Yesterday afternoon Bill, Shay and I were replenishing the packages and adding lights to the Giving Tree. While we were clearing the tables of snow and picking up trash, we noticed a homeless gentleman in a wheelchair examining the packages and taking what he needed.
As we busied ourselves, a young homeless boy told us he made his way to Harvard Square from Honduras and that he was cold and hungry. We encouraged him to take a warm hat and a pair of gloves, which he did. While we were talking to him, a lady approached us with a bag of coins. She asked us to make good use of them; we passed them along to the boy. Other people stopped to ask questions about the tree, thanked us and took photos.
We send thanks to Ned Ver Planck from Dickson Bros. Hardware and Susan Corcoran from Black Ink for their generous gifts of hats, socks and gloves.
We also send thanks to City of Cambridge, CSL Consulting, LLC, Siena Construction, Trinity Property Management, Cambridge Office for Tourism, Dickson Brothers Hardware, The Harvard Coop, Irving House, Harding House, Hotel 1868, JVT Realty, Porter Square Hotel, Prellwitz / Chilinski Associates, Sheraton Commander, Cambridge Ellis School, C’est Bon Market & Liquors, Patricia Mazza Real Estate, Tom Crowley,Office of Edward JonesUniversity Lutheran Church, Felix Shoe Repair, Grolier Poetry Book Shop, Paine Senior Services, Passim and Vox Consulting whose generosity made it possible for us to light the trees and replenish the gifts through their Sparklefest sponsorships and donations to our White Light Campaign.
Additionally, anonymous donors provided warm coats, feminine hygiene products, personal care items and candies.
We wish to acknowledge and thank the City of Cambridge for their outstanding assistance during this holiday season.
We are particularly grateful to the Electrical Department under the supervision of Steve Lenkauskas and the DPW under the leadership of Owen O’Riordan. Staff from both departments worked diligently in helping us decorate the Square, set up the Giving Tree and collaborated with us to make sure the lights were turned on at the perfect moment during the St. Paul’s Boy Choir concert. Working together, the Square looks festive and inviting and our Giving Tree is humbly providing for people in need.
We are never surprised by the outpouring of support; our members and friends always come through in helping us care for the Square and the people in it.
With sincerest thanks to all,
Happy Holidays,
Denise, Bill, Amanda and Shaylin
Caring for the Square Since 1910…