Neighbor News
Marblehead School Of Ballet Collect Over 70 Coats for Needy
Marblehead School of Ballet and the North Shore Civic Ballet collected winter coats to help people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Marblehead School of Ballet's (MSB) annual Community Appreciation Week, the studio and the North Shore Civic Ballet's (NSCB) drive collected over 70 winter coats for people of all ages. The drive was extended throughout December to collect additional outerwear to help neighbors suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the unemployment rate growing in Massachusetts and more families facing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping neighbors in need to get through the cold winter was a priority. "During this difficult time of isolation, people rallied and brought winter coats to our collection drive. We thank the public for finding a way to help our neighbors suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Paula K. Shiff, Director, Marblehead School of Ballet.
The studio required all donors to follow COVID-19 hygiene protocols. Donors wore masks, social distanced and delivered and unloaded the coats from their vehicles outside the studio.
Judy Moynihan, a member of the board of directors of the North Shore Civic Ballet, delivered the collected coats to Anton's Cleaners 46th Annual Coats for Kids drive. "It felt so good to deliver all of those donated coats to a cleaner, which would clean and distribute them to people who could use and enjoy them," said Moynihan.
Anton’s Cleaners plans to clean the coats free-of-charge. The cleaned garments will be distributed through the Coats for Kids Partners Distribution Network to over 90 nonprofit organizations, social service agencies, schools, and religious groups in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.