PEABODY — A New Year’s Day fundraiser is being held at School Street Foods in Lynnfield to raise funds for local business owner Chrissy Emerson to support her battle with cancer with 10% of all sales for the day being donated to her.
Emerson runs Revel Balloon Company, a Peabody-based business that specializes in customized balloons and backdrops. When she was diagnosed with cancer, Gina Goodwin, owner of School Street Foods decided to help out with the financial burden.
Goodwin says she has used Emerson’s services for her children’s birthday parties as well as the restaurant’s grand opening last month, the same week she learned of her diagnosis.
“I know Chrissy’s a super humble person and doesn’t want anyone to do anything for her,” said Goodwin. “She’s a mom of four. She needs it, she deserves, and as a community, there’s no reason why we can’t help her.”
School Street Foods will also be offering a raffle with a $5 entry fee to win a $100 gift certificate. All proceeds from the raffle will go straight to a fund dedicated to helping Emerson and her family pay for the cancer treatment.
“It definitely doesn’t make the physical pain better, but maybe it will put a smile on her face,” said Goodwin. “I know how expensive cancer is, we just went through it as a family with my husband.”
Taking her own experience of having the community rally around her family during a battle with the disease, Goodwin is taking the opportunity as a small business owner to allow for people IN Peabody and beyond to gather for a good cause.
She is also no stranger to charity, as her nonprofit, Gina’s Giving Back, has been operating for over a decade to support those in need. Just this holiday season, GGB distributed 21,000 holiday meals and is in the process of a toy drive that will give out 5,000 gifts.
Separating this New Year’s Day fundraiser is that it’s non-committal, families can stop in for a bite and help aid in Emerson’s fight without having to give up too much of their time or worrying about finding child care.
“I think small businesses love to help, I think people in the community love to help,” said Goodwin. “Peabody will always be my city, and I think everyone wants to step in and do what they can.”
