Community Impact Team Presents 3 with 2021 Good Neighbor Award

The North Reading Community Impact Team recently presented three North Reading residents with the 2021 Good Neighbor Award. Nominations were accepted earlier in the fall and selected by the CIT Advisory Team. Community Impact Team Member Amy Luckiewicz explained, “More than ever we wanted to recognize people in the community who are going beyond to help people out.”

Penny Esposito was selected for her work with the Christian Community Service and North Reading Food Pantry. Her nomination read in part, “Penny has organized and delivered holiday meals to senior citizens, veterans, and other who would be alone in their homes. She also has spent hundreds of hours volunteering to feed the most vulnerable in our community.”

North Reading High School Senior Eddie McNeil was nominated for his fast thinking last summer at Ipswich River Park during an emergency. In June, a couple was walking their dog when the husband fell and broke his ankle. Eddie was nearby playing basketball and found the couple when he heard the calls for help. His nomination added, “He quickly responded and helped with the couple’s dog. He stayed throughout the entirety of the situation. Eddie helped the woman get their dog to the car so she could meet her husband at the hospital.”

In addition, Angela Grillo was selected for helping her neighbor during a high-stress time. Earlier this year, her neighbor Shelley Gullotti suffered a medical event. Angela organized the neighborhood to bring Shelley’s family dinner, gift cards and even take care of her lawn. Shelly wrote, “Angela’s heart does not change. She is one of the most special people I know and trust!”

The Good Neighbor award is offered every other year, and it is the fifth time the CIT has sponsored the recognition. Due to COVID, the annual breakfast to honor recipients will be postponed until 2022. However, members of the CIT were thrilled to present the star awards to each recipient in person. Please join us in congratulating the 2021 recipients!

About the North Reading Community Impact Team

The North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT) is a partnership between the North Reading Police Department, North Reading Youth Services, North Reading School Department, North Reading Parks & Recreation, North Reading Fire Department, North Reading Elder Services, Department of Public Health and the North Reading Board of Selectmen. The team was developed to better coordinate the services provided to the community. The CIT’s mission is to work together to better the quality of life for all citizens. The Team emphasizes the use of innovative, non-traditional methods of impacting crime and the fear of crime and strives toward cooperative interaction between the community, law enforcement and town departments. The CIT works to identify factors that have a negative impact on the quality of life for the citizens of North Reading and to implement solutions that solve the underlying problems. The group is organized into Action Teams including the Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition, Social Services Action Team, Mental Wellness Action Team, and K-12 Action Team.