In December, facing the challenges of the holidays during a pandemic, three area community organizations—Wellspring House Inc., Action Inc. and Pathways for Children—decided to work together in an effort to have a major impact on creating a bright and joyful holiday season for families on Cape Ann. The three organizations were creative in re-imagining how they would provide support for families in need, as current restrictions prevented them from opening their doors and welcoming parents in to select gifts, as they have in the past.
In a first-time collaboration, they created the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund to raise cash to provide a much-needed lift for 505 local families with gift cards for 1,064 children. This new format offered families the safest and most flexible option for providing that special toy or gift for their children and teens.
“Wellspring, Action and Pathways are enormously grateful to the Cape Ann community for stepping up in such a big way to make this a success,” the three organizations wrote.
Businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals responded to the organizations’ request for cash funds with incredible enthusiasm and empathy. In the end. $110,000 was raised through this collective act of care and compassion.
Wellspring’s mission is to inspire families and adults on the North Shore to achieve employment and financial security through stable housing, education, job training and career readiness. Action Inc. works to provide opportunity and stability to individuals and families on Cape Ann. For more than 50 years, Action Inc has been a welcoming place where individuals can find help, hope, and support when it is needed most. Pathways for Children is a leading provider of education and care programs on the North Shore of Massachusetts serving children and their families from 14 communities. Pathways’ year-round programming, including Head Start and Early Head Start, serves children birth to age 13 and their families, with centers in Gloucester, Beverly and Salem, in addition to online parent support programs.
