Southern Vermont Last Minute Gift Guide 2025 by New England Newspapers, Inc.

SOUTHERN VERMONT

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE LAST MINUTE

A special advertising supplement to the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and Brattleboro Reformer

Friday, December 12, 2025

Take a bite of these holiday gifts for foodies

Food-related gifts are popular come the holiday season. According to Packaged Facts’ November-December 2023 report on consumer and corporate food gifting in the United States, 50 percent of consumers had purchased food gifts for others over the 12-month report period, and 65 percent had purchased food gifts for themselves. The holidays of Chanukah and Christmas are particularly popular for giving food gifts, with nearly half of all food gifts purchased during these holiday seasons.

For a dedicated foodie in one’s life, a gift that tempts the palate can be rewarding. There are delectable gifts of all ﬂavors for the culinary-minded. Explore these possibilities when building holiday shopping lists.

ASPIRING COOK

Preparing meals at home allows cooks to customize ﬂavors to meet their personal needs. Experimenting with recipes and perfecting techniques is high on the list for budding chefs. Outﬁtting their kitchens with durable cooking gear, like a cast-iron skillet, Dutch oven, immersion blender or kitchen scale can help home cooks immensely. A variety of cookbooks that feature different cuisines can provide endless inspiration.

TEMPTING SWEETS

Cooks and bakers typically fall into two distinctive camps. Bak-

ing is an art that marries creativity with science. If a foodie delights in all things sweet, focus on gifts that cater to their sugarladen passions. Baking essentials like a stand mixer, silicone baking mats, cookie cutters, professional-grade pans and gourmet ingredients are sure to please. Don’t underestimate the appeal of beautifully packaged candies, chocolates, cookie bars or even specialty coffees and liqueurs when gifting food.

GLOBAL PALATE

Some foodies love nothing more than sampling cuisines from all around the world. While you might not be able to offer a ticket to every far-ﬂung region, you certainly can gift ﬂavors from these countries with a well curated gift. Think international snack boxes, a collection of sauces from different areas, unique condiments or food baskets brimming with items from a particular country or region.

HIGH-CLASS DINING

Some food lovers seemingly have everything. In such cases, something to accompany their meal, like a bottle of wine or another favorite liquor serves as an excellent present. A gift certiﬁcate to a local four-star restaurant might be the icing on the cake for gifting.

Ultimately the best gifts for foodies are those that recognize their passion for palate-tempting treats.

Harmonious gifts for the music lover

Music provides the soundtrack for people’s lives. Music evokes strong emotions and can inspire and motivate individuals while also helping them calm down and reﬂect. Finding the right gift for a music lover this holiday season can be a worthwhile endeavor, as the world of music offers an array of gift possibilities. Whether a gift recipient plays an instrument, loves live performances or enjoys singing, there is a gift out there to hit all the right notes.

THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE

People who prioritize the listening experience will enjoy quality audio equipment. High-ﬁdelity headphones or an upgraded Bluetooth speaker can enhance daily listening sessions, allowing individuals to fully immerse themselves in their favorite tracks. Although digital music is the go-to nowadays, plenty of music lovers are vinyl enthusiasts. For them, a new record player with mod-

ern features, such as Bluetooth connectivity or record storage, would make an ideal gift. For others, a subscription to a quality audio streaming service will offer uninterrupted music on demand.

MUSIC CREATOR

Many music lovers enjoy creating their art. A gift that supports those endeavors will be cherished. Beginners may appreciate entry-level instruments, like a ukulele or a keyboard. Those already playing and creating might appreciate personalized sheet music, new guitar strings and capo, drumsticks, or upgraded software for recording and mixing sound.

DEVOTED FAN

Music fans enjoy expressing their devotion to favorite bands and other musicians. Therefore, artist merchandise can make ﬁtting gifts. Vintage T-shirts,

framed album covers, souvenirs from past shows, and any other band-related memorabilia will keep music fans happy.

LIVE MUSIC

A live show is many music lovers’ ideal experience. Tickets to a

concert, solo vocal night, theater show, or orchestra performance will certainly strike the right chords with music lovers.

The best gifts for music lovers are those that resonate with their passion for the songs and sounds of life.

Warming the children, and hearts too

BY SULLIVAN BARTHEL Bennington Banner

BENNINGTON — When Mindy Shoestock found out that her Warm the Children application had been approved, she was thrilled. Her two sons could go outside for recess.

Shoestock, whose children are aged 7 and 13, works part-time and is enrolled in an associate’s degree program for behavioral science. She had applied for Warm the Children when it opened online in the fall. Even with a job and an academic schedule, she was having trouble making ends meet.

“The government shut down. I think everybody was at a scarce for a month and a half, worried about how they were going to get food, let alone warm clothing,” she said.

Warm the Children was started 33 years ago by Mack Stewart, who was then the publisher of a Connecticut newspaper. Its goal is to “provide local children with warm clothing for the winter, with dignity and respect,” according to Denise Main, executive director of the Sunrise Family Resource Center. For the past three years, Sunrise has managed Warm the Children as its ﬁscal agent.

The program matches children — 160 this year — with volunteers who accompany them on visits to buy new winter clothing at local branches of stores like Walmart and Marshall’s. This year, Warm the Children operated with just 28 volunteer shoppers.

Recipients of Warm the Children receive $100 for each child over 3-years-old, and $50 each for toddlers and infants. Awards averaged between $200 and $250 this year for the 60 families it served.

That money goes a long way: Shoestock used it to buy her sons full sets of boots, coats, snowpants, pajamas and gloves for

good measure. She chose the items from a JCPenney catalog, and the store gave her additional discounts with the program. Coordinators at Sunrise approved her selections and, in just a week, the new clothes arrived at her address.

Planning for Warm the Children is a year-long endeavor. That’s because the program is funded largely by donations, Main said.

“There’s a lot of behind the scenes work, too, that happens at Sunrise,” she said. “The keeping of the budget, the managing the gift cards that volunteers receive in order to go shopping with families — it’s a pretty complicated system.”

This year, a $3,000 donation from the Green Mountain Girls, a fundraising nonproﬁt in Manchester, made the program possible, she added.

This was a slower year for fundraising, Main said. She thinks that economic uncertainty, combined with higher costs for food

and other basic needs, led to less donations. Those factors could also be why demand for the program is going up. Warm the Children received 700 applications this year, an increase from 2024 and far more than it was able to meet.

But even a little money can go a long way, said KC Tiffany, who works as the social capital coordinator at Sunrise.

“If you can donate, donate,” she said. “$50 sponsors a two and under child, and $100 sponsors a three and up. That is where our biggest need lies every year.”

In 2022, Bennington’s poverty rate was almost double Vermont’s poverty level. More than 30% of children under the age of 17 in Bennington were living in poverty.

“It’s really, really nice to put into perspective that it’s not just $50… that someone’s donating towards this general pot of money. I get to see this clothing go out onto these kids, and then I get to see them here at our programs,

and I get to see them in the community. It just becomes much more personal being able to do this work,” she said.

Tiffany made the program sweeter — literally. She organized an event with Starbucks where Warm the Children volunteers were offered free hot chocolate when they picked up their shopping lists.

Shopping for the season has almost concluded, she said. It’s moving at a much faster pace than last year. And Shoestock’s sons are enjoying their new winter clothing.

“Not only is it helping [my] burden, it’s helping my child in school to be able to go out and do the activities outside at recess with everybody else, because if they don’t have the proper gear… they’re not allowed to,” Shoestock said. “It just helps them feel more included.”

Now, she said, they’re waiting for more snow.

SULLIVAN BARTHEL — BENNINGTON BANNER

Two coats selected by Warm the Children sit in the family meeting room at Sunrise Family Resource Center

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12 gifts for crafty people

Craft enthusiasts can be easy people to shop for come the holiday season. Shoppers can simply fuel their loved one’s passion for crafts by keeping their supplies fully stocked or introduce them to new crafting techniques.

There are roughly 85 million active creatives and 30 million sewists in the United States and Canada, according to Customcy, a custom product manufacturer. Millennials account for 41 percent of consumers in the craft market, according to the Center for Generational Kinetics. These 12 gift ideas will be perfect for creatives who want to enjoy their passion for crafting to the fullest.

1. Organizers: Craft supply organizers can keep people’s gear neat and tidy in bins or compartmentalized boxes.

2. Gift cards: A spending spree at a nearby craft retailer can help crafters get everything they need.

3. Rotary cutters: While quality scissors are a necessity, a rotary cutter can make fast work of slicing through materials.

4. Cutting mat: A self-healing cutting mat is ideal for model-making, sewing and paper crafts.

5. Cutting machine: A cutting machine, like those offered from Cricut¨ or Silhouette¨, can help people complete a vast number of projects. These machines can cut vinyl, paper, labels, and even fabrics and foam for certain models.

6. Pattern books: Those who enjoy needlework, crocheting or knitting can beneﬁt from books that offer patterns or digital sewing ideas.

7. Yarn and thread: High quality yarns and threads can elevate completed projects.

8. Paper or canvases: Fine artists and painters will need places to display their creative visions. A stock of mixed media paper and canvases means art can be made whenever inspiration strikes.

9. Resin supplies: Resin products have become more popular and crafters who enjoy such projects will beneﬁt from epoxy resin and molds or acrylic pouring kits.

10. Clay: Those who enjoy making clay-based creations can always use more clay in a variety of colors and new clay sculpting tools.

11. Floral supplies: Whether live flowers or artificial, foam, floral tape, stem snips, and ribbons can help people create beautiful designs.

12. Home improvement: Many crafters can beneﬁt from having a dedicated space to engage in their projects. A gift of minor home renovations to create a crafting room or area in an existing spot can make a crafter very happy.

Crafting is a popular hobby with scores of enthusiasts. Catering to their hobbies with special gifts will keep crafters busy and happy throughout the year.

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Toys for Tots o ers

Christmas assistance

BENNINGTON — Bennington and Rutland County Toys for Tots ofﬁcially opened online applications for Christmas 2025 on November 15.

Applications can be found at bennington-county-vt.toysfortots.org. After completing the online application, parents must print out their application and bring it with them when picking up toys.

Toys for Tots reminds parents seeking assistance this Christmas that it is essential to register early. If you are struggling now, please do not wait for a lastminute solution. Registering in advance ensures the best chance of receiving help.

Parents without computer access may register online at their local library. Printing typically costs between 5 and 10 cents per page.

“There are four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christ-

mas this year,” the foundation emphasizes. “Please do not wait until the last minute to apply.”

Walk-in registration will be available Dec. 17 through Dec. 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Toy distribution will begin Wednesday, Dec.17, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional distribution days are scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 21 from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 22, unless toys run out earlier. Distribution will take place at the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge, 916 Main Street, Bennington.

Parents must bring their printed online application. If you bring this printout, no additional registration will be required. Walk-in registration forms will also be available at the door.

Toys will be distributed until supplies run out and, while Toys for Tots cannot guarantee availability, they will make every effort to assist all families in need.

FILE PHOTO — BENNINGTON BANNER

Valerie Harrington of the Coggins Auto Group in Bennington places toys in the Toys for Tots collection boxes in 2023.

Scented crafts perfectly capture the season

The holiday season is a glorious time of year when many people are itching to transform their homes and businesses into winter wonderlands. Decorations certainly catch the eye and do much to establish that festive holiday feeling. Savvy individuals know that scents also can convey messages and elicit strong memories.

Scents can bring back memories and have a stronger link to emotions than the other senses, according to Discovery. Neuroscientists say scents bypass the thalamus, which acts as the relay station in the brain, and go directly to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and the hippocampus, which is why aromas can trigger intense emotion and detailed memory, as these components are vital to processing memories and emotions.

This holiday season, crafters can explore the various ways to capitalize on the scents of the season to make the experience more immersive for everyone involved. These projects showcase inviting aromas.

STOVETOP POTPOURRI

Set a simmering pot of warming scents to give your home an inviting aroma. Dried orange or lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and star anise will smell wonderful together. Turn this into a gift by packaging the ingredients inside of a mason jar with a festive ribbon attached to it.

COCOA-SCENTED SOAPS

Crafters need only visit their local craft stores to ﬁnd inspiration for various projects. Many retailers have an entire aisle dedicated to soap-making. Kits often have reusable molds, colorants and essential oils. Look for add-ins that can mimic the inviting scent of a warm mug of hot cocoa with cinnamon. Every time the soap is used it can elicit memories of sipping hot chocolate while snow falls outside.

EVERGREEN CANDLES

Making candles is another fun craft project, with soy wax, paraffin wax or beeswax widely available. Crafters can customize the scents as they desire, but for the holidays, the fresh scent of pine can trigger fond memories of the season. Line the mold or fill a vessel with a few sprigs of evergreen branches collected for a decorative effect, and use drops of pine-scented essential oil to mix into the wax. When lit, the candles will make it seem like a fir tree is inside your home.

PEPPERMINT BATH BOMBS

Candy canes are displayed and enjoyed during the holiday season. Mimic the effect of candy canes with peppermint bath bombs that can revitalize and sooth whenever a spa experience is needed. Bath bombs can be made with a few simple ingredients pressed into a mold. They can be tossed into the bath water

or allowed to dissolve during a shower to release a rich aroma into the steamy environment.

DIY REED DIFFUSERS

Reed diffusers are a ﬂame and heat-free way to fragrance a space, which is perfect for those with pets or small children. They are easy to make and can be great gifts. One will need a glass or glazed ceramic container with a narrow opening at the top. Then

add a solvent or oil to the container as the base. Some people use sweet almond oil or even vodka and water. Then add a fragrance of choice. Vanilla-scented essential oils can create a “Christmas cookie” scent. Then ﬁll the container with a few reed diffuser sticks or bamboo skewers and wait for the scent to permeate the room. Scented crafts can enhance the holiday experience by eliciting strong, happy memories.

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Unique places for holiday shopping

Although the holiday season is a relatively brief period, it still can consume months of time in regard to preparation, shopping and hosting. According to a SWNS Digital survey of 2,000 adults in the United States, the average American spends six weeks preparing for the holiday season. Five weeks are devoted to planning presents, meals and other essentials, while an entire week is just for decorating.

Shopping for presents can consume a lot of time, especially for those who aren’t quite sure what to get. Thinking outside of the typical retail box may help with inspiration, and shoppers may encounter smaller crowds and ﬁnd better deals. Here are some unique places to shop to grab great holiday gifts.

• Pharmacies: While you’re picking up your prescription or medicine cabinet essentials, take a spin around the store to see what else might be available. Typically, pharmacies have entire aisles dedicated to seasonal merchandise, so you might be able to ﬁnd holiday decorations, gift wrap, candles, pampering items, and even food-related items and gift baskets.

• Farmer’s market: Farmer’s markets pop up in towns on set days of the week. Although plenty of farm-related produce and plants are available, these markets also attract many other small businesses. You can ﬁnd craftsmen, jewelry makers, niche food sellers, and so much more.

• School (or church) bazaar: In an effort to raise funds for the PTA or other organizations, schools and churches often host holiday fairs and bazaars right

before the holidays. Area businesses rent table space and set up booths with an array of different products for sale. This is a great spot to grab interesting ﬁnds all under one roof. Plus, you’re supporting the local community in the process.

• Home improvement retailer: Plenty of people will appreciate practical gifts that they can use in and around the home.

A visit to a hardware store or home improvement retailer offers up aisles of essentials for the do-it-yourselfer. While new shelving for the garage or a set of ﬂashlights may not be the most glamorous gifts, these items can come in handy.

• Craft store: Cater to recipients’ favorite hobbies by ensuring they’ll be ﬂush with plenty of supplies. Craft stores have a bevy of items for every interest imaginable. They’re also sur-

prisingly good places to grab deals on picture frames, housewares, food-making supplies, and decorative items.

• Specialty food store: Head to specialty food stores to load up on items larger supermarkets might not carry. Ethnic markets may have ﬂavorful and interesting ingredients to group togeth-

er in a food basket that makes an ideal gift for transplants missing the ﬂavors of home.

Before logging on to the internet for last minute online shopping or heading to the nearest strip mall to walk the same stores again and again, explore various unique places to shop for holiday gifts.

These oatmeal cranberry cookies make a perfect homemade holiday gift

Holiday shopping poses some unique challenges each December. The “perfect gift” can be elusive, particularly when shopping for those who seemingly have it all. When confronted with such conundrums, shoppers are urged to keep a familiar and reliable option in mind to save themselves the frustration of ﬁnding the perfect gift.

Food makes a great holiday gift, especially when it is homemade. There is nothing like freshly baked goods to tempt your loved ones’ senses and stomachs as irresistible gifts this holiday season. Those with a knack for baking can gift a batch of these “Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Makes approximately 16 to 18 cookies

3⁄4 cup unsalted butter 3⁄4 cup brown sugar 2 small eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, pour into a large bowl and add the brown sugar.

3. Mix until well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla, and continue to mix until incorporated.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ﬂour, salt, baking

soda, spices and oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well. Add the cranberries and stir until thoroughly incorporated.

5. Drop scant tablespoons of the batter onto the cookie sheet, spaced apart. Press down slightly in the centers.

6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden and set. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before moving to a cooling rack to ﬁnish cooling.