Couple starts a new tradition: a Toys for Tots collection at their ‘must-visit Christmas house’
James Jaeger always wanted to have “the house with all the lights.”
“My husband started putting lights up right before Halloween,” said his wife, Caitlin. “So a few weeks now. Here and there added little bits and pieces. It has been a dream of his since he was a kid to have the must-visit Christmas house.”
As if the glow that now comes from 21 Bedford Drive in North Grafton wasn’t enough, the Jaegers have added an extra element to their display: the gift of giving. James Jaeger grew up with the Penzone family in Marlborough, who for more than 20 years ran a giant Toys for Tots Christmas party.
“It’s an event that I’ve been to every year for who knows how long,” he wrote on Facebook in an invitation to Graftonites to drop by. “Over the years that event raised an incredible amount of Toys for Tots. This was yet another event that has fallen victim to 2020, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to collect as many toys as possible for the charity.”
The couple plan to have the lights on 4:30 to 9 p.m. daily. They will be collecting toys on their side deck, since their front lawn, naturally, is now a mine field of extension wires and inflatables with their support wires. They plan to collect toys until December 10, to ensure delivery to Toys for Tots well before Santa Claus loads his sleigh.
“We have some money already donated as well as a nice pile of toys!” Caitlin Jaeger said. “Which is already more than we hoped for during these crazy times.”
The couple hope to bring a bit of happiness to the town as a positive way to end 2020.
“I encourage you to drive by, stop your car and forget about the past 11 months, even if just for a minute,” the Jaegers wrote.
Wonderful article, thank you.