LYNN — Today, The Item and the Salvation Army begin fundraising for the 51st annual Item Santa drive. This year, more than ever, we need your help. There is a little more than a month to go until Christmas, and in that time, our goal is to reach $100,000 in donations.
We have achieved that goal in the past, but in the last few years, with Thanksgivings that fell late in November, we had less time to raise money. This year, with an early Thanksgiving, we have a chance. We implore you to donate to our cause and help us reach our goal so that thousands of Lynn and Lynn-area children in need will not be forgotten on Christmas Day.
The annual drive, with the help of major sponsors including GE Good Neighbors, Connell Limited Partnership and David Solimine Sr.’s Santa Island collection teams, nearly achieved that goal in 2016, and it is our fervent hope that the trend swings back upward. Still, the money we receive for this drive is a testament to the generosity of Lynn-area residents..
The Santa fund began with the Gamage Family, former owners of the newspaper, and has been continued by Essex Media Group upon its purchase of The Item in 2014.
It was also a favorite project of the late John S. Moran, The Item’s executive editor until his death in 1990. Under Moran, who received the Salvation Army’s Others Award for his efforts, the fund grew exponentially.
In the beginning, the fund raised $3,269 ($23,564 in 2017 dollars) to provide holiday meals to families in need, delivered by a handful of Item managers and volunteers. The drive grew after The Item teamed with The Salvation Army about 10 years into the program.
The highest total came in 2002, when donations reached $144,880. The fund stayed over $100,000 until 2013.
Every cent raised by the Item Santa fund goes directly to families in need for toys, shoes, clothes and food. While The Item spearheads fundraising and publicity for the drive, the Salvation Army runs the program and distributes age-appropriate children’s gifts to parents and guardians (two toys per child), during a weeklong distribution period in mid-December. This year distribution will be by appointment in mid-December. Again this year, each family approved for help will also receive a voucher for a large turkey from Stop & Shop.
“People have always shown tremendous generosity to the Item Santa Fund,” said Item publisher Edward M. “Ted” Grant. “We sincerely hope everyone who has the means to contribute whatever they can will do so.”
Although the cause has greatly benefited from several major donors in recent years, most of the money raised is from those who contribute small amounts in memory of a loved one or in lieu of trading gifts with family and friends.
Every donation is listed in The Item and every donor, regardless of the amount given, may have a message printed as well.
Meanwhile, collectors and collection teams are being scheduled for Santa Island on Broadway and Wyoma Square, which was founded 17 years ago by David Solimine Sr..
Several years ago Solimine expanded the Santa Island effort to sell Item Santa stockings in restaurants, pubs and other businesses. Green stockings are available for a $1 donation, red for a $5 donation, and the stocking with donor’s name is posted on the wall of the participating business through the season.
Since its inception, Santa Island, augmented the past few years by the stocking drive, has accounted for 20 percent of the total Item Santa Fund donations.
Solimine also notes that the Item Santa program has made lifelong givers out of many Greater Lynn residents.
Anyone interested in signing up to collect at Santa Island or any business willing to sell stockings should contact David Solimine Sr. or Joel Solimine at 781-595-1492.
Otherwise, to make a direct donation to Item Santa, clip the coupon in today’s Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, P. O. Box 951, Lynn, MA 01903.
To contribute online, use the form below or visit to www.itemsanta.org.
All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2018, along with a brief message from each donor, if they desire.
NOTE: The application period for aid from Item Santa has closed and The Item does not process applicants. All questions about the program and distribution of gifts and should be directed to Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.
