The Groton Human Services Department provided 417 households with Thanksgiving baskets.That's 109 more than it served in 2010. In 2010 the department served only 14 more households than it served in 2009.

This year donations included nearly $17,000 cash from individual contributions, along with $1,000 in store gift cards, and $3,900 in matching funds from Pfizer, Inc, which matched funds donated by its employees.

Expenses, which totaled $14,571, were covered by the generosity of the Groton Food Locker fund, managed by the Mystic Congregational Church. The kindness helped 605 adults and 490 children to have a better Thanksgiving.

The Human Services Department, in its report to the Town Council, issued hearty thanks to the Parks and Recreation Department for helping with the distribution and to the police department for managing the flow of traffic around the building and on Route 1.

If you were unable, or forgot, or have the whereqwithal to do more, there is a new and exciting opportunity to do so.

The staff at the human services department is now preparing for Friday, Dec. 16, the Christmas distribution day. More than 475 families are expected to meet the necessary income and residential requirements to benefit from this program. Qualified families will receive holiday food baskets and gifts for children 12-years old and younger.

Just thinking out blog here, but it seems to me, if people who chose to drive without wearing a seatbelt, or while distracted, usually by an electronic communication device, just did the right thing, and made donation to the Human services department of an amount equal to the fine they avoided, more people would be, well, more happy.

(It’s OK to say More Happy in a blog)

The point is, the town Police doled out 168 tickets in its 2 two week, Click it its Ticket campaign. Clearly there are still a few knuckleheads out there.

On the other hand, a review of the departments data showed an impressive 92 percent compliance rate with seatbelt laws.