3 Things You Need to Know Today, Dec. 22

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 22. Here are three things you need to know today.

1. Harvest on Vine needs support — today

This year Harvest on Vine food pantry with turkeys and all the fixings for a proper Thanksgiving dinner. When they distributed the food to a crowd of local families, it was an overwhelming display of the need in Charlestown as well as the resources and sense of sharing. Harvest on Vine is now organizing to make the same kind of donation to families for Christmas. Hundreds of families are already signed up to receive Christmas hams and any additional items (veggies or dinner rolls) that food pantry organizers can afford to add to each basket. But Harvest on Vine needs help from the community to cover this expense. Cash (or check) donations can be delivered directly at the Harvest on Vine office in the basement of the rectory on at 49 Vine St. You can mail donations too: 46 Winthrop St., Charlestown MA 02129. You might also catch volunteers tabling outside of Johnnie's. You can donate there, too.

2. Help a Girl Scout help an animal out

This time of year it's important to remember animals in need, too. The Charlestown Girl Scout Troop is holding its annual holiday party tonight at the Boys & Girls Club, but the girls are also w the MSPCA/Angell Animal Shelter. They'll be making blankets and animal toys. If you want to donate any dog or cat friendly items (toys, towels, blankets), the Girl Scouts will bring them to the shelter. You can drop items off at the between 5 and 7:30 p.m. tonight.

3. While we're on the topic of helping…

Yesterday we published a story on this holiday season. Townie Santa made the list, and cash donations will certainly go a long way to helping organizers deliver hot meals to shut-ins and elderly people in Charlestown on Christmas Day. But Townie Santa organizers could also use some volunteers to help make the deliveries and prep the meals. Take a look at this story published in the Patriot Bridge for more info on how to get involved.

For more information on what's happening around the neighborhood, take a look at our events calendar.