Christmas comes early for Boys and Girls Club
By George P. Hassett

A crew of real life Santa’s came to the rescue of the Somerville Boys and Girls Club this week after crooks swiped four computers and other new, high-tech equipment from the club’s Teen Room Sunday, Nov. 26.
  ‚ÄúThe most touching part of this story is the way so many parties — from senior citizens living on fixed incomes to large, million dollar corporations — have given whatever they can to help. It‚Äôs just as meaningful to see an elderly woman write a check for $5 as it is to see a big company donate four computers,‚Äù said Chile Eng, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Middlesex County.

   A printer, DVD player, stereo set and four brand new computers were swiped in a break-in in the club‚Äôs Teen Room, which members worked on for a year and unveiled Oct. 1. The children of the Boys and Girls Club had worked to raise the money used to purchase all of the items, except the computers which were donated by Circuit City.
   ‚ÄúThe Teen Room was a place of their own and overnight everything they worked hard for was gone,‚Äù Eng said. ‚ÄúWe hustled to get every little thing we had in that room and we never thought we would have to worry about something like this.‚Äù
   But, Eng said, the club‚Äôs teenagers soon decided turned a negative to a positive.
   ‚ÄúInstead of dwelling on it, the kids were inspired to have their voices heard and came up with the idea of reaching out to the local media,‚Äù she said.
   Within an hour, she said, the youth club at 181 Washington St. was besieged by media outlets.
   ‚ÄúWe wanted to let people know what happened and that we needed help,‚Äù said Nehemie Jones, one of the teens who uses the club.
  The story was picked up by newspapers and television stations throughout the state and by the next morning there was a flood of donation offers for the club.
  The stolen items were soon replaced by do-gooders from all over the map. Donors, from the club‚Äôs immediate neighborhood to as far away as Maine, have helped Eng and the children of the Boys and Girls Club replace the stolen items. Four computers were donated by the Valerie L. Oransky Foundation, which was founded by James King of Middleboro after the stabbing death of his fianc√©.  The Wal-Mart Foundation donated a printer and $1,000, which will go toward security cameras for a new Teen Room. 
  ‚ÄúWe‚Äôre not putting anything back in that room until we know it‚Äôs safe,‚Äù Eng said.
  The Somerville Lodge was the first city organization to step up and help the club, Eng said. Richard S. Nicholas, jr. warden of the lodge, said his association planned to replace the stolen computers but King acted faster. The lodge still wanted to help, Nicholas said, and contributed $1,000 towards the security system. The money could not go to a better place, Nicholas said.
  ‚ÄúBy furthering knowledge to our youngest citizens we are enriching our city as a whole,‚Äù said the lodge‚Äôs worshipful master, Donald Alfred Coutoumas.
  In all, 20 donors have contributed to the Somerville Boys and Girls Club since holiday villains made off with a bag of stolen high-tech gear. ‚ÄúI think it was very kind of people to take the time to help us when we were in a tough situation. We‚Äôre all grateful,‚Äù Jones said.