Fundraisers Planned For Gloucester Fishing Families

CHATHAM – Cape Ann might be 70 miles across the waves of Massachusetts Bay, but it’s close to the hearts of local fishing families and their supporters. Cape Codders are pitching in to support the families of the fishing vessel Lily Jean of Gloucester, which was lost with all seven hands aboard on Jan. 30.

 Next week, resident Vangie Collins and other supporters are holding a“Game Day” fundraiser at the Chatham Community Center to raise money for the F/V Lily Jean Fund, a project of the nonprofit Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund. 

 Though the venue had not been finalized as of press time, the event is being planned for Thursday, Feb. 26 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Supporters are encouraged to bring a board game of their choice and play together. An entry fee for a table of four players is $80, though additional donations are accepted.

 “The tragedy in Gloucester has been especially heartbreaking,” said Collins, who previously raised money for victims of the war in Ukraine, natural disasters around the world, and employees of a local restaurant shuttered unexpectedly after being damaged by a car. “Living in a fishing community and getting to know people in the industry has been an education and a privilege. Hearing about the Lily Jean and her crew truly broke my heart,” Collins said. “Starting a fundraiser felt like a no-brainer.”

 The Game Day event will also include a raffle and silent auction with prizes donated by local businesses and artisans. In addition to Collins’ own glass art creations, the prizes will include gift certificates for local restaurants and stores, original local artwork, jewelry and more. The public is invited to come for the silent auction after 12:30 p.m., and bidding will end at 3:15 p.m. Collins is also recruiting local merchants willing to contribute prizes or donations; she can be reached by email at vangie@vclampwork.com.

 Meanwhile, on March 12, the Chatham Orpheum Theater and the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance will be holding a benefit film screening of “The Hand that Holds the Line: The Incredible Stories of Those who Fish on Cape Cod,” the 2025 documentary created by Geoff Bassett and Kim Roderiques. In making the film, the two spent more than a hundred hours with Cape Cod’s commercial fishermen, capturing life on the water, the impact of difficult weather, long hours, variable markets and onerous regulations.

 Proceeds from the screening, and the question-and-answer panel of special fishing community guests that will follow, benefit the families of the Lily Jean’s crew, through the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund. 

 “The fishing community is tightknit, and when tragedy strikes, the loss is felt by all. The sinking of Gloucester's F/V Lily Jean with all seven hands aboard on January 30 has rippled through fishing families, waterfront businesses, and coastal communities across the region,” the Orpheum’s event announcement reads. “This evening is an opportunity to gather in remembrance at this heartbreaking time. By attending, you are helping ensure these families feel the strength and support of the broader community during an unimaginably difficult time.”