Ridgefield Spreads the Joy of Christmas in July

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ridgefield once again partnered with Hour Children, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families impacted by incarceration, for its annual Christmas in July campaign.Throughout July, parishioners of St. Stephen’s and members of the community were invited to pick gift wish tags from a Christmas tree in the church’s front entry (aka the narthex).

And pick wish tags they did! Christmas in July collected well over 100 gifts for newborns through 17-year-olds, as well as 30 gift cards.This will enable the mothers at the Bedford Correctional Facility to select gifts for their children during the next Christmas season.

"Ridgefield is such a great community," said the Rev. Whitney Altopp, rector of St. Stephen’s. “The generous response, which went far beyond parishioners, reflects the willingness of our town to show up and pitch in. We thank everyone for helping to spread joy to mothers at Bedford and their children during the coming Christmas.”