Putting the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving
Putting the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving
Project G.R.A.C.E. provides Thanksgiving meals for needy families
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Economically struggling families from throughout Scarborough stopped by St. Maximilian Kolbe Church last Tuesday to pick up Thanksgiving baskets provided by Project G.R.A.C.E. Around 50 families signed up and qualified for the program that is intended to provide them with the essential elements of a good, traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Kelly Holtner, chairperson of the Project G.R.A.C.E. Thanksgiving program, said she expected the program to serve only a few more families than they served last year.
"Some of the families we had last year are much better off now, but then we also a number of new families," she said. "We also have many different donors than we've had in past years."
Each family that received a Thanksgiving basket from Project G.R.A.C.E. was given a code name and matched up with a donor group. The donors were told how many people are in the family and how old the children are.
"We try to provide as much information as we can, but we do keep it confidential," said Project GR.A.C.E. Executive Director Hope Taggart.
For example, one six-member family was named "Cocoa" and a Brownie Troop put together a basket for them with items including sweet potatoes, canned goods and non-food items like socks. Among the donor groups were individual families, businesses, groups of co-workers, schools, churches and other organizations.
"We also ask them to provide a $15 food card so they can buy perishable goods, like a turkey," said Holtner.
Project G.R.A.C.E. also organized a clothing drive to collect outerwear to give to families in need. At Wentworth Intermediate School and Bessworth Child Care, students and other members of the public were able to drop off donations of outerwear. Several local businesses also set up collection bins. Taggart said Natural Motion Martial Arts collected an especially enormous amount of items.
Throughout most of the year, Project G.R.A.C.E. serves five communities outside of Scarborough, but during Thanksgiving, Taggart said, they have to narrow their focus to only their hometown.
"If we did more than just Scarborough we'd be overwhelmed," Taggart said.
Besides the special programs they run for the holidays, Project G.R.A.C.E. operates a heating oil assistance program, a medical aid program, interest-free loans for households and a number of other services. Their name is based on an acronym that stands for "granting resources and assistance through community effort."
Project G.R.A.C.E. provides Thanksgiving meals for needy families
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Economically struggling families from throughout Scarborough stopped by St. Maximilian Kolbe Church last Tuesday to pick up Thanksgiving baskets provided by Project G.R.A.C.E. Around 50 families signed up and qualified for the program that is intended to provide them with the essential elements of a good, traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Kelly Holtner, chairperson of the Project G.R.A.C.E. Thanksgiving program, said she expected the program to serve only a few more families than they served last year.
"Some of the families we had last year are much better off now, but then we also a number of new families," she said. "We also have many different donors than we've had in past years."
Each family that received a Thanksgiving basket from Project G.R.A.C.E. was given a code name and matched up with a donor group. The donors were told how many people are in the family and how old the children are.
"We try to provide as much information as we can, but we do keep it confidential," said Project GR.A.C.E. Executive Director Hope Taggart.
For example, one six-member family was named "Cocoa" and a Brownie Troop put together a basket for them with items including sweet potatoes, canned goods and non-food items like socks. Among the donor groups were individual families, businesses, groups of co-workers, schools, churches and other organizations.
"We also ask them to provide a $15 food card so they can buy perishable goods, like a turkey," said Holtner.
Project G.R.A.C.E. also organized a clothing drive to collect outerwear to give to families in need. At Wentworth Intermediate School and Bessworth Child Care, students and other members of the public were able to drop off donations of outerwear. Several local businesses also set up collection bins. Taggart said Natural Motion Martial Arts collected an especially enormous amount of items.
Throughout most of the year, Project G.R.A.C.E. serves five communities outside of Scarborough, but during Thanksgiving, Taggart said, they have to narrow their focus to only their hometown.
"If we did more than just Scarborough we'd be overwhelmed," Taggart said.
Besides the special programs they run for the holidays, Project G.R.A.C.E. operates a heating oil assistance program, a medical aid program, interest-free loans for households and a number of other services. Their name is based on an acronym that stands for "granting resources and assistance through community effort."
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