Neighbors helping neighbors

By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter Marlborough - In true holiday spirit, Marlborough Firefighters are providing holiday dinners to several low-income families who do not...

By Dakota Antelman, Contributing Writer Marlborough/Grafton - Three members of the Marlborough and Grafton High School cross country teams earned recognition from the Massachusetts Interscholastic...

Northborough - Project Just Because is collecting donations for families in need. High priority items needed include arts and crafts sets, blankets and throws,...

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services is holding its 13th annual Holiday Toy Drive in support of children in need. New, unwrapped, non-violent...

Region – State Rep. David K. Muradian Jr. (R-Grafton) invites all to participate in “Bundle up the Blackstone Valley,” a coat drive to benefit...

Shrewsbury - State Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) and State Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) co-hosted a well-attended Thanksgiving luncheon at the Shrewsbury Senior Center Nov. 13. The annual event featured the traditional turkey feast with all the trimmings catered again by Goretti’s Supermarket in Millbury. Moore was joined by Shrewsbury selectmen Moira Miller and Beth NeJaime Casavant, Housing Commissioner Gayle Vigeant, School Committee member Jason Palitsch, Town Manager Kevin Mizikar, and Senior Center Director Sharon Yager who were gracious servers. The lunch was coordinated by Shelly MacNeil, a member of Moore’s team.

Northborough - The concept of paying it forward may not be part of the official Massachusetts elementary school curriculum standards, but the third-grade students at the Fannie E. Proctor Elementary School in Northborough have already begun to master the idea. Following the overwhelming destruction of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas, the teachers spoke to the students about the importance of reaching out to help others in their times of need. They then discussed the devastation with the students, and, to help them visualize the situation that other third-grade students were facing, they showed them a short news clip of the damage.

Northborough – Northborough veterans were showered with appreciation at the eighth annual Veteran’s Day Luncheon Nov. 3 at the Northborough Senior Center. Senior Center Director Kelly Burke welcomed attendees who enjoyed a program filled with patriotic music and heartfelt presentations. The sun shone bright on the occasion and attendance was high for this mid-day event.

Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury’s Rotary and Lions clubs teamed up for the second year to collect toiletries for Veterans, Inc. This year, they were stationed at Price Chopper in Shrewsbury Nov. 4 and collected well over four grocery carts full of soap, hand cream, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hair brushes and socks.

Marlborough – Mayor Arthur G. Vigeant announced that the city of Marlborough and the Habitat for Humanity MetroWest Greater Worcester (Habitat MWGW) are moving forward with performing critical home repairs on two homes in Marlborough in November. Vigeant met with Habitat officials over a year ago to see if their programs can help veterans, seniors and family homeowners in need of critical repairs to their homes.

Region - On a beautiful street in Natick sits a lovely Cape home that houses food and other essentials for people in financial distress. Inside this special place is the location of a nonprofit program called A Place to Turn. This program was established in 1979, and originally started in the private home of Joe and Edna Gillis who recognized the hardships that exist in the suburbs. They felt that this issue is not exclusively an urban problem. Seeing the need for so many people, the site was then moved to the grounds of the Hartford Street Presbyterian Church at 99 Hartford St.

Shrewsbury – Girl Scouts from Troop 11087 in Shrewsbury recently made 25 Halloween goodie bags to distribute to two local residence care homes as part of their partnership with the Worcester Department of Children and Families.

Region – Abby’s House, a nonprofit organization serving women and their children, recently announced the public phase of their $2 million capital campaign to renovate their building at 52 High St. in Worcester during a breakfast held there Oct. 25.

Marlborough - An introduction to Vietnam, a country of natural beauty with a unique heritage, was presented recently by Marlborough resident Theresa Vu at the Marlborough Senior Center.  Included were informational displays, music, and authentic food tastings, served by Patricia Pope, the center’s executive director and Lisa Martino, program coordinator.

Westborough – Westborough Girl Scout Troop 30633 will hold its last textile recycling event for 2017 on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clean clothes, blankets, purses, belts, sheets, curtains, linens, boots, shoes (tied together), backpacks, hats and towels are accepted items. All items do not have to be separated, but should be dry and in a clean garbage bag.

Marlborough - Fall and winter holidays are just a few weeks away. For some area families, gift-giving occasions are stressful because they compete for the same dollars needed to buy clothing or food.  The people of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton St. (Route 85), Marlborough would like to help by offering a Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All items are free.

Shrewsbury – On Thursday, Nov. 23, at 8 a.m., runners and walkers will fill Shrewsbury’s Town Common to begin the seventh annual Turkey Trot for the Memory. Many have personal reasons compelling them to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association Mass./N.H. chapter.

Marlborough – Deb Giroux of Marlborough will continue her Thanksgiving Day morning tradition of walking a 5K. For the second year, her efforts will benefit the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Marlborough (CSFM) “Dollars for Scholars” for which she serves as the board vice president.

Marlborough - Help and support to individuals with substance abuse disorders, their families and friends, are offered locally by the MetroWest H.O.P.E (hope, outreach, prevention & education) Center. Meetings are held monthly at the First Church in Marlborough. By partnering with many agencies and organizations that specialize in treatment and recovery services, they are able to offer free help.

Marlborough – “Peace on Earth” is the theme of the 28th annual Evening of Giving to be held Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, Route 20, Marlborough. Tickets for more than 1,000 guests are available for those in support of the event which benefits the Marlborough-Hudson homeless shelter, Roland’s House.