Reading Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Drive-by Event A Success

Dear Editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Reading Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Drive-by Event on Sunday, November 21 such a resounding success.

Due to the continuing health concerns and restrictions associated with COVID-19, we were unable to host Reading’s seniors at our customary sit-down dinner, which has been a local holiday tradition since 2008. Instead, for the second year in a row, we held a masked, socially-distanced drive-by event in the parking lot of the Hillview Country Club to help ensure the safety of everyone who attended.

All participants were provided with a festive holiday bag prepared especially for our local seniors, which included a family size apple pie; chicken tortellini soup; scali bread; a package of cookies; one pound of Dunkin’ coffee; fresh apples; apple cider donuts; apple cider; a box of chocolates; a Norman Rockwell calendar; a pie slicer; napkins and dessert dishes; disposable face masks; and pens. The bag was a team effort and we were fortunate to work with so many caring and generous sponsors and donors.

Our sincere thanks to Reading Cooperative Bank; The Savings Bank; CVS; Amazon; Dunkin’ North Reading - The Scrivanos Family; The Farmland Market; Harrows Chicken Pies; and Russell Orchards – Ipswich for their generous donations and support. A special thank you to Reading Elder and Human Services Administrator Amy O'Brien and her staff for helping to organize this year’s drive-by event, and to Reading Community Services Director Kevin Bohmiller, who helped prepare and distribute the holiday bags. We also want to thank the Hillview Commission, including George Stack and Karen Moberg, the North Reading DPW and the North Reading Police Department for directing traffic throughout the event.

As in years past, we encouraged those attending to bring canned goods and other food items to help restock the shelves of the Reading Food Pantry. Once again, we were overwhelmed by the tremendous response we received from the community, whose generous donations will allow the food pantry to continue to help local families through these difficult times.

It is truly an honor for us to once again celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with those who have contributed so much to our community. We want to extend our best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to all Reading residents, and we hope to be able to return to our traditional seated dinner in 2022. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Representative Brad Jones & Linda Jones

Representative Richard Haggerty