Times are hard. Kindness abounds.

The Human Services Department distributed holiday food baskets to 470 households on Dec. 16. Those households included 652 adults and 580 children, Town Manager mark Oefinger said in his Dec. 22, weekly report.

More than 280 families also received bundles of toys for young children and gift cards for the older ones (13-18-years old.)

The Monsanto Corporation donated 20 new bicycles for which the human services department found grateful homes. Thirty-four organizations and individuals provided toys and clothes for “adopted” families.

Town employees donated more than 200 gifts, fulfilling wishes that had been hung on “Angel trees” throughout town departments. Human services staff and volunteers worked more than eight hours distributing the kind offerings.

Cash donations totaled $6,800. Another $3,700 was delivered in the form of gift cards to food and department stores. There were hams, turkeys, canned goods and other nonperishable offerings.

The Human Services department spent nearly $11,000, from its Donations Trust Fund and the Groton Food Locker, on food and supplies for the distribution.

“As in years past,” Oefinger said in his report, “Human Services staff is impressed with by the community’s outpouring of support and generous contributions. Without the caring and commitment of the greater Groton community the holiday programs would not be possible.”