[Ed note: My Southborough accepts signed letters to the editor submitted by Southborough residents.1 Letters may be emailed to mysouthborough@gmail.com.
The following letter is from Kathy Cook, for the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission.]
To the Editor:
I am writing as the long time Treasurer of the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission, Inc. I am grateful to Beth’s assistance in helping us get the word out about this year’s Holiday Gift Drive program that is being sponsored by both Friends and the Southborough Food Pantry.
I have been involved in Friends for more than twenty years. Each year it seems that we work harder to raise the necessary funds to support our holiday giving program. The Holiday Gift Drive program provides gift cards to our friends and neighbors (mostly children) who need financial help. Without our help those friends and neighbors (which include many children) would likely not be able to celebrate the holiday season as most of us are able to do with our families I have so many stories I would love to tell about families we have helped in the past but cannot due to respect for their privacy. Their stories always make me cry.
I am always surprised each year by the incredible generosity of a few. But we need many others to step up and help to fully fund our program. For this holiday season we need to raise almost $30,000 to provide for each family that has applied to our joint program. We have more applicants this year than ever, which increases the amount of funds we need to raise. All of the work done to carry out the holiday giving program is done by a dedicated group of volunteers that over the years have fund raised in many ways. We have run road races, participated in numerous shopping events, bagged cans and bottles at the transfer stations, and hosted restaurant events. We have pretty much exhausted fund raising activities that actually raise enough funds to make the events worthwhile.
So we are now asking you to consider making a donation to help fund this program. We ask for cash donations because we know how important it is for parents to be able to shop for their own children. We use the cash donations to purchase gift cards where the parents want to shop for their children.
Donations can be made multiple ways. Checks can be sent to: Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission, Inc. 17 Common Street, Southborough, MA 01772 or via Venmo or Paypal using the QR codes right.
Thank you in advance,
Kathy Cook
Treasurer of the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission
