Crocheting for Aztec Wishes: Local Woman, and Assabet Students, Help Needy Children

Each year, the students in the Business Technology program at Assabet Valley put their database management skills to work as part of a unique project – they organize, manage, and distribute toys and clothes to needy children through the Aztec Wishes program.

Donna Groccia, the lead teacher in the program, has been carrying on this tradition for years, and gets lists of children, complete with ages, sizes and their wish lists, from the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC).

“We try to take care of at least 100 children, and their families,” she said in a statement. “The Assabet Valley staff and students are very generous and warm-hearted, with many individuals ‘adopting’ more than one child. Our students match up the coded gifts and prepare them for delivery to SMOC, where they get to entertain the little ones and keep them occupied while the parents smuggle bags of toys and clothes out the door for the big surprise on Christmas morning. We try to give grocery and gasoline gift cards to each family as well. It’s not just a lesson in database management, from inception to completion, but it’s also a lesson in the rewards of community service and compassion for those less fortunate. It gives each of us a warm feeling as we realize how appreciative these families are.”

Although almost all of the gifts are donated by the Assabet Valley school community. One person has joined the effort since about 2010, donating dolls with handmade crocheted doll clothes.

Chris Ledder, from Marlborough, can’t even remember how she learned of Aztec Wishes, but she has been reaching out to those in need for years.

Before Ledder began to crochet, she and her family donated toys to the Holiday Helpers program that was run by the Marlborough Human Services Department, and also through the Angel program at St. Ann’s church, but both of those have since disappeared.

Ledder says they still donate to Toys for Tots, and will continue to do so, but with Aztec Wishes, she can enjoy her hobby at the same time. “This way the kids get not just a doll, but one that has stuff to play with once they open the gift,” explains Ledder in the announcement.

“After I learned to crochet about six years ago, I started making doll clothes for my nieces’ dolls,” said Ledder in a statement. “As they outgrew the doll stage I still liked making the clothes but, it was hard finding a charity that wanted the clothes. It may just be hard to process them. Boxed toys are easier to manage. When I contacted Assabet they were very welcoming of the dolls and the clothes.

“This doll donation wouldn’t be possible without the support of my husband who is incredibly helpful and supportive of this project. I also get lots of support from my friends at Crochetville who buy patterns, help me when I get stuck with directions that make no sense, provide encouragement when it seems like the dolls will never be dressed, and surprise me with huge boxes of clothes and dolls that I never saw coming,” Ledder continued.

“I couldn’t believe it when Chris’ husband dropped off six boxes of dolls and clothing items,” said Groccia. “The dolls are in five different sizes and the appropriate clothing items are bagged and coded.”