By J.D. O’Gara

The Santa Foundation might have outgrown its location on Joy Street in Franklin, but the charitable organization will continue to spread joy to needy neighbors out of its new, larger, 1800 square-foot location at 275 Washington St., Ste. 6, in Franklin.

Dick Timmons, President, and Cindy Timmons, Treasurer, of the Santa Foundation, were happy to find a space that  allowed the nonprofit to get set up in time for their hectic holiday gift collection and distribution.

“They gave us a decent rate and they did it based on our time frame” says Dick Timmons, and the organization, which visited several different locations, doesn’t have to “worry about volunteers moving up and down steep stairs or going outside to workshop or storage pod., We wanted to get set up before September really start(ed) getting busy,” adds Cindy, noting, “We’ll be in good shape for that. It’s an efficient space.”

The space includes a large storage area with lots of vertical potential, as well as a large garage door, allowing easier pickups and drop-offs. The space, with a sizeable front office in addition to the storage area, will accommodate more volunteers, and according to Dick Timmons, “means we’ll be able to address more family needs.” Dick Timmons notes that Jan Prentice and Leah Thomas, longtime volunteers, have officially retired.

“We want to thank them, officially,” says Timmons, who is excited to welcome the next team of volunteers to help continue the mission. We always need more help, and there have been a lot of people who want to help, but it’s just been hard in that (small) space we previously occupied,” he says 

The Santa Foundation leadership team, which has recently expanded, will be able to alternate leaders to direct volunteers on weekends, thus alleviating the burnout that can come with a busy season of holiday needs. Timmons encourages community volunteer groups, such as Boy and Girl Scouts and other community-minded organizations, to come and volunteer in the new space.

“We’re looking forward to that actually; it’s fun for them, and it’s fun for us,” says Cindy.

In the new location, Dick Timmons, who assumed the role of leading the organization as President in 2013, will continue his role, and Cindy, recently retired, will be picking up more of the load in her role as treasurer. The Santa Foundation has added five new directors in the past year and a half who will help keep the organization going beyond 2024: Joe Formosa (Owner of iLoveKickboxing), Pam Formosa (Owner of Brain Fit Academy), Mike Polenski (Social Worker, Commonwealth of Massachusetts), and Manisone Bounsavath, Assistant Branch Manager of Middlesex Bank, and Karla Boudreau, a longtime volunteer for the Santa Foundation

The Santa Foundation was established 38 years ago to provide gifts for families in need at Christmas time, with the hope that, at least on Christmas Day, these families should feel like other families, receiving presents and maybe a little hope. Since 2004, the organization has operated on a year-round basis, helping needy families with housing, utility, fuel and other bills as emergency situations arise. The organization became a 501 (c-3) federally approved charitable organization in 2006.With help covering overhead costs by Greenwood industries inc. and the Sola Family, 100% of all contributions and net fundraising money helps local families in need.

Last month, on September 20th, the Santa Foundation held an annual fundraising event at La Cantina Winery’s new location. This month, starting October first, the Santa Foundation’s annual calendar sale fundraiser will take place. The $20 purchase of a calendar enters the buyer into a daily raffle each day of November. These calendars will be available on the Santa Foundation website at www.sfjoy.org, as well as at a few brick-and-mortar locations around Franklin.

As the holidays approach, the Santa Foundation seeks new volunteers for their growing list of needy families. Community groups, families, and those looking for volunteer hours are encouraged to reach out to volunteer, purchase a holiday gift for someone in need, or even sponsor a family struggling during the holiday season. As December approaches, the Santa Foundation, in cooperation with local sponsors, places several “giving trees” in various locations. Folks may take a tag that lists a gift wish from a family member in need from one of these trees, purchase the gift, and return it to the tree location. 

The Santa Foundation works with local food pantries, The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and local housing authorities, assisting well over 500 families each year. 

The Santa Foundation assisted 604 local families during 2023 and will be able to provide help fo more families as needed in 2024.