Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

PJB looks for holiday program sponsors 

Volunteers from Faith Community Church unload hundreds of gifts they collected for children in need at Project Just Because during the holiday season last year. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

The first phase of the Project Just Because holiday program begins Monday, and the nonprofit is looking for community support.

PJB’s annual holiday program provides gifts, warm clothing and food to individuals in need. The goal of the program is to help alleviate stress and uncertainty while making sure no one feels forgotten during the holiday season.

That goal is especially important as need in the community grows larger, according to PJB executive assistant and volunteer coordinator Amy Hartland.

“I would say right now we’re at about 110 children in our book,” said Hartland. “That’s just Hopkinton families — I’m sure that number is going to go up.”

Because of the increased need, Hartland said the nonprofit is finding itself short of items needed to fulfill children’s wishes. “We’re really short on teen items and infant items,” she added, citing difficulty in securing sports equipment and items like throw blankets.

Hartland encouraged residents with the means to support a Hopkinton child or a whole family to reach out to her at amy@projectjustbecause.org or pull a name from one of the giving trees PJB has set up around town. She noted that no budget is too big or small, and PJB will work with sponsors around their budget.

Individuals who pull a heart from the giving trees can take as many as they like and return items unwrapped with the heart attached. Locations where the trees can be found include Cornell’s Irish Pub, AllTown Fresh and at PJB’s facility on South Street.

Hartland said that while its holiday program is focused on children, it also provides for adults. “We try to include the parents, too, and if the sponsor wants to help them, that’s awesome,” she explained, adding that donors are welcome to sponsor seniors as well.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

At its meeting Monday night, the Planning Board continued the ongoing hearing for a parking lot expansion at the UniBank/Starbucks plaza following a change in the design plan.

Water discoloration may be possible following a required hydrant flow test on Avenue E on Thursday.

This week’s Move in Style Athlete Spotlight shines on boys golfer Alvin Zhong, who coach Bill Phaneuf praises as “the perfect embodiment of a golfer, student and human.”

Baypath Humane Society held its 16th annual Paws & Claws 5K fundraiser on Sunday at Hopkinton State Park.

The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Charleswood Elementary School on Nov. 4.

Photo of the Day

Christopher and Laura Murphy check out the cab of a fire truck during the Hopkinton Fire Department’s open house on Saturday.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO