RESPOND Inc., a Somerville-based domestic violence agency that serves communities throughout the Greater Boston area, is holding its Holiday Needs Drive for the survivors of domestic violence.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Holiday drives in Somerville have commenced, all of which will assist or have already aided various groups of individuals who require items to ensure that the season is a merry one for each person in the area.  Seasonal sales have recently started.

RESPOND Inc., which is a Somerville-based domestic violence agency that serves communities throughout the Greater Boston area, is holding its Holiday Needs Drive for the survivors of domestic violence, a drive which began greater than 15 years ago.

This drive is unique because the organization is not asking for gifts in the traditional sense, but rather, its goal is to solely fulfill basic needs, and with which so many survivors must deal when they escape domestic violence.

By giving those resources, donors enable survivors to focus on job searching and housing, as well as moving forward with their lives.

“Each year we are lucky to receive an outpouring of support from the community around the holidays. Many people want to buy gifts to help make the holiday season a little brighter for domestic violence survivors. The best gift we can give the men and women we serve at RESPOND is that of independence and safety,” said Jessica Brayden, Executive Director of RESPOND Inc.

Items, which the organization is seeking in its holiday needs drive include: toiletries, sheets, blankets, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies, as well as gift cards to major retailers and to grocery stores and pharmacy gift cards, because survivors often cannot bring prescriptions or insurance with them.

“Gifts are distributed to families straight through Christmas Eve. Since our shelter is open 24/7, it is likely we will have people coming and going, even on the holiday,” she said.

“Watching the recipients collect their gifts is so emotional. Each person is so thankful that another family took time to help and support them. Most often, recipients leave with tears of joy, knowing that their children will have a great holiday, thanks to people whom they have never even met.”

The non-profit reaches over 7,000 survivors of domestic violence annually.

Programs and services include an emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, community outreach and educational programs.

For assistance, call RESPOND’s 24-hour hotline at (617) 623-5900.

Interested individuals may call (617) 625-5996, or visit www.respondinc.org to volunteer or to make a donation.

If you are interested in donating items, contact Kristen Rice, Events Coordinator of RESPOND at kristen@respondinc.org or call (617) 625-5996.

Find more Christmas cheer at the annual Next Wave and Full Circle Alternative Schools in Somerville student fundraiser.

Purchase a Christmas tree and a wreath at the tree lot in Foss Park.

Net proceeds will benefit the Next Wave and Full Circle Alternative Schools in Somerville.

“Since 1985, the Somerville Homeless Coalition has been working to end homelessness in the community by providing housing, food, case management and homelessness prevention initiatives.  The SHC oversees ten programs concerning shelter services, transitional and permanent housing services, case management and food supportive services in Somerville and Greater Boston,” said Jennifer Merrill, Development Associate and Volunteer Coordinator of the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

Each year, the coalition accepts non-perishable food items, as well as toiletries.

Specifically, during the holiday season, adult wool socks are among the winter clothing, which is paramount for the organization to receive, as a donation.

“We have received such generous support from the local community this season for the children who are involved in our programs. However, we are seeing a greater need now for our single adult clients.  They are in need of household items, such as new silverware or a new vacuum,” she said.

Earlier this December, additional yuletide drives and sales took Somerville by storm.

The annual Somerville Community Growing Center Wreath Sale occurred at the Union Square Winter Craft Market, at which the Growing Center had a booth outside of precinct where pre-ordered wreaths could be picked up and extra wreaths could be purchased.

In early December, the Somerville Community Growing Center offered fresh evergreen wreaths for the holidays, all of which were decorated by volunteers or by community partners, such as Gaining Ground in Concord.  This year, the wreaths have already sold out.

“80 percent of the wreaths that we had available were pre-ordered, and the remaining 20 percent were sold within the first few hours of the event,” said Jared M. Worful, President of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Community Growing Center. The sale became a tradition in the mid 1990s.

Wreath adornments included dried flowers, berries and pinecones.  The wreath bases were purchased from Wilson Farm. Each wreath costs $30, for orders, which are received by December 1. At the event, people picked up a $35 wreath at the Union Square Winter Craft Market. Additional items were for sale included: balsam sachets, winter grass and hand-knit miniature stockings, complete with floral decorations. Interested individuals may e-mail somervillegcwreaths@gmail.com to be placed on next year’s pre-order notification list.

At a recent Chamber of Commerce event called Very Special Holiday Business after Hours, which was held at The Center for the Arts at the Armory in Somerville, a large multitude of unwrapped toys for “Toys for Local Children,” which is a local charity, were collected. The Holiday Inn in Somerville also held an event for Toys for Local Children.

Individuals who would still like to help the organization’s drop-off locations, which include Somerville, are available on its Web site at http://www.toysforlocalchildren.org/ or by calling (617) 680-4254.