Chelmsford High School GIVE Club members write messages inside greeting cards that will be delivered to the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.
by Jen Oemig
CHELMSFORD –In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, the Chelmsford High School GIVE Club organized a donation drive to collect essential items in order to make care packages for the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.
The shelter, which is located in Cambridge, is run entirely by students at Harvard University; when those students go home for holidays and breaks, other volunteers step in to oversee the operations.
This Friday, Nov. 29, GIVE Club officers, along with their advisor Stina Kaverud, a Harvard University alum, will be spending time volunteering at the shelter.
“My first time volunteering there was when I was a college freshman,” Kaverud said, adding that she volunteered there right up through her years in graduate school. “Every year since then, I’ve brought students to volunteer at the shelter.”
This year, Kaverud thought it would be nice to provide care packages, as well.
Those care packages, which GIVE Club members assembled on Wednesday, Nov. 20, include things like hand warmers, gloves, socks, tissues, various toiletries and lip balm, as well as candy and snacks.
GIVE Club president Samantha Blanco, a senior, said the care packages will be delivered along with greeting cards that include messages from GIVE Club members.
“I think the most important, at least the thing that I think is special, is the cards, and writing special messages, especially for people who may feel lonely,” she said. “Writing the cards will let them know they’re not alone, and even if they don’t know us, that others are thinking about them.”
Blanco said she was extremely impressed by the turnout for the care package assembly and seeing so many of her peers wanting to lend a helping hand.
“Having this many people show up and having this many items donated is amazing,” she said.
Chelmsford High School GIVE Club members assemble care packages during their meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
GIVE Club secretary Charlotte Cassely, a senior, said she feels very fortunate to be a member of the GIVE Club and to have this opportunity.
“I’m glad we’re able to go to the shelter and see where the care packages are going, as opposed to just making them and sending them,” she said. “And I think it’s great that so many people donated all of this stuff. Everyone wanted to contribute even if they can’t go to the shelter.”
With the holidays approaching, Cassely said she’s glad the GIVE Club can help ensure those less fortunate have what they need.
“It’s nice to see people getting help, especially during these times when others are spending time with their families,” she said.
