Neighbor News
All Saints Episcopal Church of the Northshore Works with the Salem Rotary Club and the Department of Children and Families to make it Memorable
Local Rotary Clubs and Episcopal church bring Christmas to foster children on the North Shore.
DANVERS, MA – Some 110 foster children on the north shore, along with members of their foster families, will be enjoying a very festive Christmas, Saturday, December 6th, at 1:00, at the Salem High School.
(There will be no media access for photos during the party due to privacy concerns for the kids).
The Christmas 4 Kids Who Need It event is in its fourth year and relies on the kindness of collaborating organizations, including All Saints Episcopal Church, the Rotary Club of Salem, with participation from Clubs in Beverly, Peabody, Marblehead Harbor, Ipswich and Hamilton-Wenham, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, with social worker Carla King spearheading that organization’s participation, and Salem High School, which is donating the space.
All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore launches the event with a come-one, come-all gift wrapping party, at the 46 Cherry Street Church, on Tuesday, December 2, at 7 p.m. All Saints is supplying the gift wrapping and the volunteers to help wrap. Donations for all the gifts are provided from grants by the Rotary Clubs.
The Festive Christmas for north shore foster and homeless children –- who range in age from newborn to 12 – is “a really heartfelt, community collaboration,” says Henry Witham, an All Saints Episcopal Church parishioner, and Danvers native, who fundraises for the event, and organizes the gift wrapping, party set-up and clean-up through the church. The gift giving initiative happens through an active partnership with Carla King, the Department of Children and Families’ recruiter and liaison for foster families.
“It’s all about giving young children, who are going through a difficult time , a really special Christmasy day, full of good fun and yes, even Santa, who will be there to pose with children for a photo-- which will be shot and printed on site -- as well as a bouncy house, thanks to All About Fun, Jay Fraser, the amazing magician, and balloon twister Connie Eldridge, plus lots of gifts and crafts,” Witham explains.
“We are so grateful to all the local organizations who are contributing what they can to make this event a big success,” says Henry Witham.
