ASHLAND — A local flower shop has done its part in helping to raise money for a town charity that is assisting people during the pandemic.
Blush Bouquets on 20 Front St. has raised more than $500 for the Ashland Emergency Fund as part of the "Light Up Ashland" fundraiser it created in partnership with Annemarie Dance Center, Ashland Town Hall and the Ashland Historical Society.
Items were purchased as part of the town’s annual Illuminate Downtown Ashland event, which was held earlier this month.
From Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, customers were invited to purchase luminary kits from Blush Bouquets. The plan was for residents to then place the kits on the front steps of their homes.
The Ashland Emergency Fund was created in 1987 by former Department of Public Safety Director Ben Montenegro and a group of Ashland residents. It's not connected to the town's municipal budget.
The story goes that Montenegro and then-Selectman Rick Ghilani placed a wishing well at the Sunnyside Café on Front Street to help support those in need. When they presented $150 in donations to the town’s youth adviser director, Isabel Harrison, she thanked them but noted it was a “drop in the bucket” compared to the amount of support Ashland residents needed, according to the charity’s website.
From there, a charity was born. Over the past 30 years, it has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars to residents in need.
Throughout the pandemic, the charity has donated more than $100,000 to support those in need, according to Ron Houle, Ashland Emergency Fund chairman.
Much of that money has been spent supporting people with housing costs, although a large portion has been spent on providing food for those in need. A portion of the food goes to the Ashland Food Pantry at the Community Center on 162 West Union St.
Houle said he appreciates the support the fund has received. Illuminate Downtown is among several fundraisers aimed to help the charity.
“We’re an entirely a charitable organization,” Houle said. “We’re run by volunteers. We don’t get any tax dollars or anything like that from the government. We can’t help anybody if we don’t get donations. All the money we get from donations goes directly to helping people.”
The Link LonkDecember 17, 2020 at 04:59AM
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/2020/12/16/ashland-flower-shop-helps-local-charity/3920750001/
Ashland flower shop helps raise funds for local charity - MetroWest Daily News
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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