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“It’s the best thing we’ve done,” says company president John Deady, 48, of Weymouth.
The country may be in hard times, but at local businesses, generosity is recession-proof.
The Joyal Capital Management Foundation Inc. in Plymouth gave 100 children a $100 gift card to spend at Dick’s Sporting Goods last Saturday. Owner Gary Joyal of Plymouth organized the buying party, and the children came with parents or other adults to shop at the store. They were selected after being nominated by teachers, families, and youth groups.
Other companies, including Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, Sullivan Tire, Dunkin Donuts and Coldwell Banker are running toy and food drives. To find out how to contribute click here.
This year, City Lights founder Maryanne Cataldo, 50, of West Roxbury decided to skip the traditional party and hold the “support the troops” drive instead. One employee had just returned from a year’s deployment in Afghanistan and another was about to go Iraq.
Cataldo arranged to show support for the troops by sending a wide range of personal hygiene items and clothing. Large bins were placed on the company’s front lawn and other drop spots, inviting donations. Employees raised money to purchase gifts.
The community responded. The bins filled up with all sorts of personal hygiene items, soaps, underwear, shirts, T shirts and toothpaste.
The employees also decided to collect toys for the troops’ families at Westover Air Force Base.
On Saturday, adults and children formed assembly lines under the tent, packing the boxes. A military truck came from the Westover base to collect the toys.
The employees give high marks to the switch. “The party is just for one night of enjoyment, while this has a longer lasting effect, for the soldiers and their families,” said City Lights electrician Michael Smart, who is also city councilor in Weymouth. “Everybody was easily willing to give up the party.”
Three days later, City Lights receptionist Lauren Possick, 33, of Foxboro said employees were still talking about the party, “It was an amazing moment for all of us, because it really captured the true essence of the holiday spirit,” Possick said. “I'm very grateful to have been a part of it. The generosity from the community was overwhelming.”
John Deady, president of City Lights, who describes himself as “somewhat gruff, not touchy feely” called the event “the proudest day of my 13 years at City Light. And we’ve done some big jobs that I’ve been very proud of, including the electrical work at Gillette Stadium and hurricane relief.”
Sue Scheible may be reached at sscheible@ledger.com.