Connecticut town in mourning inundated with gifts, money

— The Connecticut town in mourning over the loss of 20 children and six school workers in the December school massacre has been overwhelmed by gifts from across the world.

More than $2.6 million in donations has poured into Newtown’s official memorial fund. The United Way is administering the fund without charge. Hundreds of thousands of dollars also have been collected in private fundraisers to pay for funerals, memorials or even a new school to replace Sandy Hook Elementary where the shootings occurred just over a week ago.

Saturday, all the children of Newtown were invited to an event to choose from among hundreds of donated toys.

The local United Way is asking people to stop sending toys and, instead, do charitable work or make a donation in the victims’ names.

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