In The News

Combined with supply chain bottlenecks that threaten to keep the inventory of brick- and- mortar and online stores scarce — creating an even heightened giftbuying frenzy — that day dedicated to family, friends, football and turkey feels even more marginalized.

But instead of lamenting the loss of Thanksgiving’s importance in the minds of many, we’ve decided to give thanks for all those local organizations and individuals that exemplify the true holiday spirit of giving.

Greater Lowell’s especially blessed with charitable organizations and individuals that make Christmas brighter for the families that need a holiday lift.

Though these giving groups and people are far too numerous to mention, we’d like to highlight some especially notable contributors.

The Sun Santa Fund, an arm of Lowell Sun Charities, was founded in 1988 in recognition of the many families in Greater Lowell that struggle at this time of year. Since then, it’s provided support for thousands of those in need in the communities served by The Sun newspaper.

Last holiday season, despite the pandemic- created obstacles, the Sun Santa Fund raised $ 260,000 — smashing its $ 200,000 goal — a tribute to this region’s generosity.

Through applications for assistance processed by The Salvation Army and Community Teamwork, families receive toy and food vouchers based on their financial need and family size. Toy vouchers are redeemable at Rogers Toy in downtown Lowell and Walmart in Tewksbury. Food vouchers are accepted at all Market Basket stores.

While donations are gratefully accepted from corporations, small businesses, schools, and individuals, one entity has come to exemplify the spirit of generosity that Sun Santa represents.

Every year, Lowell General Hospital has demonstrated why it’s Sun Santa’s most productive helper.

Despite the pandemic, last year Lowell General still managed to raise $ 90,000 through its annual Christmas basket raffle.

Other corporate partners and individuals too numerous to mention have again answered the call with scheduled fundraisers in support of Sun Santa’s mission.

Every year, the Lowell branch of the Salvation Army sees its resources stretched by the needs of area families.

By Barry Scanlon, Correspondent

Being surrounded by students from around the globe makes Jessica Lander feel like a million bucks.

Even if she doesn’t win that amount.

“My life’s work is working in education,” the Lowell High School teacher said. “ I love what I do. It’s inspiring.”

The 33- year- old U. S. history teacher and Cambridge resident is a finalist to receive a seven- figure bonus. Lander has been named one of 50 worldwide finalists for the Varkey Foundation’s $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

“ This is one of the very few places in the country where you can have some true global diversity. My students are inspiring. My students are so incredibly strong. They have such grit and determination. They come to school every day ready to learn,” she said in her classroom during a recent free period.

Lander, a teacher at Lowell High School since 2015, has already beaten the odds. The Varkey Foundation received nominations from 121 countries for more than 8,000 teachers for the largest prize of its kind in the world.

“ It’s a huge honor,” she said.

By Debbie Hovanasian, Correspondent

‘I’ll keep doing this as long as i can, because it’s something i really like to do.’

– Cecilia Mancini , before she died recently of cancer

Nine years ago a parish leader at St. Francis Church decided to teach her junior high religious education students the importance of following the Catholic Corporal Work of Mercy: feed the hungry.  The late Cecilia Mancini didn’t simply lecture about it. She put it into action using the church’s abundant resources. St. Francis Church and rectory are built on 15 acres of former farmland in east Dracut. In front of the rectory, which sits on a gently sloping hill, Mancini’s lesson to her students began — seed by seed.

They carved out a small area for a garden, planted and tended the soil until tomato plants sprung up from the ground. The “ fruits of their labor” were later delivered to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. A lesson was taught and a parish tradition was born.

The number of garden volunteers grew as well. Mancini assembled a team ranging from children to seniors who assisted with planting seedlings all the way to harvest and cleanup.

Three years ago, in the midst of garden planning and other volunteer work, the spirited Mancini was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Throughout chemo, radiation and multiple doctor appointments, she was often seen on her good days in the sun and humidity, tending to the garden.

“ I’ll keep doing this as long as I can, because it’s something I really like to do,” she answered, with a smile, when asked how she does it while battling cancer.

In February, the well loved Mancini lost her battle, which left parishioners of St. Francis devastated. Some parishioners questioned if the garden could continue without Mancini’s daily devotion to planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, harvesting and delivering the goods.

That question is answered with a glance up the hill today toward the white colonial- style rectory. The garden that Mancini planted with seeds of kindness — and to teach kindness — is growing just as abundantly as ever.

It’s a bucolic scene that the parish’s new administrator, the Rev. Kevin Sepe, a Lowell native, overlooks each day from the rectory.

“ There’s a deep sense of satisfaction, a blessing offered by the soil, hands and toil of our parishioners, able to provide, by the grace of God, produce from the earth — over 1,000 pounds — to our brothers and sisters in need in the Lowell community,” said Sepe. “ It’s an extraordinary gift.”

Carrying on Mancini’s mission to use the St. Francis soil to feed the hungry are the volunteers she inspired, led by Paul Gauthier. Gauthier, a retired Market Basket store manager, has spent most of his summer mornings in the garden — swapping the grocery store for the beauty of the parish grounds.

“ Cecilia called me in February ( 2020) and told me she would need more surgeries and probably wouldn’t be able to do the garden, and would I consider being the leader,” said Gauthier.

“ Cecilia Mancini is what made me answer the call. I was honored to take on her project that she started nine years ago,” Gauthier added.

Last summer, Mancini “ended up working half the year before her surgeries started. She truly was an inspiration to me and the others in the garden — always pleasant and

Lowell » Four years ago, I interviewed Alex Lambert at his home in Dracut.

Somehow, I learned that he had organized a food drive for the Dracut Food Pantry. He named it “Cars and Cans.”

I am always interested in a good Dracut story and there are lots of them. But it is always very special when the person you are interviewing is a former student.

When Alex Lambert was in eighth grade, it was not unusual to see him reading a car magazine after finishing a test or during homeroom. Always responsible and organized, Alex — or Slimey as his friends and family know him — was on top of his academics. Not surprisingly, he was a superb student. His schoolwork came first, but if there was extra time, he would be reading up on cars.

Now several years later, those same qualities which made him a successful student in middle school — responsible and organized —