‘Tis The Season of Local Giving

This year more than ever, we want to highlight the small businesses and charitable organizations in our community during the season of giving. These businesses employ our friends and neighbors, contribute to our local economy, and provide a vast array of goods and services. And in a year with overwhelming need and disruption, the charitable organizations in our community have stepped up efforts to provide food, housing, programs, and necessities to individuals and families, adapting their distribution and fundraising efforts to find new ways to continue meeting those needs safely.

The North Andover Merchants Association is working to put resources in one place for customers to find local restaurants and retail locations open for eating and shopping. Purchase gift cards, grab a bite to eat, browse for gift ideas, and shop until you drop while supporting your local economy.

All of our Butcher Boy Marketplace neighbors are open for business and want to make your holiday shopping celebration planning convenient. Among them:

• Art and Frame has great gifts for the creative people in your life – wall art, sculpture, or something more personal like custom framing a favorite photo or creating a shadow box for special mementos.
• Plan your holiday dinner with specialties from Lobster Tail Seafoods Restaurant and Fish Market or Orzo Trattoria. A gift card for hungry loved ones is also a great gift idea and can be used for take-out meals.
• Tran Tran Nails is the place to go to pamper yourself or a friend. Services include manicures, pedicures, massages, and Reiki.
• Don’t forget to give your pets some special treatment this holiday, too. Ciao Bow Wow Ciao Meow has everything you need for animal essentials and luxuries.
• Stop at Perfecto’s Caffe for a snack and hot beverage to-go or pickup some muffins and bagels for an easy holiday breakfast at home.

While you’re here, don’t forget to pick up your dry cleaning at Nature’s Cleaners, and take care of any banking business at the drive-up window at Pentucket Bank.

If you’re looking to support the charitable organizations that directly give back to those in our community, check out the Emmaus House Tree of Love campaign. They provide shelter and critical services to our most vulnerable neighbors in need, all year long. The Merrimack Valley YMCA offers several options to support its youth programs and the children who use them this holiday season, as well as a holiday toy drive. Monetary donations can be made directly to the Lawrence YMCA Food Pantry here, and non-perishable food or personal care items such as toothpaste and baby wipes can be dropped off on Wednesdays from 3-5pm at the Andover/North Andover YMCA.

The North Andover Police Department is hosting ‘Cram-a-Cruiser’ events to benefit the North Andover Food Bank on Saturdays in December. If you’d like to donate, please bring non-perishable food and personal care items to the Middle School. See dates, times, and details here.

What’s your favorite traditional winter activity that you can still enjoy despite current pandemic circumstances?  Let us know how you’re celebrating the holidays this year. Stay healthy!