Homeless For The Holidays Gearing Up For 21st Year
Homeless for the Holidays will be kicking off its 21st year on Wednesday, December 7, and no one is more excited about it than its founder, Craig Poirier.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Mr. Poirier, a retired Bourne firefighter. “Everybody is really excited this year.”
The event’s 21st anniversary is gearing up to be a big one, featuring multiple live bands on both Friday and Saturday nights, December 9 and 10, pizza trucks, and Kids Day on Saturday. They are hoping for good weather this year, Mr. Poirier said, so that families can enjoy Kids Day and participate in activities like face painting, DIY Christmas decorations and using the videogame truck, courtesy of Amazin’ Gamin’.
The Bourne Fire and Police departments, as well as firefighters from Joint Base Cape Cod, will be at Bay Motor Inn for the event. Bourne Police Chief Brandon M. Esip has been a major contributor in planning this year’s event, Mr. Poirier said, and has helped things proceed smoothly.
Mr. Poirier estimated that more than a dozen departments are participating in this year’s event at locations all over Cape Cod. The event has even taken hold out in West Springfield, with the local fire department there kicking off its own Homeless for the Holidays event on December 8.
Bourne’s event will take place from December 7 to 11 at the Bay Motor Inn at 223 Main Street in Buzzards Bay. New, unwrapped toys, nonperishable food items, and monetary donations are welcomed.
All proceeds collected go back into the community, with toys going to the community center and then directly to families, food items going to the Bourne Food Pantry, and money being divvied up and donated to various causes and organizations in town.
“It’s a great thing,” Mr. Poirier said. “We love doing it. My family’s very involved in it, and we have a solid core of volunteers and we just go out there and get it done. We’re excited to get it going.”