John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC

PR for Police, Fire, Schools and Municipal Government

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For immediate release
Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 10, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Firefighters Work with Wellspring House to Help Children in Need During the Holidays

The Gloucester Fire Department will be raising money for the Wellspring House’s holiday store through a Fill the Boot campaign. Back row, left to right: Katie Misuraca and Lisa Robinson. Front row, left to right: Firefighter Dave Barrett, Firefighter Andrew Lyons, Firefighter Dave Elwell, Chief Eric Smith, Wellspring Director Melissa Dimond, Firefighter Dean DeCoste, Firefighter Darrel Wonson and Mary Hardwick. (Courtesy Photo Gloucester Fire Department)

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith announces that the Gloucester Fire Department is holding a Fill the Boot campaign this month to benefit the Wellspring House’s holiday store.

A nonprofit organization located in Gloucester, Wellspring House offers temporary shelter for families in need and works with residents on homelessness prevention, emergency shelter placement and securing long-term housing.

Every year, Wellspring sponsors a donor-driven holiday store to help low-income families provide gifts for their children. This year, the holiday store will be held Saturday, Dec. 9 and Sunday, Dec. 10.

This is the fifth year in a row that the Gloucester Fire Department has partnered with Wellspring to help bring holiday cheer to families throughout the area. Firefighters will be outside Stop and Shop, 6 Thatcher Road, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26 collecting donations to fill their boots with funds to purchase toys for children in need.

“With the money we raise we’ll be able to go on a shopping spree and purchase the toys the Wellspring House is most in need of to fill their toy store,” said event organizer Firefighter Dean Decoste. “We’re honored to be able to assist in whatever way we can, especially if it means helping local families have happy holidays.”

The Gloucester Fire Department has also set up a gofundme page for those who wish to donate to the cause, or residents can drop unwrapped toys off at the Gloucester Fire Department’s Headquarters, 8 School St.

Through donations, Wellspring House’s holiday store allows Cape Ann families in need to purchase gifts for their children at a nominal expense: $2 buys three toys and one book per child.

Last holiday season, Wellspring’s holiday store served 804 children from 344 homeless and low-income families, with more than 1,500 toys in total going to local children.

For more information on Wellspring’s holiday store, contact Katie Misuraca at [email protected] or 978-281-3558 ext. 303.

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