts at participating stores by midnight on Dec. 24.

The following stores are participating this year: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Deals & Steals, 76 Pleasant St., Northampton; Faces, 175 Main St., Northampton; F.J. Rogers, 3 Main St., Florence; JCPenney, 341 Russell St., Hadley; Mountain Goat, 189 Main St., Northampton; Target, Route 9, Hadley; The Toy Box, 201 North Pleasant St., Amherst; and Wilson's Department Store, 258 Main St., Greenfield.

Donations to the Toy Fund may be dropped off at or mailed to the Daily Hampshire Gazette at 115 Conz St., Northampton, 01060, or Gazette offices at 67 Main St., Easthampton, or 100 University Drive, Amherst. Donations may also be made through GazetteNET. Checks should be made payable to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund.

TODAY'S DONORS

In memory of my Grandma and Grandpa Cleary and my Uncle Jim. Love Isabelle#$10.70

Nurses from HVES #$100

In memory of loved ones from John and Sharon Sargenski, Happy Holidays! #$25

Anonymous#$25

In loving memory of John Wiater from his wife, Alice#$25

This donation is to honor my wonderful friends, the "English Muffin Ladies" from Pat Coon#$50

In memory of Dawn Castro from Mark Castro#$100

Anonymous#$25

From Janet Teng#$25

In memory of Maureen Carey from Cartman & Kenny#$10

In memory of Mary (Divenere) Dibrindisi, deeply missed by family#$100

Merry Christmas Margy! From Miriam, Aaron and Ethan#$25

In memory of my nephew, Christopher Moore, and niece, Jennifer Moore, from Karen Humphriss#$50

In memory of Elaine Weaver who loved Christmas and kids. Miss you and love you from Jack#$100

In loving memory of Jimmy and John from their Mom#$25

In memory of Kevin J. Dunphy from the Dunphy Family#$10

In loving memory of Nana and Codie. Always in our hearts from Kim and Andy#$40

In memory of my beloved aunts "Catty" and "Ele", Lost by not Forgotten, Prayers & Hope for my dear Aunt Joni. We are all here for you. I love you all. Your niece Tina O'Brien#$15

In loving memory of the McGrath and Giuffre families from Anis McGrath#$25

From Jack, Chris and Bryan Duggan#$25

In memory of Mom and Dad, Laura and Herb Hemenway, and sisters, Laura and Terry, love Nancy and Ray Martin#$100

In memory of Elaine Weaver, a co-worker and friend from the student employment office at UMass, from Arthur Hacker#$25

From the Murphys: Kerry, Carol, Lisa, Kate, David#$30

In loving memory of our grandparents, Ken, Martha, and Bill, and great-grandparents Sid and Julie, Bill and Grace, and Cousin Paul, and in honor of our grandmother, "Gigi" Riley O'Brien Sullivan and Quinn Curran Sullivan#$100

In honor of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from John and Zetta McCormick#$40

In memory of Dot Berube, Charles Blanchard and Dave Blanchard from Mary & Jim Berube#$25

In memory of our friend, Joe Maiewski, from the Collins Electric Co.#$100

The Board of Fellowship, Trinity Lutheran Church, Easthampton, wishes the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund "A Merry Christmas with God's Blessings"#$50

In loving memory of our parents - Jim and Thelma Szynal#$50

In honor of our wonderful grandchildren, Matty and Julia Sena and Mary, Jackson and Leah Greene, who bring such joy to our lives all year long. From Richard and Edna Greene of Leeds#$113.

In loving memory of Roland Dearborn and Paula Mae Dearborn from Charlotte, Donna, Jenna and Hailey#$50

In loving memory of John and Jonathan Szych from Diane, Sarah, Lexi and Mia#$100

From Mill Valley Snowmobile Club#$50

In loving memory of our family and friends, love Rich, Betty and Family#$160

In loving memory of Patricia Coonerty and Sam Femiano from Elizabeth and Gabriel Cooney#$50

In memory of Johanna Rice, with love from her granddaughters#$20

In loving memory of all the wonderful Christmases spent with Mom, Billy and Catty. Missing you always, love Kathy and Steve#$50

In loving memory of Frank and Kate Driscoll from their family#$50

In loving memory of our daughter Nancy, who loved Christmas, from Chet and Mary Mackowiak#$25

To celebrate Jim Mias and all that he does for local kids through the Summer Ball Program! Jim, you give to kids in some of the most meaningful ways. Thanks from Griffin Shaw's family#$50

Previous Total#$6,637.25

Today's Total#$2,048.70

Year-To-Date Total $8,685.95