Since 1991, Action Inc.’s Project Uplift has been providing a helping hand to local families in need during the holiday season. Each December the community pulls together by donating tens of thousands of gifts, volunteering hundreds of hours, and providing generous donations of gift cards and cash. This is community in action!
Through our holiday store, parents can “shop” for gifts for kids aged 0-16, choosing gifts their kids will love, and preserving the magic of the holidays. In addition to toys, all kids receive books, pajamas, stocking stuffers, and cold-weather items like hats, scarves, gloves, all free of charge. This year the store operated from December 14th – 18th, serving almost 400 families, and helping spread joy across Cape Ann.
We want to say a huge “thanks” to all of the businesses, clubs, and organizations that acted as collection sites or organized drives, including, Addison Gilbert Hospital, American Legion Post 3, Bank Gloucester, Bass Rocks Golf Club, Beauport Cruiselines, BNI Lighthouse, Cape Ann Business Alliance, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Cape Ann Moose Lodge, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Carpenter & MacNeille Architects & Builders, Inc., Citizens Bank, CK Pearl, Coldwell Banker, Connected Homecare, Crackerjacks, Cross Country Mortgage, Dolce Vita Salon, Essex Elementary School, Essex Town Hall, F.W. Price, First Ipswich Bank, Freudenberg Medical LLC, Gloucester City Hall, Gloucester Healthcare, Gloucester Rotary Club, Gloucester Stage Company, Gorton’s, Highwave Hair Design, Magical Beginnings (Essex and Hamilton), Manchester Town Hall, the Mass Mudders, Next Gen Cape Ann, Norm MacFarland and the Friends of Spruce Road, Nor’East Cleaners, Orlando & Associates, Rockport Harbormaster, Rockport Music and the Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport Public Library, Rockport Town Hall, Rose Baker Senior Center, Santander, Sea Meadow Designs, Seacoast Nursing and Rehab, Seniorcare RSVP Warm Friends, The Farm Restaurant, TOHP Burnham Library, Tuck’s Candy, Wheelhouse Coworking, and Woodmans of Essex.
We also want to thank all of our incredible volunteers, including Catherine Aiello, Sally Berkowitz, Steve Carvalho, Kate Christiansen, Meredith Cooney, Tony D’Anotnio, Lydia D’Antonio, Tina Donlan, Jeanine Finn, Rose Floyd, Linda Giamanco, Patricia Guimares, Kelley Hiland, Coreen Howland, Kelly Kwedor, Roger Lesch, Kim McKay, Carole McNair, Lauren McNair, Michelle McNall, Eileen Murphy, Stacey Odum, Jen Orlando and the Cape Ann Savings Bank Elves, Marie Pistauro, Deborah Ries, Val Roberts-Toller, Bonnie Scatterday, Henny Schwartz, Christine Sheehan, Rob Steck, Kat Steck, Gretchen Wood, and June Wulff.
Last but not least we want to say a special “thank you” to all of our donors and partners, including Andrew & Miriam Silva Preas, Jan & Bob Tyler Nelson, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, New England Biolabs, Senator Bruce Tarr, Tod Tanger & Northshore 104.9, Mike Skoog & Salvation Army, Heidi Jackson Dean, Chief Peter Silva, Cape Ann Law, Patricia D’Alelio, Mary Ann Johnson, Marcy Pregent & The Montagnino Family.
