By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — With three weeks remaining in the Transcript’s 33rd annual Neighbor Helping Neighbor Christmas fund, an additional $2,110 in donations was received from our generous readers to support the good works of Christian Community Service (CCS).
Comprised of members of each of the town’s churches, for decades this all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicates itself to helping all community members who have fallen on hard times. Most well known for operating the North Reading Food Pantry out of its headquarters at 150 Haverhill St., this past year your donations have enabled CCS to provide nearly 70 to 80 families between 1,200 and 1,500 bags of groceries per month thus ensuring 150 to 160 individuals have access to nutritious food. The money these families save on groceries enables them to pay for other essentials such as utilities and gas. Faced with the highest rate of inflation in 40 years, all families at every income level are feeling the pinch this this year, which makes your donations even more special.
Funds contributed to the Transcript’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund are used by CCS year-round to help keep families with children, senior citizens on fixed incomes and any individuals in need with a lifeline to help keep them from falling further behind on other essential bills.
The CCS Take-a-Take Christmas program also ensures children in need receive a few special gifts this holiday season, such as warm sweaters, pants, coats, mittens and hats and a toy or two under their tree.
Shout-outs!
Additional shout-outs to community members who ensured CCS clients received bountiful Thanksgiving food baskets with all the trimmings or a cooked hot meal on the holiday – in addition to those mentioned in last week’s NHNF update – include sisters Christine O’Toole and Joyce DiGiantommaso who made 25 pumpkin breads for the hot meal baskets, and Laurie Brown who provided the pies. Small gift/treat bags accompanied the 25 hot meal delivered on Thanksgiving day and were donated by the Trinity Church Women’s Bible Study Group and their outreach pastor, Hannah Hansenberg.
A monetary donation from the Mt. Carmel Chapter No. 230 Order of Eastern Star was designated to cover the cost of rolls and cranberry juice included in each gift basket and donations from the Knights of Columbus of North Reading and Dig Safe of Wilmington were also used to help create festive holiday meal baskets.
All services provided by CCS are offered on the basis of financial need, not religious affiliation, if any, and confidentiality is assured. To inquire about services provided by CCS contact https://nrfoodpantry.org/ or call 978-276-0040 and leave a message and a volunteer will get back to you.
Do Something Nice Twice continues
As in past years, the Horseshoe Grille will continue its affiliation with the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund through its “do something nice twice” campaign. Those patrons who purchase $50 in gift cards will receive a $10 coupon for their use at the restaurant; however, if they choose to donate their $10 coupon back to the NHNF, the Horseshoe will match the donation to the NHNF too.
How to donate
The Transcript will acknowledge each donation received in print and pass all donations to CCS. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law, as CCS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations of $250 or more automatically receive a receipt in the mail. Upon request, a receipt will be sent to those giving less than $250. The donor must provide a valid name and address for the receipt to be mailed.
If you wish to remain anonymous please indicate that fact in the memo area of your check.
You may also make donations in honor of or in memory of friends or loved ones.
Please make all checks payable to “CCS,” not the newspaper!
Checks may be mailed to: North Reading Transcript “NHNF,” 26 Albion St., Wakefield MA 01880. You may also drop them off in person to our office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-Thu or 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Fridays, or use the night drop box slot opposite the door facing Albion Street after hours.
Checks may also be dropped off in person to the Reading Coop Bank, 170 Park St. (next to Ryer’s). You must specify to the bank teller your intention to make a donation to the Transcript’s NHNF to ensure it is recorded on the daily tally sheet that is sent to us to acknowledge in the newspaper.
Transcript 2022 NHNF donor list, WEEK 2
• Anonymous Elf– $800
• From Jeff Strong– $100
• From Christopher Page– $100
• Anonymous Santa– $ 500
• In loving memory of Donald G.W. Daniel & Irene A. Daniel– $250
• In loving memory of Michael M. Lally– $100
• In memory of Bob Mauceri– $100
• From Lois, Peggy, Jonathan & Connor– $100
• From Stephen & Joy Hartwell– $50
• In memory of Sharon McGillivray– $10
WEEK 2 subtotal …..………………. $2,110
Previously acknowledged ………… $600
NEW TOTAL ………………………… $2,710
