Published December 30, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the entire community from coming together to support families in need this holiday season.
Students, families and staff from Lynnfield Middle School and Lynnfield High School have traditionally partnered with the Department of Children and Families’ Lynn Area Office during the annual Holiday Gift Drive, which includes the gift-wrapping extravaganza in the middle school cafeteria just before December break. While there was no gift-wrapping party this year due to the pandemic, the two schools decided to switch gears and collected gift cards instead.
“We received over $17,000 in donations in gift cards,” said middle school fifth-grade teacher Patricia Hazelton.
Hazelton noted that both schools sponsored 10 needy families this holiday season.
“Each instructional team took a family, the Administrative Leadership Team took a family and we also had groups in town take families too,” said Hazelton.
Hazelton said a variety of gift cards were collected during the fundraiser, which included some special requests.
“It was so nice to see the special requests granted,” said Hazelton. “We had some requests for specialty stores in Salem, Nike, Carter’s children’s wear, Charlie Cards and Prime Gas station cards. We also received an outpouring of cards for stores that sell just about everything such as Target, Walmart, Kohls and Amazon.”
High school English teacher Stefanie Marcoux, who helped coordinate the Lynnfield High fundraiser along with fellow Operation Kindness Club co-adviser Jodie Leibowitz, said the LHS community donated a “variety” of gift cards.
“Most were to Amazon, Kohls, Target, Walmart and Market Basket,” said Marcoux. “We had some specialty stores as well.”
Hazelton said learning about the families’ stories this year was heartbreaking.
“The stories of the families were especially tragic this year,” said Hazelton. “Many families lost members to COVID. These were the most devastating of the stories shared. COVID also played an impactful role in the loss of jobs for some of the families. I cannot think of a year that this Gift Drive has been more in need. I am so thankful that we were able to be creative and continue this tradition. It really allows the best of LMS to shine.”
Hazelton said the Holiday Gift Drive’s success demonstrates that Lynnfield is an incredibly compassionate and caring community.
“It is not just the middle school community,” said Hazelton. “It really is the whole town. The high school did a collection too this year. There were many community members who donated. There was a lot of need this holiday season. People in this community donated not just to our Gift Drive, but to Toys for Tots as well as various other collaboratives and causes. The number of people who reached out and asked, ‘How can I help? What can I do?’ was amazing. With all the challenges 2020 has presented, the generosity in this community cannot be stopped.”
Marcoux agreed.
“People really care about their fellow citizens and neighbors during this time,” said Marcoux.
Hazelton thanked a number of people for making the Holiday Gift Drive a huge success during an incredibly difficult year. She thanked the entire school district, the Administrative Leadership team, middle school families, the LMS PTO and the faculty at both secondary schools, particularly Marcoux and Leibowitz.
“I also want to thank Kristin Thomas, who made us labels again this year, Christina Hayman for her donation from the Lynnfield Baking Company, Jessica Saccardo and her friends for donations and the many families who wish to remain anonymous who contributed,” said Hazelton.
Hazelton also thanked local resident Barbara White for helping one family just before Thanksgiving.
“Barbara was concerned about their needs for Thanksgiving,” said Hazelton. “After talking to the social worker, she was able to coordinate an effort to get them a gift card to Market Basket and collected from a few other families. She then went to the home of the family and delivered the card with some flowers. Barbara helps out with the Gift Drive every year, and I am so thankful for her huge heart. This is just one example of how people are so willing to get involved.”
Marcoux thanked “the Rotary Club for their generous contribution, and to all of the students and teachers who donated.”
In addition to the Gift Drive, Police Chief David Breen noted that the Police Department’s Fill-A-Cruiser toy drive fundraiser was a huge success. The Lynnfield Police Association and the Lynnfield Dispatch Association organized the fundraiser.
“The toys were loaded and delivered to Boston Medical Center,” Breen wrote on the Police Department’s Facebook page. “We would be remiss if we did not thank each and everyone of you who donated. Every individual donation mattered and, collectively, you made this by far our most successful toy drive. With the utmost sincerity, thank you.”
