In a joyful season, there is little happiness to be found in Newtown, Conn.

"Normally I am at Christmas parties this time of year. This is just so awful. I don't like to see everyone so sad," said Sarah Verheyen, of Berlin, Conn.

The KFOX 14 Morning News traveled to Connecticut to place a candle at Sandy Hook. News Producer, Mateo Arnold took over 100 photographs to bring back to the Borderland.

The tragedy is changing the town completely.

"In December we usually do our Christmas tree fundraiser sale; that's kind of been put on hold for now," said Sandy Hook volunteer firefighter, Michael Reyen.

The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company now inundated with gifts left behind at the many memorials found along the road leading to Dickenson Drive, where Sandy Hook Elementary School stands.

"This is so hard, everything in the firehouse is overflow, there's just no room for it all," Reyen said.

Village leaders have actually asked visitors not to bring gifts anymore. They say they understand the thought; but say there is just too much.

However, the gifts keep pouring in. Cars line up for miles. People just trying to get close, to bring their stuffed animals, cards and candles.

Firefighter Reyen said the Fire and Rescue Co. is also holding a fundraiser for the victim's families.  However, he said it is hard to keep up with the demand.

"We don't have any more bracelets or ribbons. They are gone as fast as we get them in," Reyen said.

As KFOX 14 was there, crews rolled in to unveil a new granite monument. Police officers helped to set the low standing stone tablet into place. Carved into the granite is the name of each of the victims.

Several police officers from surrounding communities are in Newtown now. They are there to help direct traffic and keep the peace. Hundreds of people walking compete with the endless line of cars for space in the one major road leading to the Village.

Santa Claus even had a difficult time navigating the busy intersection at Dickenson and Riverside. He was riding in one of the Fire and Rescue Company's ladder trucks, waving to people on the street as he passed. However, few smiles were seen.

It's been a little over a week since a 20-year-old man went into the elementary school and shot and killed 20 children and six adults.  Before driving to the school, the man shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza.

Sarah Verheyen said her family and friends in nearby Berlin, Conn., heard about the shootings shortly after they started.

"We were trying to get in touch with Lauren (Rousseau). No one knew anything. My friends kept sending her Facebook messages, but we never heard anything.  Now, Lauren's Facebook is shut down. Lauren is gone," Verheyen said.

Lauren Rousseau was working in the first grade classroom that day. She was a substitute teacher and reportedly did not have keys to lock the classroom when the bullets started firing. Rousseau was shot in the face and killed. All but one of the children in her classroom were murdered.

A 6-year-old girl was the sole survivor of Rousseau's classroom. Her pastor says the only reason she made it was because she played dead and as soon as it was safe, she ran out of the school.

Officials say several teachers attempted to hide children in closets and cupboards to keep them safe. Police say all victims were shot multiple times. Most of the victims were in two first-grade classrooms, with fourteen in one room and six in the other.

Officers say the gunman committed suicide as first responders arrived.

Victims:
Perpetrator's mother:
Nancy Lanza, 52 (shot at home)

School staff:
Rachel D'Avino, 29, teacher's aide
Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal
Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher's aide
Lauren Rousseau, 30, substitute teacher
Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, teacher

Students:
Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Dylan Hockley, 6
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Jesse Lewis, 6
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6

Wounded:
Natalie Hammond, 40, lead teacher
Unnamed person