TURNERS FALLS — Friday night was a wonderful night for giving, whether that was in the form of looking for gifts to give this holiday season or giving back to the community, as the village held its 11th annual “It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” event.

Businesses along Avenue A stayed open until 8 p.m. and shoppers were invited to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones, such as trinkets and doodads at LOOT found + made or books at Unnameable Books. Visitors could get cocoa, cookies and popcorn at The Upper Bend, build a bird feeder at the Great Falls Discovery Center or watch the 40th annual performances of “Welcome Yule: A Midwinter Celebration” at the Shea Theater Arts Center.

In addition to keeping shops open late for people looking to check items off their holiday shopping lists, the night also included opportunities for residents to learn how they can give back. At The Brick House Community Resource Center, volunteers and staff hosted an open house where visitors could learn about the center’s work and how they can support it.

“We’re looking to serve the community however we can,” said Executive Director Tom Taaffe. “I think we’re pretty good at pivoting to the needs of the community, and our new food pantry is a good example of that.”

A big issue facing the village is food insecurity amid rising grocery costs, Taaffe said. So this past summer, The Brick House converted a small room next to its music studio into a food pantry. The pantry is supported by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and is open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Jose Olvera-Aguilera, The Brick House’s Parent & Families Programs coordinator, has taken on the pantry as part of The Brick House’s programs for families, which include coffee and community hours, educational/resource nights and more. He said the food pantry has been pretty popular in the few months it’s been open, and he is looking to find volunteers to help open it on Saturday as well.

“Whether you’re here for one hour or three, it really helps,” Olvera-Aguilera said.

The Brick House is also looking for volunteers to help its building committee figure out how to address the repair and maintenance needs of the Third Street building, people who can help with applying for grants and organizing fundraising efforts to support the building and the programs held inside it, and volunteer facilitators to lead activities with the children and teenagers who spend their afternoons and evenings at the center.

“Here, your volunteer hours are really felt,” said Youth Programs Director Hannah Bertrand.

For those who already gave back this year and ended up on the nice list, Santa Claus came to the village — escorted by the Turners Falls Fire Department — to pick up letters that children had written him and left in the mailbox in Spinner Park.

“It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” serves as the opening night for a weekend of holiday fun in Montague. Festivities will continue at “Millers Falls Magic” on Saturday with wreath-making at the Millers Falls Library from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Santa visiting Chaos Corner from 1 to 3 p.m. and various vendors selling their goods at pop-up markets throughout the village.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.