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North Shore boy donates Thanksgiving meals to families in need

SAUGUS, Mass. — Even at a young age one boy on the North Shore understands giving is a lot more important than getting.

Devin Long is helping dozens of families in need enjoy Thanksgiving. “We’re looking to do as many as possible. Honestly, we don’t have a specific number, we just do it every time we get contacted,” Long said.

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Due to COVID-19, the 10-year-old Saugus boy, who’s in 5th grade, couldn’t volunteer at a soup kitchen like he’s done in the past. So instead, he launched a fundraiser to buy Thanksgiving meals for families in need. “It makes me even feel better this year because people need even more help because a lot of people are out of work,” he said.

Devin puts together the meals on his back deck. Each bag includes a 14-to-15 pound frozen turkey with all the side items, including stuffing, potatoes, gravy, canned vegetables, and a pie, plus hand sanitizer and a mask.

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“He wanted to use all the money in his piggy bank, which was $74. I matched him and I said I’d post on Facebook with family and friends and next thing you knew though word of mouth we had over $1,200 in donations,” said April Long, Devin’s mother.

After putting the meals together Devin and his mother have been delivering them to anyone who reaches out. They’ve even made a couple of deliveries to families in New Hampshire. “When people contact us saying they need help or something, we get the address, and then we just drive there, no matter how far it is,” he said.

So far, Devin has donated almost 50 turkeys. If someone doesn’t feel comfortable receiving a meal due to Covid-19, or if they don’t have a place to cook, Devin will offer them a gift card, instead.

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