More Of Woburn's Favorite Charities: Social Capital Inc, Others

WOBURN, MA — In a typical year, the holiday season is the time when many nonprofit organizations have to turn away volunteers.

But 2020 is not a typical year, and the coronavirus pandemic has left many local charities with fewer donations and volunteers. Earlier this week, Fidelity Charitable released a study showing that two-in-three volunteers had decreased or stopped contributing time to nonprofit organizations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.

Patch asked Woburn neighbors what your favorite charities are, as part of an effort to increase awareness of the nonprofits. We already published one roundup of responses, with residents naming the Joey Domenici Foundation, The Joseph Briere Foundation, Lasagna Love and the Courtney Quinno (Lynch) Scholarship & Courtney Cares.

Responses kept coming in — and we'd welcome more. Here's a second collection:

Friends of Family Services

Woburn resident Gina recommended this organization.

"Family services supports military families from all branches stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base," she wrote. "Specifically they help families adjust to frequent relocations and family separations through monthly events for the deployed and for extended tours of duty members and their families.

"Also, they provide welcome home bags for members returning from deployment and Layettes for military newborns. These services are more important now than ever before because of the pandemic that is separating children from their parents for longer periods of time."

Learn more about Friends of Family Services

Jamie's Joy

"Jamie's Joy donates winter clothes and toys to needy children," an anonymous neighbor wrote.

Social Capital, Inc.

"Helps to build the social capital in each community that it serves," wrote Dave Kerrigan. He listed some examples: "Americorp volunteers, shoveling snow for seniors, community events to help neighbors get to know one another."

Learn more about Social Capital, Inc.

Giving Tree/Spirit of Christmas

"In the past, people pick an ornament from the giving tree," an anonymous resident wrote about this program at St. Charles Parish. "The ornament contains Christmas wishes from needy families. The person purchases the requests. Today, with covid, they have resorted to gift cards only."

Learn more about St. Charles Borromeo Parish

We're still collecting responses and publishing profiles of readers' favorite local charities throughout the holiday season.

If you have a favorite local charity, fill out the form below, so we can let our readers know about the work it does, as well as its current goals and needs: