Above: Two Southborough organizations that support families in need are teaming up under one “Town of Southborough Holiday Giving Program” this year. If your family is in need of the support, be sure to apply in advance for the aid. (image cropped from flyer)
As we head into the holiday season, more residents than ever may be struggling to make ends meet for themselves or their families. As the Town prepares to launch its new season of the “Holiday Giving Drive”, residents who need the extra help are encouraged to apply soon. Below are the details on how to do that this year.
And for any readers interested in supporting the drive, it’s not too soon. (Scroll down for those details.)
This year, the giving drive will be a joint effort by Southborough Youth & Family Services and the Southborough Food Pantry to assist families in need.
Given the overlap in clients from the community that need support, the organizations are teaming up to solicit and organize donations in time for the holidays.1
To apply for support
If you are already a client of the food pantry, you can ask food pantry organizers for help getting enrolled in this year’s giving drive.
Anyone else can complete the 2026 Financial Needs Form on SYFS’ website. You can find the form here. [Note for past applicants: New applications are required each year. But, if you’ve already completed the 2026 form earlier this year (for assistance with camp/recreation scholarships or emergency fund help) and you checked the box to also request support through the Winter Wishes program, you should be all set.]
You can also pick up a form at the Food Pantry or SYFS’ office. And if you have questions, you can reach out to 508-481-5676.
To donate to the drive
You can make a donation to support the drive through the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission’s PayPal account here. (To help them track the initiative, please specify in the comment/instructions field that you are supporting the “Holiday Giving Drive”. This year’s fundraising drive is running through November 29th.
- As part of the new partnership, SYFS is ditching the “Winter Wishes” branding they adopted in recent years. SYFS’ Director Sarah Cassell tells me that they want the new drive to be considered a “Southborough” drive rather than seen as SYFS’ or Friends of Southborough Youth Commission’s drive. She hopes the initiative can expand in future years to include other community organizations in town with similar holiday drives.
