We had our nearly-annual Christmas Party on December 15. A houseful of ~85 revelers celebrated the season with warm wassail, salty snacks, and delicious desserts. The house was packed with many friends from work, previous “works”, our church, and our neighborhood - even the Cub leaders got into the spirit of celebration…
The locals lingered into the wee hours and the limoncello flowed. The impending winter storm that would dump 8-9″ of fresh white stuff was kind enough to hold off until everyone got home and provided a relaxing Sunday for recovery with most events cancelled.
As in years past, we asked our guests to bring, in lieu of gifts or food, something for a charity. This year, we collected for the local food pantry. Through the generosity of our guests, we collected a mound of food and $785 for this deserving cause.
On Monday morning, we went to the Food Pantry to drop off the party proceeds. Though we arrived a few minutes before the posted opening time, the place was already bustling with activity. A warm pot of coffee was ready to greet clients from the morning chill and there were a half dozen volunteers scurrying about. A client or two shopped the shelves and we saw a few other packages headed out the door for delivery to clients who lacked transportation.
As we hauled the first bags of food into the storeroom, we were recognized and asked if the food was from the Cub Scouts (Hey! Not a bad reputation!) We explained that we’d had a party at our house and asked the guests to bring contributions. When we explained that we also had an envelope full of checks, the eyes of the volunteers began to tear up.
Our bags were quickly unloaded and the contents sorted onto the shelves with like items by the now grinning staff. They explained that the Food Pantry was currently serving upwards of 90 families and that their supplies and resources were very stressed. They were overjoyed by both the financial boost and the immediate re-supply of their shelves. We wished them Merry Christmas.
As we left, we talked about how good it made us feel to help out and how, through their contributions, our guests really had brought us a wonderful Christmas gift - that warm feeling in our hearts. If there were any questions in their minds about arriving at a party with a can of tuna or a check instead of a plate of appetizers, we ask them to please rest assured that both their hosts and the staff and clients of the North Reading Food Pantry felt very blessed by their gifts.
A huge thank you to all of our friends and neighbors who made the party a tremendously fun time and helped us to provide this support in the spirit of holiday giving. Merry Christmas!! Party on!!
Sounds like the party was a hit! That’s awesome that you raised so much for the food pantry! Sorry I missed it!
Great Party. Thanks so much for having us. My sister enjoyed herself. I was glad she came as she does not get around to socialize much. It is a good feeling to know that the food pantry will be filled at least for al little while. Jean
your mother must really be beaming like a bright star in the sky! You are great John in all your efforts!