Old Neighborhood Foods has partnered with the YMCA of Metro North in Lynn to distribute Christmas meal boxes to local families in need. Owned by the Demakes family, the company was started over 100 years ago and is well known as a pillar of the Lynn community. They delivered 75 Christmas meal boxes to the Lynn Y on Thursday, December 19th to be distributed to local families.
Celebrating their 150th birthday in 2020, the Lynn YMCA continues to stand as an anchor of the greater Lynn area. With over 20,000 community members walking through their doors annually, the Lynn YMCA offers a range of programs and activities suitable for all ages and abilities, and proudly offers financial assistance so that nobody is ever turned away for inability to pay.
“We have been blown away by the generosity shown to the Lynn Y this holiday season,” said Amy Croce, Director of Branch Operations. “In the past few weeks we have been able to help so many of our families by giving out Thanksgiving turkey boxes donated by Alma Cares, dozens of kids’ winter coats donated by the Stoneham Y Academy, and now Christmas meal boxes donated by Old Neighborhood Foods. These things really make a big difference for a lot of folks and we’re so grateful for our partners and supporters.”
The seven YMCA of Metro North association branches are hosting a number of donation drives and charitable activities this holiday season. The Lynn Branch is serving as a drop off location for Toys for Tots, and will also host a toy drive to support its annual holiday party which is scheduled for Friday, December 20. Other locations in Melrose, Peabody, Saugus, and Stoneham will also be conducting a number of charitable drives to support children and families in need including toy drives, pajama drives, and giving trees.
“We are so thankful to the Demakes family and to everyone who was able to donate to our holiday charitable drives,” said Kathleen Walsh, President and CEO of the YMCA Metro North. “We are proud to partner with so many local organizations and companies like Old Neighborhood Foods, and we wouldn’t be able to reach nearly as many local people and families without their generosity.”