HAVERHILL — Hundreds of families throughout the Merrimack Valley will celebrate Thanksgiving on full stomachs this year thanks to the United Way, Somebody Cares New England, local businesses and many volunteers.
The United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and Somebody Cares New England's Thanksgiving Meal Package Give-a-Way was last Saturday morning at Brookridge Community Church in Haverhill and provided complete dinners to more than 200 families ranging from elderly individuals living alone to young couples with several children. Families interested in receiving a meal were required to register beforehand. More than $12,000 worth of food was given away thanks to the monetary and volunteer contributions of groups such as UPS, Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Rotary Club, Putnam Investments, Shaw's supermarkets, State Street Corp., and local churches. Twenty volunteers from the groups assisted in delivering food to homes and packaging meals for pick up.
Lori Simmer, an organizer of Somebody Cares New England, said that niche for the project's service has grown wider since its inception two years ago.
"There's a huge need in the community right now and this project will let families have a wonderful Thanksgiving for their kids," she said.
Jeff Hayward, senior vice president for United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, said support for the project has been overwhelming.
"There's been a broad range of support from grass-roots efforts to corporations giving away lots of money," he said.
Despite the popular belief that charity would be limited in times of recession, Hayward said the United Way hasn't noticed a significant drop in donations. He claimed that the recession has brought the specter of need closer to home for many.
"Many of us are just a few paychecks away from this happening to us," he said.
One of the volunteers on staff was Joe Bevilacqua, Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce president and volunteer United Way Merrimack Valley campaign chairman, who took pride in the work his fellow volunteers had accomplished.
"It's important for families to celebrate Thanksgiving together," he said.
Besides Haverhill, the United Way hosts several other Thanksgiving project sites throughout Greater Boston. In total, the organization plans to give away $37,000 worth of food this year.
Somebody Cares New England has been assisting families throughout the Merrimack Valley via Christian charity initiatives since 2003.
Individuals interested in offering donations of either time or money are encouraged to contact the United Way at 617-624-8000 or Somebody Cares New England at 978-912-7626.
