Published December 3, 2020
NORTH READING — The North Reading Masonic Lodge, in partnership with the Mighty Meredith Project (MMP), is collecting new toy donations for hospitalized children this weekend.
The Masons are helping MMP, a locally-grown nonprofit organization, reach its goal of donating $20,000 worth of toys and gift cards this holiday season to hospitalized children in Boston.
Here’s how you can help: Drop off a new, unwrapped toy or gift card on Saturday, Dec. 5 (1-4 p.m.), or Sunday, Dec. 6 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.), at the North Reading Masonic Lodge, 283 Park St., North Reading.
All donations collected during this drive will be delivered by the Masons to MMP for their distribution to hospitalized children.
Founded by North Reading High School student Meredith Casey when she was a seventh-grader, the Mighty Meredith Project continues to work to brighten the holidays for those children who find themselves in the Boston Children’s Hospital and Tufts Floating Hospital during the holiday season and beyond.
The need for toys, games, gift cards and activities are a constant, therefore, MMP works and distributes toys to both of these hospitals all year long.
The team at Mighty Meredith has listed the needs of recipients on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mightymeredith/
After receiving the donations, MMP volunteers will prepare gift packages for specific patients and wrap them appropriately. Of all the projects MMP does each year, the Fill the Box toy drive remains Meredith’s favorite because she recalls how much it meant to her to be surprised with such gifts during her hospitalizations related to her traumatic brain injury.
Food Pantry raffle
In addition to the toy drop off this weekend, the North Reading Masonic Temple Building Association will raffle a gift card worth $150 for dinner for up to three people at the Horseshoe Grille in North Reading. Proceeds from this raffle will benefit the North Reading Food Pantry.
