The holiday season brings an outpouring of generosity each year. But individuals and groups in town who collect donations, distribute toys and deliver special meals reflect needs that are present all year long.
“This is when the everyday person is thinking about this,” said Sandra Robinson, executive director of the Needham Community Council. “But the need doesn’t drop off. There’s more of a need than you’d ever believe,” she said, citing the 780 residents served by the council’s food pantry. “The person who’s using our food pantry looks like everybody in this community. These are our neighbors.”
While Needham’s median household income is more than $206,000 a year, according to the 2022 census, there are 865 individuals — 2.7% of residents — living below the poverty line.
During the holidays the Community Council runs a program called Holiday Hearts. With donations from individuals and local civic and business groups, they purchase gift cards for the children, teens and adults in the families who use the council’s food pantry. They are assembled by council volunteers and distributed in special gift boxes decorated by children and seniors in the community. The council also partners with Temple Beth Shalom’s Project Ezra to provide Christmas dinners that volunteers from the temple assemble and deliver on Christmas Day.
For the past 20 years, Gary DeMaria has spent Christmas Eve in a Santa suit delivering gifts to children in town. The program was started by the Needham Women’s Club in 1975. When the club discontinued it in 2008, DeMaria kept it alive, at first on his own and now as part of the nonprofit Needham Community Action Network (NeedhamCAN).
“In 2010 we added a charitable component,” said DeMaria. “Now, 20%-25% of the homes we visit are families in need.” He said NeedhamCAN learns about families in need from the Be Kind Needham Facebook page and referrals from the Needham Housing Authority and the Charles River YMCA.
YMCA Executive Director Paula Jacobson said their work with families throughout the year providing financial assistance for camp programs and childcare makes them aware of those who could be helped at the holidays. “We’re a resource because we know the families in need,” she said, and they partner with other organizations to support them.
This year the Shop with a Cop program took 51 Needham schools students to Target to choose items with the help of the Needham Police and Fire departments and Babson police. NPD Officer Joe Brienze organized the effort, gathering donations from individuals and businesses to pay for the purchases. “The town and businesses were really great,” he said.
“We couldn’t do this without them.” Each child got a winter coat and gloves, and some of the families chose to buy clothes rather than presents because of the greater need.
Laurie Blake, resident service coordinator for Needham Housing, said with the focus on children during the holidays she tries to make sure seniors and people with disabilities aren’t overlooked. “What people don’t realize is that it can be a really difficult and challenging time for seniors and people with disabilities,” she said. “We have a lot of residents who don’t have the financial means, don’t have family to connect with during the holidays. So it’s a time where people are isolating.”
For the past several years Blake has coordinated a program to provide gifts for residents in partnership with local businesses, delivered with the help of students from High Rock School. “The biggest items and the thing that seems to be the biggest struggle within this community is the cost of groceries. So I have asked for gift cards so that people would have the ability for necessities,” she said. They will be delivered at holiday events next week, and Blake is continuing to accept donations to fund them.
At the Council on Aging, Jessica Moss, assistant director of social services, echoes the need for supporting seniors. “Holidays are not an easy time for a lot of people, especially for older people who may have a lot of losses,” she said. “The holidays can really evoke a lot of memories that can be hard.” She said she doesn’t know if people are aware of the many needs in town, “But I do think once they find out, there’s a huge willingness in this community to want to help.”
Moss said neighbors helping neighbors is ideal. “As a team and as a town we have really worked to make sure our services are accessible and try and figure out what the need is,” she said. “But we can only help the people that we know, or that we’re able to find. So we really rely on neighbors for that.” She finds there’s a greater personal impact when neighbors make a connection. “People feel good helping others, people feel good knowing their neighbors, and I do think the community really becomes engaged.”
The needs don’t end when the season does, said Robinson. “The needs are year-round. And when we really need support, particularly food support, is in the late spring/summer. Because that’s when all of the organizations that give to us on a regular basis are away,” he said.
Blake, who also relies on volunteer support throughout the year for residents in Needham public housing for everything from clearing snow off their cars to a simple visit, said the community response has been tremendous. “There are so many people in this community, so many organizations, that reach out to me all the time looking to help,” she said. “A small thing can make a huge difference in somebody’s life. It’s amazing.”
Save as PDF