Kathy Cordeiro joins co-hosts Caitlyn Kelleher and Joy Richard to talk about Beacon Santa, a foundation that helps families with children in 14 towns northwest of Boston. Kathy, the editor-in-chief of the central unit of Wicked Local and a member of the board of directors for the Beacon Santa Foundation. 

The Beacon Santa Fund is a nonprofit organization administered by GateHouse Media New England, the parent company for 12 weekly papers in 14 communities. Beacon Santa serves needy families in Acton, Bedford, Billerica, Maynard, Boxborough, Concord, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Stow, Tewksbury, Westford and Wilmington, giving out gift cards for food, toys and clothes.

Kathy talks about the tradition of local newspaper companies having ties with non-profit organizations, and particularly the 52-year connection with Beacon Santa.

If you want to learn more about Beacon Santa visit http://maynard.wickedlocal.com/topics/Beacon-Santa. 

If you want to help the families serviced by Beacon Santa, you can donate through PayPal (without a PayPal account), here.

Or donate by mail: Beacon Santa Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, P.O. Box 645, Maynard, MA 01754

Or donate in person at our offices 150 Baker Ave. Ext., Suite 101, Concord; or 9 Meriam St., Lexington Middlesex Savings Bank branch on Nason Street in Maynard

Or at the bank: the Middlesex Savings Bank branch on Nason Street in Maynard.

All donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions about how you can help call the Beacon Santa hotline at 978-371-5795.

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New episodes will be released each week on Monday. Throughout the week, follow Caitlyn Kelleher on Twitter, @CMKelleher, and reach her via email at ckelleher@wickedlocal.com. Readers and listeners can find Joy Richard on Twitter, @ExtraExtraJoy, and by email at jrichard@wickedlocal.com.