This weekend the Merry Market is turning holiday shopping into a lifeline for families on the South Shore of Massachusetts facing financial hardship.

Held Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Red Lion Inn in Cohasset , the Merry Market raises critical funds for A Place 2 Rise , a local nonprofit that helps families cover everyday expenses when life takes an unexpected turn. Proceeds from the event support everything from winter coats and summer camp to diapers, groceries and even mortgage payments.

For founder Aubrey Schwartz, the mission is personal.

"I have that vision of my mom at the kitchen table with a stack of bills trying to figure out what's going to get paid this week or this month," Schwartz said. "I've certainly had those moments where it's like, what bill is getting paid this m

See Full Page