Santa Comes Early to Northeast Arc

Piera Groppo and Susan Duncan of Northeast Arc’s Residential Division happily accept gifts for 25 adults with disabilities living in Arc residences from John Holian of Mortgage Network in Danvers. The gifts were purchased by employees at Mortgage Network and at Fluid Industrial Associates, Inc. in Woburn, based on the men and women’s personal wish lists. The gifts were donated to a program Northeast Arc calls the Santa Fund, whereby each year the agency raises money to buy Christmas gifts for the people living in their close to 40 homes across 11 north shore communities. In some cases, the gifts provided by the Arc are the only ones a person will receive if his or her family members are no longer living or do not have the means to provide gifts.

“The generosity of the staff at Mortgage Network and Fluid Industrial Associates made a big difference this year, covering about a quarter of the people we support residentially,” said JoAnne Wahl, Director of Residential Services. “We can’t thank them enough and know the men and women will be so grateful. Many thanks to John Holian and Lisa Pratt, both of Mortgage Network, for organizing the effort and bringing Fluid Industrial on board. This will be a very merry Christmas for everyone.”

Northeast Arc supports 112 men and women living in homes in Beverly, Burlington, Danvers, Gloucester, Lynn, Magnolia, Middleton, Peabody, Salem, Swampscott and Topsfield.