Thank you Medfield community!!

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Medfield community year round, but especially at Christmas!  The programs at Medfield Youth Outreach that help residents connect to resources continue to grow with the love and care that neighbors show neighbors in this special community.

We were blessed to have Nicki Gustafson and Jeanne McKenzie once again coordinate the Christmas Angel’s program for Medfield residents.  With their help 38 Medfield families were sponsored for Christmas this year.  We also had a family privately donate to two of our families. Thank you to all of those who sponsored a family and gave so much of their time to spread holiday joy!

We were likewise grateful to have Needham Bank return as the host of the Angel Tree program.  The giving through the Angel Tree allows Medfield youth to receive a want and a need each year for Christmas. The branch manger Stephen Walls was an enthusiastic supporter of this year’s program as well as the entire bank staff.  Without their concern and care for the tree and the needs posted, we know the program would not have been a success.  Through this community effort 26 families had a much brighter holiday.

This year, there was also a wonderful group of ladies who hosted a holiday coffee and shopped for gift cards and presents for our youth. These ladies have been generously hosting this coffee for 7 years and continue to do so much for our children during the holidays. It is always amazing to see what they can accomplish and how much joy it brings to families!

The knitting ladies of St. Edwards Church sent us a bag overflowing with hats, mittens, and scarves for children. They are beautiful items made with love and prayer and will keep the young ones warm this winter.

Thank you to Colleen Sullivan for alerting the Medfield Patch about the Angel Tree project, keeping residents informed on when the program kicked off, and updating us all on the progress. We thank the Medfield Patch and the Medfield Neighbor Brigade/Medfield Angels for their many posts to connect residents to this opportunity to give.

To all who have participated in these or other local giving programs this year:  This season has been particularly tough on many families we serve.  We hear the stories of so many whose burdens are heavy throughout the year.  Your giving has made an incredible difference in the lives of the families you have served in this special way. 

Whether the gifts come from special sponsorships or the Angel Tree or other toy drives and gatherings, we find that the recipients are always overwhelmed with the love and care of each thing selected.  Experiencing with a parent the special joy of picking up their packages is such a wonderful encounter.  Each parent has had a special comment about how grateful they are for the generosity and care put into the shopping for their children.  There are often tears as folks relay how good it feels to know they will have something for their children to open at Christmas.

Thank you for thinking about your neighbors this year and acting on those thoughts in such a truly caring way.  When times are tough, just to know that someone out there cares…and “sees” you, can mean all the difference to someone who is hurting.

Likewise we thank those who allowed others to give to them this season.  Through doing so you allowed those seeking to show love the opportunity.  That is an amazing gift to give in itself!

We wish you all many blessings this holiday season.  As you celebrate your own holidays, please know that you have likewise given others an additional reason to be glad this holiday season.

All the very best,

Dawn and Liz

Medfield Youth Outreach