Holiday Giving

Community Giving Tree in Topsfield MA

Get involved, donate and help empower local children and families.

Make a donation this season to one or more of the agencies listed here.

Girls Inc. of Lynn

Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area/a Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center Affiliate

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

Lifebridge

Salem YMCA

Tri-Town Council

YWCA of Greater Lawrence

Women's Fund of Essex County

Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

Family Services of the Merrimack Valley

Plummer Home for Boys - a group home in Salem for at risk boys ages 13-18. The boys live at the home and attend school in local communities. the goal of the Plummer Home is to connect the boys with a permanent family. Many of the boys have been in and out of foster homes and have no where else to go. the home is committed to serving these boys who have enormous emotional and financial challenges.

Jewish Family and Children's Service Center for Family Assistance ensures that individuals and families experiencing financial difficulty receive services and have access to resources needed to meet basic needs, improve their quality of life, and work toward greater self-sufficiency. JF&CS is conducting a Holiday Gift Card Drive this year. Their goal is to give $25 gift cards to the parents of more than 4300 children  (ages 0-18) in the 100 different communities who would otherwise not receive a holiday gift.

All gifts are to be in the form of gift cards, in $25 increments to any of the following stores: Target, Toys R Us, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or Best Buy.

On Point is a collaboration between Plummer Home, Salem Police and the Essex County Juvenile Court and is located in Salem's lowest income neighborhood. On Point works with at risk teenagers to provide therapeutic, recreational and educational activities, including a community service element which impacts the entire Salem community.

Massachusetts Department of Children and Families is a  state agency whose main responsibility is protecting kids from child abuse. Most of the children the agency works with are in foster care.

Beverly Bootstraps offers immediate and long-term assistance with food, housing stability, heat, and adult and youth education for residents of Beverly and Manchester by the Sea.  Beverly Bootstraps helps families connect to necessary resources to improve the quality of their lives.

Autism Support Center of Northeast ARC is a center to assist parents with information and support about autism spectrum disorders. The center provides information, referral, support groups, and training to parents affected by autism.

Pathways for Children offers parents opportunities and support as they identify and meet their own goals, nurture their children in the context of their family and culture, and advocate for communities that support children and families of all cultures. Since 1967, Pathways for Children has been a leader in early education and care programs on local, state, and national levels. Gifts will be given to children

of the North Shore, most of which are homeless.

North Shore Community Action Program serves more than 12,000 people each year across the North shore with innovative social services that help low-income families and individuals find the stability they need to rise out of poverty. NSCAP serves children and families in Salem, Peabody, Beverly, and Danvers as well as 25 cities and towns on the North Shore.

Wellspring House donations will be put to use helping people with their basic needs of food and shelter, and education and job training to empower their journey toward economic self-sufficiency. Wellspring House empowers individuals and families to live more secure lives through basic needs assistance, education and job training.

Community Giving Tree provides low income families in northeastern Massachusetts with basic necessities such as clothing, school supplies, baby equipment, and personal care items. Your donations keep babies safe, make children feel valued, and help families achieve self-sufficiency.

The Open Door helps to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. Using practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.

Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle

Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Saturday, September 27

The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

Learn about the history of Salem Massachusetts through this unique public art installation self-guided tour!
Discover Salem’s Golden Age of Sail as you uncover clues! Celebrate America’s Maritime History! The Ladies of Salem will have you looking up at whimsical and beautifully designed figureheads gracing lampposts downtown. “What is a figurehead ?” you may ask? It’s a large carved wooden decorative...
8:00 am to 10:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Haverhill Farmers' Market

Haverhill Farmers Market, North Shore Farmers Market, Cape Ann Farmers Marke
The vibrant, colorful Haverhill Farmers Market is where local farmers and food producers meet to sell directly to the community. Established in 1978, the Haverhill Farmers Market mission is to provide access to farm-fresh products and promote local agriculture, as well as serve as a social...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Andover Farmers' Market

Find Fresh Local Produce at the Andover Massachusetts Farmers Market North of Boston
The Andover Farmers Market is a vibrant hub connecting local farmers, artisans and the community through the joy of local food. Whether you come for carrots or conversation, it is a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Rockport Farmers' Market

The Rockport Farmers' Market runs every Saturday at Rockport Music in Downtown Rockport!
The Rockport Farmers Market offers a variety of locally-grown produce, hand-crafted products, baked goods, and live music. It provides a community space to support local farmers and artisans.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Carriagetown Car Show

Hundred of Classic Cars will be at the Carriagetown Car Show in downtown Amesbury Massachusetts, a Trails and Sails Event
One of the premier car shows of the summer season, be sure to attend the Carriagetown Car Show where all types of vehicles are parked on the closed streets of downtown Amesbury. Come see antiques, hot rods, custom cars, motorcycles and trucks of all makes and models.
9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Maritime Adventure Days

Maritime Adventure Free Days at Custom House Maritime Museum Newburyport Massachusetts
Maritime Adventure Free Days offers families and kids a unique opportunity to explore maritime history through interactive activities, guided tours, and hands-on workshops. A day of fun and discovery at the Custom House Maritime Museum for the family.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm