MARLBOROUGH – It may not have looked like Santa’s workshop, but for a few hours two rooms near the bowling alleys at Apex Entertainment Center were filled with the holiday spirit.
On Nov. 30, members of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce joined Kits for Kids for the annual “Network with a Purpose,” creating 300 gift kits for less fortunate teen girls and boys.
“This is so great to see,” said Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert Schlacter.
“This is one of my favorite events,” said Jen Campbell, operations coordinator for the chamber.
Apex provided not only the space, but food and items for the kits as well.
“If there’s one thing that makes me proud to run Apex is to give back to the community,” said Apex General Manager Danny Gomes. “It breaks my heart to see some kids not have Christmas like other kids.”
Within the two rooms – one to assemble kits for girls, the other room for boys – Kits for Kids organized bins of toiletries, winter clothing, toys and more.
With Santa himself leading the way, chamber members and their families, along with City Council members Mark Oram, Donald Landers and Samantha Perlman, loaded the items into bags. Topped with stuffed animals, the completed kits were then set aside for pickup the following day.
According to Heather Johnston of Kits for Kids, the bags were heading to the Marlborough Community Cupboard for distribution.
Kits for Kids assembles and distributes kits year round to organizations such as Metrowest Boys & Girls Club, Employment Options Inc., Girls Inc. of Worcester, South Middlesex Opportunity Council and Carol’s Closet.
Financial donations may be sent to Kits for Kids, a 501(c)(3) organization, to P.O. Box 33, Marlborough, MA 01752.
For information, visit www.kitsforkids.org.
For information on the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, visit marlboroughchamber.org.
