CSN Raises $17,000 toward Camperships

The kids love face painting.

CSN board members Jay McGovern (l.) man the Spring Fest booth.

Mayor Sean Reardon (r.) draws the raffle winners.

Simone Pillidge does a selfie with dad Ray Pillidge.

Community Service of Newburyport’s (CSN) raised a record $17,000 from its Spring Fest 2024 gift basket raffle to send kids to day camp. So far, 32 kids have signed up for 39 weeks of camps of their choice, according to CSN Executive Director Ray Pillidge, adding the goal is 40. Some of the camps include UNH Athletics Hockey Camp, UNH Athletics Skating Camp, Tennis Camp, Taste Buds Kitchen, Acting Out Theater Camp, St. John’s Multisport Camp, Skateboard Camp, Merrohawke Nature Camp, North Shore Nature Camp, High Tail Acres and Synergy Basketball.

These camps mean the world to these kids and their families. Read the testimonials.

Winners of the five gift baskets include: # 1 Hit the links, Leslie Scanlon, Newbury, MA.;
#2. Family Fun, Joyce Wendling, South Hamilton, MA.; #3 Gardening Galore, Ann Markos, Newburyport; #4 In and Around Newburyport!, Cheryl Jones; and #5 Culture snd Entertainment, Noreen Camelo, Melrose. Mayor Sean Reardon, assisted by Pillidge, drew the winning entries at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The CSN Springfest booth was alive with free face painting for kids. Shout-out to face painters Katie Hromadka, Maria Greco, Annabelle Bienvene, Katherine Daignault, Madison Green, Ava Shields, Amy Nolasco and Lila Coffey.