US2 in Somerville has officially kicked-off the Third Annual USQ Holiday Give, a donation drive in support of the Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC). SHC is a non-profit which has been fighting homelessness and food insecurity in Somerville since 1985. Today, SHC transforms lives by providing services, support, and housing for nearly 9,000 individuals.

The USQ Holiday Givestarted two years ago when US2, the master developer for the Union Square Revitalization (USQ), partnered with SHC to create an event aimed at providing more resources for the one of the most vulnerable populations in Somerville. The donation drive brings together Union Square residents, workers, companies, and organizations during the holiday season to help make a difference for our neighbors in need.

A total of 11 Union Square businesses and organizations are participating in the USQ Holiday Give this year by hosting donation bins from now through December 19th and encouraging their staff, patrons and neighbors to contribute goods. Participants include Union Square Main Streets, Cambria Boston Somerville Hotel, Bow Market, the residences at Prospect Union Square, Greentown Labs, Somerville Community Corporation, Gilbane Building Company, Cranshaw Construction, Somerville Media Center, and more. Participants are encouraged to donate goods that are most needed by SHC’s clients, including diapers, soap, toothpaste, tea bags, pasta, rice, and healthy snacks.

Drop off at Somerville Homeless Coalition. — Photo courtesy of US2.

To join in the USQ Holiday Give, Somerville residents are encouraged to drop donation items directly at any of the locations noted below or to donate directly to SHC:

Donate Goods

Non-Perishable Food:

Cooking Oil (any)
Crackers
Pasta
Rice
Healthy snacks
Fruit Cups
Apple Sauce
Kids Juice Boxes

Toiletries & Baby:

Diapers, any size
Body Wash
Razors
Feminine Hygiene
Hand Sanitizer
Toothpast
Toothbrush
Soap

Donation locations for public donation drop-off:

· USQ offices, 31 Union Square
· Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way
· Cambria Boston Somerville Hotel, 515 Somerville Avenue
· City of Somerville, Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, 93 Highland Avenue
· Prospect Union Square, 50 Prospect Street
· Somerville Media Center, 12 Tyler Avenue
· Union Square Main Streets (Block by Block Office), 26 Union Square

Financial Contributions

To make a financial contribution, visit the Somerville Homeless Coalition website at www.somervillehomelesscoalition.org and select “USQ Holiday Give” in the drop-down menu.

Last year, the USQ Holiday Give raised over $8,500 in financial contributions and collected more than 700 lbs of donated goods. Each year, US2 awards the company or organization with the most collected goods the “Union Square Fezziwig” trophy and a $500 gift card to Remnant Brewing.

“We hope that our collective efforts will bring even more aid to the Somerville Homeless Coalition, and we appreciate every contribution our neighbors can make to support the Coalition’s incredibly important work in Somerville,” says Greg Karczewski, President of US2, the development company behind USQ.

“We are proud to once again partner with US2 for the USQ Holiday Give which is helping to deliver essential support, food, and toiletry items to our clients this holiday season. We can’t thank US2 and their partners enough for their continued efforts to help keep our clients safe in preparation for the cold winter months ahead,” shared Paul Murphy, Development and Communications Coordinator at Somerville Homeless Coalition.