Every holiday season team Windhill gets together and decides where to spread the cheer. We knew we couldn't go a year without decorating and donating a tree to the Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm that benefits the Ipswich Humane Group. I heard the funds raised at The Tree Jubilee cover their entire vet bill for the year! It's been fun watching the event grow over the years.
We've also been proud faithful supporters of the Ipswich Food Pantry for 13 years! The Open Door recently took over the Ipswich Food Pantry and we heard about their holiday meal basket program. We noticed the estimated 140 families who register to receive these "baskets" wouldn't receive any kind of dessert! And what's a holiday without one? So we got permission and went to work. Team Windhill shopped, lugged, organized, stuffed, wrapped, tied and stacked dessert for every family including Lindt chocolates and pound cake with a holiday card wrapped beautifully. Luke and Jen from The Open Door were excited to see us coming with all 140 dessert gifts and remarked on how beautiful they were (she made us take a picture with them!). We wanted to do more! They allowed us to be the first volunteer team to assemble at the Ipswich location and after about 30 minutes in action, they called us "the dream team"! 280 bags in total were packed with all the fixings for a holiday dinner, in just over an hour. But still, we wanted more! So we unloaded a very packed van into the pantry building where the shelves would be stocked with tons (and our backs will tell you) TONS of donated food including fresh vegetables, juices, cereals, canned goods, etc. My lessons for today? Great things are accomplished when a group of like-minded, caring people come together for a common goal. Also, there's more good than bad in our world, if you just look.
Delivery Day! Loading up all the donations and the dessert packages.
And the holiday meal bag assembly begins!
