Ashland Emergency Fund

Quietly providing hope to those in need.

Since 1987 the AEF has been Ashland’s behind-the-scenes, private place to which those in need have been able to turn for help.

Ashland Day 2007

By John Ellsworth

September 18, 2007

A miserable, wet, rainy, misty day not with standing, Ashland Day turned out to be great for the Ashland Emergency Fund (AEF), thanks to Ben Montenegro, Nora Guidi and Margot Ellsworth. How did that come about?

At the last AEF business meeting, Isabel Harrison volunteered Ben to walk around with a collection bucket, getting money for the AEF from Ashland Day attendees.

Ben performed magnificently!

On his first pass, he came back to the AEF booth with just over $200 in the bucket; the bucket was literally stuffed full of $1.00 dollar bills. He was given a short rest period and John sent him back out for more. This time he came back with only $78. Even Ben was taken aback.

So… Isabel made him go back out for more money and this time he came back with over $200 again.

Ben’s total collection for the day was $523.43. An amazing sum, particularly when you realize that Ashland Day this year was really just a half-Ashland Day. The weather was so damp, cold and gloomy in the morning that the midway was effectively empty until a little after noon. There was almost no one on the field except for the vendors.

Finally the rainy weather cleared, the sun came out, it warmed up a bit and Ben went to work. He claims that he is retired. Oh that all of us can be as productive in retirement as Ben.

Thank you to Ben for his yeoman service.

Sales of raffle tickets (the prize winning ticket will be pulled at the AEF Walk-A-Thon) and registration money for the Walk-A-Thon resulted in a total take at the booth of $654.43, a giving record for the booth. Thanks to Nora and Margot for the added money from the October 14 Walk-A-Thon.

By the way, Margot and Nora’s target for the Walk-A-Thon is $5,000. They have already raised nearly $2,000 from businesses in Ashland and the surrounding area.

You can Donate Now through The Network for Good or donations can also be sent directly to The Ashland Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721.

For more information on volunteering or donating, contact John Ellsworth at 508-881-3404 or Youth and Family Services Director Susan Gauvin at 508-881-0109 ext. 18.