Community Resources - Marblehead Current

12 Dec

Locals lend a hand during the holidays

Grey CollinsCommunity Resources, Community Service, Top Stories, Volunteerism

On Sunday morning, while most Marbleheaders were on the Christmas walk and buying gifts for friends and family, others were out buying gifts for complete strangers and delivering them to SPUR’s offices, where young volunteers feverishly wrapped up the gifts for people in need around the Northshore. Their tireless efforts concluded a months-long process to support children and families in need around Lynn, Salem, Swampscott, and Marblehead. The annual SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive supports over 600 local children in need, and adults experiencing homelessness, with…

24 Nov

Holiday magic hits Marblehead: Cuzner/Chamber crew decks the town

Leigh BlanderBusiness, Community Resources, Top Stories

It's beginning to look a lot like ... the holidays! Dean Cuzner's (WHIP) Landscaping volunteered a team to hang dozens of wreaths and garlands around town today, in partnership with the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce. Cuzner Landscaping has been involved for the last several years. You can see the decorations along Atlantic Avenue, and Pleasant and Washington streets. Here's a photo gallery from Monday morning... Bonnie Buckley with the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce with volunteers from Cuzner (WHIP) Landscaping hang garlands and wreaths around town…

17 Nov

Students honor Ruby Bridges: Marblehead’s news in brief

Saoirse StallingsCommunity Resources, Education, Local News, News in brief, Top Stories, Volunteerism

The Current welcomes submissions (150–200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org. On Thursday, Nov. 13, students at the Marblehead Community Charter Public Schools gave a presentation about Ruby Bridges and walked in her honor. COURTESY PHOTO / MCCPS Walk for Ruby BridgesOn Thursday, Nov. 13, the Marblehead Community Charter Public School wellness team gave a presentation about Ruby Bridges, speaking about her heroic and difficult experience starting at a white school after segregation was abolished on Nov. 14, 1960. The next day,…

05 Nov

Merry Mixers launch new Patient in Need Fund to support local families

Saoirse StallingsCommunity Resources, Health, Local News

2025-2026 Merry Mixers BoardTop: Meaghan Walsh, Leigh Dixon, Milicent Armstrong Gault, Ali DeFisisco, Caroline Clark,Emily Katzman, Katie Leake, Carolyn PyburnMiddle: Jess Ingemi, Beth Melander, Amanda Jaffe, Amy Leamon, Catherine Malone, BariLiebermanBottom: Cailey McDonough, Ashley Wheeler, Stacey Kraft, Erin Spinucci COURTESY PHOTO / ASHLEY WHEELER For more than seven decades, the Merry Mixers have been raising funds to improve pediatric care at Mass General Brigham’s Salem Hospital. Now, the volunteer-driven nonprofit is expanding its impact with the creation of the Merry Mixers Pediatric Patient in Need…

05 Nov

EDITORIAL: Make a healthy choice

The Current Editorial BoardCommunity Resources, Current Editorials

Have you taken the Creating a Healthier Marblehead survey yet? If not, time is running out. The window to respond to the survey will close in about 10 days, Board of Health Chairman Dr. Thomas Massaro reports. Here’s why we think you should find time within that span to answer the series of questions. First, while it has become fashionable to complain that elected officials are out of touch and unresponsive to their constituents, this stands as a counterexample. Our Board of Health is not…

04 Nov

Local volunteers join food rescue efforts

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Food, Top Stories

As food prices surge and federal benefits appear in jeopardy during the government shutdown, volunteers around Marblehead are working nearly every day with food rescue programs to ensure that no groceries or meals go to waste. On Oct. 28, Mimi Hollister and Richard Thibedeau picked up 100 pounds of produce and bread — past their prime but still healthy and nutritious — from Crosby’s Marketplace in Marblehead and delivered it to Lifebridge in Salem. Hollister and Thibedeau are members of Old North Church. Volunteers from…

29 Oct

Marblehead caregivers can benefit from new AgeSpan grant

Saoirse StallingsCommunity Resources, Local News

When Marlene Richards took responsibility for caring for her partner with Alzheimer’s, it changed her life. But she found help — and now more people can, too. Richards signed up with AgeSpan, a private nonprofit that supports people with challenges and their caregivers. Richards found counseling, safety devices, like a stair lift installation in her home, and overall support that helped her manage her partner’s care and her own well-being. “One of the things I learned was that the first to die is generally the…

24 Oct

Marblehead Food Pantry bracing as food stamp benefits set to end

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Top Stories

The Marblehead Food Pantry has stocked up on supplies and volunteers in advance of what could be a surge in need next week as people lose access to food benefits due to the government shutdown. Across the state, about 1 million residents may be impacted, according to Gov. Maura Healey. Benefits are set to expire at the end of October. “We’ve been in touch with the schools and have received a lot of inquiries as to how the community can help,” Marblehead Food Pantry Director…

21 Oct

Future Forward program helps local public housing residents set, achieve goals

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Local News

The Marblehead Housing Authority has launched Future Forward, a self-sufficiency program designed to help residents of public housing set and achieve their personal, educational and career goals. Future Forward offers participants individualized coaching, resource navigation and the opportunity to build financial stability. The Marblehead and Salem Housing authorities used a $100,000 state grant to hire Sandy Reiniger as the Future Forward coordinator. So far, more than 20 MHA residents have expressed interest in the program. The Marblehead and Salem Housing authorities have hired Sandy Reiniger…

20 Oct

CURRENT EVENTS: Spooky edition

Saoirse StallingsCommunity Resources, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Halloween Mahjong MadnessWednesday, Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m. All levels are welcome to Halloween Mahjong at Hunt and Gather, 9 Pleasant St., in Marblehead. Come in costume (optional but encouraged!) and play for a good cause, The Ellie Fund. $60 entry includes tournament play, light bites and refreshments. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The Ellie Fund, in honor of October's Breast Cancer…