SWAMPSCOTT — The town’s Housing Authority and the Police Department partnered up to bring some holiday cheer to the children and elderly living in the Housing Authority’s properties, with a Christmas party on Monday afternoon.
“This is what people caring for people is about,” said Irma Chez, executive director of SHA. “No one should feel lonely for the holidays.”
This first Christmas party at SHA featured a Santa Claus, presents and refreshments.
SHA has more than 30 children, ages 2 to 14, living at their family site, located at Cherry Court and Cherry Street, said Chez. The SHA Resident Service Coordinator Jousette Nohava put together games, wrapped presents with the residents’ help and organized food for the party.
“We couldn’t have afforded it,” said Richard Callahan, chair of the SHA. “Swampscott Police Department, especially Officer Caruso, have been extremely helpful in organizing this and providing gifts for the children.”
All the presents are age appropriate, said Callahan. SHA and the police department previously collaborated on the Halloween party for the children this fall, and Callahan said that they were so happy and giddy, one might have thought it was Christmas then.
“It was truly an amazing thing to watch,” said Callahan, explaining that this was why SHA wanted to throw another party.
All residents of SHA were invited to attend the party.
“Even seniors like to see kids happy,” said Callahan, adding that it is better for them to come to see other families rather than sit alone in their apartments.
To organize both the Halloween and Christmas parties, Chez reached out to Officer Sal Caruso, who had been a liaison between the SHA and the police department for 22 years.
“She was so enthusiastic about making sure that these people felt like part of our community,” said Caruso. “She reignited my fire to jump in and try to help.”
Caruso helped to pick up and deliver toys to SHA from volunteers in the Swampscott Public Schools and people from the town who dropped them off at the police station. Toys for Local Children (TLC) booked a Santa for the party.
Caruso said they were able to collect two to three presents for every child, and there was even a surplus of toys that can now be used for birthdays or other special occasions. He also noted that since Chez and Nohava joined SHA, the calls to the Swampscott Police Department for service from the Housing Authority residents went down.
“Everybody is getting along,” said Caruso. “A lot of positive things are coming out of it.”
“SHA will continue to build a sense of community and unite our elderly residents with our families,” Chez said.
Caruso would like to thank the following high-school students who helped to collect toys for Christmas this year: Jennifer Bartram, Nicolette Fraiser, Lily and Grace Reiter, Alex Hayes, Brendan Norton, Kara Faia, Miranda Moscoso, Addie Wood, Vienna Nichols, Maggie McGinley, Gabby and Drew Hause, Angelina Calsimitto, Jackson Bartram, Matt Bailey and Veronika Koren.
