Community

Weymouth students surprised with Bruins playoff tickets

Do you ever wonder how fans get their hands on hard-to-find, expensive playoff hockey game tickets? For 16 Weymouth students, that question was answered Thursday.

Victor and Octavio Carvalho, two Weymouth Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees, showed up at the Weymouth Teen Center to deliver Bruins playoff tickets to the surprised students. The tickets were a reward for volunteer work the students will do at a food drive Saturday. Along with the tickets, Dunkin’ Donuts supplied refreshments.

Michael Berberian, 12, said Saturday’s game will be the first time he’ll see the Bruins live. It will only be the second time for his friend Scott Pica-Hurld, 13.

“I watch as many games as I can,” Pica-Hurld said, tugging on the strings of his Bruins hoodie. “I was surprised by the tickets.”

Ryan Cotter, 16, may be the biggest Bruins fan in the group.

“I was shocked, completely,” said Cotter, still smiling. “I think they can win this series.”

Joining the lucky 16 students for Saturday’s game against Montreal will be Kathy Collins, who runs the teen center at the Weymouth Youth and Family Services Division. Before they go to the game, Collins and the students will be working for the U.S. Postal Service’s annual food drive, sorting food deliveries.

The decision to reward students was a no-brainer for the Carvalho brothers, who say they’ve enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with Collins for years.

“This group definitely deserves it,” said Victor Carvalho, who made the surprise announcement to youths at the teen center. “Community means so much and these kids give back.”

“Kathy too; she’s been so great with the kids,” Octavio Carvalho said.

The Carvalhos joined the seven students who were on hand to receive their surprise outside for photographs along with Blades, the Bruins’ mascot.

Kids go to summer camp thanks to donation

A donation from Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees Victor and Octavio Carvalho has made it possible for 15 Germantown youths to go to summer camp. The $5,000 donation to the Germantown Neighborhood Center will allow the kids to attend two weeks of overnight camp at Camp Burgess & Hayward on Cape Cod, interacting with youths from around the South Shore. The hope is also to expose kids to activities they may not have done otherwise, including kayaking, camping, hiking, and archery. According to Victor Carvalho, one of the owners of the original Dunkin’ Donuts in Quincy along with others on the South Shore, the company has been involved with the center for some time, but it was important for the pair to give back in this way. “We sat down with [Germantown Executive Director] Kathy Quigley and she explained the program to us,” Victor said. “We got involved with the center, we felt the children weren’t experiencing things some regular kids or some kids better off were experiencing. . . . We felt that going away to camp is something, you get a bit of life lessons. It’s just a bit of growing and something as simple as roasting marshmallows is something these kids don’t have the opportunity to do.” Carvalho was pleased to hear the money would go such a long way. “It makes me very pleased,” he said. “The more, the merrier.”

The company also served up a $1,500 check to the Germantown Neighborhood Center to help keep their food pantry filled during these difficult days.

“This couldn’t come at a better time to help us keep our shelves stocked and keep the services we need,” said Kathy Quigley, of the Germantown Neighborhood Center.

Weymouth Youth and Family Services

13th Annual Weymouth Dunkin’ Donuts Holiday Drive, Weymouth Youth and Family Services Received Toys From Saint Francis Xavier School

Saint Francis Xavier School students donated toys to Weymouth Youth and Family Services as part of the 13th annual Weymouth Dunkin’ Donuts Holiday Drive. Local Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees Victor and Octavio Carvalho hosted the annual Holiday Drive from November 24 to December 21 at two of their Weymouth locations, located at 645 and 180 Bridge St. where they asked for new, unwrapped toys, toiletries and nonperishable food items. Donations from the drive will be delivered to the children and families of Weymouth Youth and Family Services, where there is a large need this holiday season.

Two Local Dunkin’ Donuts Collect School Supplies for Weymouth Children

Two North Weymouth Dunkin Donuts are giving back to children in the community.

Franchisee Victor Carvalho (left) Kathy Collins, director of Weymouth Youth and Family Services (center) and Dunkin’ Donuts General Manager Fabio DeSousa (right). Credit: Courtesy of Allie Flannery

Weymouth Dunkin Donuts franchisees Victor and Octavio Carvalho are currently hosting their annual Back-to-School Drive to collect supplies for Weymouth Youth and Family Services.

Both locations are managed by the Carvalho family.

The Carvalho’s are looking to collect: three ring binders, pencils, markers, crayons, highlighters, calculators, folders, one subject notebooks, backpacks, tissues and hand sanitizer.

“The donations will ensure that local children in need will start the school year successfully prepared,” Flannery said.

This year’s collection will run through September 8.

The mission of Weymouth Youth and Family Services is to provide advocacy and social service programs to youth and their families in the Town of Weymouth in order to promote the welfare and social growth of these members of the community, the town website stated.