Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola
250 Pawtucket Blvd.,
Tyngsborough, MA 01879
For Immediate Release
Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019
Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: kelsey@jgpr.net
Greater Lowell Tech Community Donates Gifts for 100 Children in Need
LOWELL — The Greater Lowell Tech community came together to donate and wrap gifts for 100 homeless children this holiday season through the school’s annual Giving Tree Project.
Hundreds of gifts were picked up and delivered to area families today as a result of the initiative.
Each year, Greater Lowell Tech partners with Community Teamwork, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps people and families gain economic independence, to donate toys, clothing and other gifts to local children in need for the holidays. Faculty, staff and students had the option to choose a tag from the “tree,” which was displayed in the Superintendent’s Office earlier this school year. Several teachers collaborated with their students in their technical programs to donate gifts.
Each tag included the age and gender of a child, his or her clothing and shoe size and general interests that child has, such as robots, sports, princesses and unicorns. From there, those participating in the Giving Tree Project were able to shop for those children based on their size, needs and interests.
Gifts were dropped off in Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola’s office by Wednesday, Dec. 11.
“In order to be engaged, active citizens, it is important for students to recognize and understand the value and impact that giving to those in need and volunteering their time and effort can have,” Superintendent Mastrocola said. “The annual Giving Tree Project is a wonderful way for us to come together as a school community and demonstrate that message, and it’s also a great way to support the incredible ongoing work of Community Teamwork, Inc.”
Again this year, Greater Lowell Tech’s Superintendent’s Office Secretaries Colette Edmonds and Cheryl Gosselin cataloged and assembled all of the gift bags for each child listed on the Giving Tree. Edmonds and Gosselin also worked with Community Teamwork, Inc. Program Manager Kelly Poindexter to arrange for pickup and delivery of the gifts to families in need.
Students from the school’s Programming and Web Development program also helped Community Teamwork, Inc. Property Services Manager Jessica McCarthy carry the packages to a vehicle for delivery today, Wednesday, Dec. 18.
“It’s so great working with Greater Lowell Tech every year.” said McCarthy. “They help us with so many homeless children. We are so grateful and can’t thank them enough.”
Greater Lowell Tech faculty and staff additionally organized opportunities for giving and volunteering to support students in need at the school this holiday season. Each year, staff and faculty donate food including turkeys, stuffing, gravy, carrots, onions, squash, apples, oranges, cranberry sauce, veggies, cake and dessert mix, frosting, bread, soda and juice to be arranged in baskets for students in need on Thanksgiving. The Manolis Family Foundation has donated baskets to support this effort for more than a decade. This year, the school was able to deliver 77 baskets to the families of students in need.
Greater Lowell Tech faculty and staff also come together each year to donate gift cards to students in need in December. The Greater Lowell Tech Parent Organization also generously donates toward this initiative each year.
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