Shore Giving Tree Program 2023 Brings Holiday Cheer
Every year, the Shore community partners with local agencies to spread holiday cheer and generosity to children and families in need. Organized by the Shore Families Association (SFA), the Shore Giving Tree Program continues to support the North Shore community. This year 250 gifts were given to nine agencies including Beverly Bootstraps, Plummer Youth Promise, Sweet Paws Rescue, and more* (see below for a full list of partner agencies/organizations).
In addition to helping the local community, the Giving Tree Program provides the opportunity for Shore families, students, and employees to make a difference by donating items, money, and volunteering time and other resources.
“It's a win-win for our students to learn how to give, but also to provide holiday cheer to so many individuals in need,” said Michele Vaccaro P‘24, ‘27, Chair of the Giving Tree Committee. “This is one of the reasons why I love to serve on this committee year after year.”
Vaccaro has been on the Shore Giving Tree Committee for the past six years, this year being her first as Chair.
The Giving Tree Committee begins their work months ahead of the holiday season to identify organizations to partner with and understand their needs. In addition to toys and other gifts, some organizations' requests include necessities such as warm clothing, gift cards for food, diapers, and more. From there, the Giving Tree Committee runs the logistics of the operation, making sure that every slot on their detailed spreadsheet is filled, and every person (and animal) gets what they need for the holiday season.
One organization that the Giving Tree has continued to partner with over the years is North Shore Community Action Programs, Inc. (NSCAP) which serves more than 12,000 people each year across the North Shore with innovative social services that help low-income families and individuals find the stability they need to rise out of poverty. NSCAP serves children and families in Salem, Peabody, Beverly, and Danvers, as well as 25 cities and towns on the North Shore.
Two of the programs at NSCAP that have been touched by the Giving Tree Program are the English as a Second Language Program, and the Community Outreach Program, according to NSCAP’s Director of the Community Outreach Program Heidi Williams.
Williams shared a story from last year's Giving Tree Program efforts where a young boy in the English as a Second Language Program’s only wish for the holidays was a pair of sneakers. “Shore provided this gift, as well as others. He couldn't wait for Christmas vacation to be over so he could wear them to school.”
When school started back up again, Williams said that the boy wore his new sneakers to school every day, and when he arrived home he would take them off, place them back in the box with the tissue paper over them, close the box up and place it neatly under his bed, continuing to do this every day.
“Something so seemingly insignificant as a pair of sneakers meant the word world to him,” explained Williams. “He sent me a thank you card calling me his ‘Christmas Angel’. I knew the credit went to Shore, but it put a smile on my face.”
In keeping with past years, there were gift drop-off locations in the Upper School lobby and Kiva in the Lower School. This year, however, the Giving Tree Program team brought gifts to the Birdcage at the end of each day to sort, bag, and label. As the Shore community watched the piles of gifts grow larger, people asked how they could help, and what else might be needed.
“The Shore community pulls together every year,” said Vaccaro. “I'm truly grateful for the thoughtful and meaningful programs at Shore and for all the people in our community who not only make our own community stronger, kinder, better, but also lift up others as well.”
*This year’s partner community agencies/organizations are Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center, Beverly Bootstraps, Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, North Shore Community Action Program, Plummer Youth Promise, Plummer Community Apartments Program, Sweet Paws Rescue, and Mass General Brigham at Salem Hospital: Pediatric Emergency Room & Pediatric Psychiatric Department.
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Michele Vaccaro P'24, '27 and Emily Donnan P’33, ‘35 move donated items from the Upper School to the Birdcage. -
This year’s partner community agencies/organizations are Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center, Beverly Bootstraps, Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, North Shore Community Action Program, Plummer Youth Promise, Plummer Community Apartments Program, Sweet Paws Rescue, and Mass General Brigham at Salem Hospital: Pediatric Emergency Room & Pediatric Psychiatric Department. -
Donated gifts gathered in the Birdcage. -
Giving Tree Committee Members: Annemarie Baker P'26, '27, Michele Vaccaro P'24, '27 (Chair), and Angie Guarracino P‘31, '32. Not Pictured: Emily Donnan P'33, '35 and Liesl Sheehan P'33 -
Dina Hamel P’26, ‘29, former Chair of the Giving Tree Committee helps Michele Vaccaro P'24, '27, current Chair, load gifts into cars to be dropped off at each organization. -
Angie Guarracino P‘31, '32 gathers gift donations from the Kiva. -
Gently used winter coats, sweatshirts, and cold weather gear (hats, gloves, scarves), were donated, especially teen/adult male sizes for Plummer Youth Promise and their Community Apartment Program. -
Gifts for North Shore Community Action Programs, Inc. (NSCAP), a Giving Tree Partner agency.
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Giving Tree gifts gathered in the Birdcage.
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This year’s partner community agencies/organizations are Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center, Beverly Bootstraps, Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, North Shore Community Action Program, Plummer Youth Promise, Plummer Community Apartments Program, Sweet Paws Rescue, and Mass General Brigham at Salem Hospital: Pediatric Emergency Room & Pediatric Psychiatric Department.
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Giving Tree Committee Members: Annemarie Baker P'26, '27, Michele Vaccaro P'24, '27 (Chair), and Angie Guarracino P‘31, '32. Not Pictured: Emily Donnan P'33, '35 and Liesl Sheehan P'33
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Dina Hamel P’26, ‘29, former Chair of the Giving Tree Committee helps Michele Vaccaro P'24, '27, current Chair, load gifts into cars to be dropped off at each organization.
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Gently used winter coats, sweatshirts, and cold weather gear (hats, gloves, scarves), were donated, especially teen/adult male sizes for Plummer Youth Promise and their Community Apartment Program.
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Angie Guarracino P‘31, '32 gathers gift donations from the Kiva.
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