Donations Needed For Arlington’s Holiday Help Program

ARLINGTON, MA — Donations are needed for Arlington’s annual Holiday Help Program, Superintendent Elizabeth C. Homan said in the district’s November newsletter.

The Holiday Help Program, run by Arlington Health and Human Services, is a volunteer-managed project that provides direct support and gifts to Arlington youth during the December holiday season.

Through donations from local businesses, civic groups, schools, faith-based institutions, and other community members, Holiday Help brightens the lives of hundreds of Arlington children each year while helping to relieve some of the financial stress families face during the holidays.

Families are referred for support by various service providers in Arlington and the program is open to all youth in need regardless of religious belief.

Prior to 2020, the program provided gifts that were purchased by givers, organized by volunteers, and distributed to receiving families. Over the past two years, however, the program has made the shift to distributing gift cards to families, allowing them the opportunity to choose and purchase items directly for their children.

"For nearly 40 years, Holiday Help has assisted Arlington families with income insecurity purchase gifts for their children around the holidays,” Homan wrote. "This joyful offering would not be possible without the generous support of our community givers.”

Donations to Holiday Help may be made through November 16. To make a tax-deductible online donation, visit www.ahhscc.org. For more information, or to organize a gift card drive, email [email protected].