More than eighty years ago, two Island women knitted six red stockings, filled and distributed them to needy local children, and the Red Stocking Fund was born. As the program grew, it was administered by school nurses in the Island schools. Today the fund is still very much a grassroots organization run by volunteers. Every year the Red Stocking Fund provides gifts and warm clothing for 300 to 400 children ages newborn to eighth grade.

“We just want to make sure that we make Christmas for these kids,” co-chairman Susie Wallo said.

By mid-October Mrs. Wallo has made applications for the upcoming season’s gift drive available at convenient locations throughout the Island, including all the elementary schools and most banks. “Our budgeting process is unique,” Mrs. Wallo wrote in a letter describing the history of Red Stocking. “We begin our shopping on Nov. 1, not knowing at that time how many applicants we will have nor how much money we will receive. We provide for every applicant and have faith that the money will come in.”

Parents or caregivers provide information about their child’s gender, size and specific clothing needs, and a professional — teacher, doctor, nurse — verifies that the family is in need. “We are aware that thousands of dollars are in our hands and we do need to make sure that it goes to the kids,” Mrs. Wallo said.

Still, volunteers strive to create a user-friendly experience, making it as easy as possible for families to accept their services by engaging in vigorous outreach and maintaining strict confidentiality.

As soon as Mrs. Wallo or cochairman Sandy Joyce receive the completed application, they get to work creating an anonymous profile for each child so that no one except the two chairmen know the recipient’s identity. “We really want to respect people’s privacy,” Mrs. Wallo said. “We are very cognizant about that.”

Volunteers reach out to several Island organizations including the Department of Children and Families, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and the Wampanaog tribe to make sure that every struggling family is given the opportunity to apply. “It’s really to benefit the working poor on the Island,” Mrs. Wallo said, “It’s so expensive here.”

The Red Stocking Fund is the beneficiary of three major Island fundraisers: the Christmas in Edgartown chowder contest, the WMVY Chili Contest and the Martha’s Vineyard Harley Riders annual Red Stocking Ride. Those funds, combined with donations from generous individuals and organizations, give the Red Stocking Fund nearly $70,000 to work with annually.

About a week before Christmas, a distribution center is set up in the basement of St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven. Every registered child will receive a brand new pair of pajamas, socks, underwear, mittens and a book in addition to three need-specific items like winter jackets or snow pants.

Caregivers are also encouraged to provide two wish list items per child, perhaps a specific toy. A new bike is the most common request and the MV Harley Riders Association is responsible for making those wishes a Christmas morning reality.

Harley Riders collect toys from individuals and businesses around the Island and they have also been known to contribute a lump sum of their own money. Current president Rene Mathieu has been riding with the association for more than twenty years and while the organization’s commitment to the Red Stocking Fund remains unwavering, he worries that the age of the avergae rider is increasing faster than they are able to attract younger members, “We are trying,” Mathieu said, “And we recently opened it up to all motorcycle riders. Doesn’t matter if you have a Harley.”

Each November riders gather at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs for coffee and doughnuts before the Red Stocking ride. Gift donors wait at four predetermined stops along the way, and the presents are loaded into a truck before making their way to Susie Wallo and her elves.

Once the applications are processed, volunteer shoppers are given an index card that includes basic size and gender information for each child, and they set out with their shopping assignments. “We try to keep everything on the Island,” Mrs. Wallo said. Stores hold onto the gifts until the Thursday before Christmas, when trucks pick them up and bring them to St. Augustine’s.

The Red Stocking Fund also receives a substantial amount of financial support from families and sometimes groups like book clubs seeking to “adopt” a child to shop for. Mrs. Wallo and her team are careful to match families with a child from a different town and in a different age group than their own children to lessen the chance of a potentially awkward exchange between kids.

Three times a year, at Thanksgiving, Christmas and again in the springtime, the Red Stocking Fund also distributes food vouchers to Cronig’s, Stop & Shop and Reliable Market. Mrs. Wallo thinks that the far-reaching abilities of the Red Stocking Fund are a testament to the Island’s generous spirit. “It’s out of the kindness of hundreds of families, the community helping the community.”

For information and questions about Red Stocking Fund, contact Sandy Joyce at 508-627-4123 or Susie Wallo at 508-776-6050. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 600, Edgartown.