The Merrie Christmas Fair is a very special event in the Church year, bringing together members and friends to share talents, ideas, hard work and fun.

It is also a major fundraising effort, an important part of the Church’s operating budget.

There are many ways to take part. Consider signing up to help at a table or attending one of the many craft workshops (watch the Bulletin for details).

Scour your attic, basement and closets for Attic Treasures. Bake some cookies or a pie. And think of an item or service you might donate to the Silent Auction.

As part of the Merrie Christmas Fair festivities onCradles to Crayons 

is a Massachusetts charitable organization that provides

basic essentials to low-income and homeless children age

0-13 and the

Acton charitable organization that provides furniture,

bedding, and kitchen goods to needy families throughout

Massachusetts.

People who would like to donate items to either

organization may bring their items to the church on the

day of the fair where they will be loaded onto vehicles and

delivered to these organizations. In addition, our youth

and a few adults with vehicles will pick-up items from

homes in the surrounding communities for a donation of

$10 or more to either organization.

Cradles to Crayons will stage a container on our church

grounds to be loaded by our youth with donations to this

organization.  Desirable donations for this organization are : clothing (size 0-

20), coats, boots, shoes, gloves, hats, children’s books,

puzzles, games, toys, baby care equipment (strollers,

diaper bags, etc.)   All gently used items should be

serviceable and complete such that a child receiving

the item would feel valued.   Cradles to Crayons also

appreciates new item donations such

batteries, art supplies (markers, crayons, paper),

underwear, socks, laundry detergent, and hygiene supplies

(toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.). For more

information on this organization, please visit their web site

at www.cradlestocrayons.org .

The Household Goods Recycling Ministry is looking for

furniture, linens, kitchen ware, and basic goods needed to

outfit an apartment. A full list of desirable donations can

be found on their web site at www.hgrm.org .

Any unsold items from the Attic Treasures concession

suitable for either of these organizations will also be

donated to these organizations. Please take some time this

Fall to identify a few donations to these needy and

worthwhile organizations.

You can donate to these two organizations by bringing donations to the church on the day of the Fair (November 21, 2009 from 9:00-2:00 PM).  Gently used clothing items should be in a plastic bag marked with sizes of the clothing to aid in sorting.  See the article below for a complete list of desirable items from both organizations.  Winter clothing and outer wear to include boots and mittens and hats are especially important at this time.

If you would like to schedule a pick-up at your house for larger items or larger volume of donations, please call Dena Caradimitropoulo at 978-266-1880 to pick a suitable time for pick-up.  A minimum suggested donation of $10 to HGRM or Cradles to Crayons is requested for the pick-up service.