December 2025 NN Newsletter

Bruce Hugh Wilson Giving Thanks Drive Exceeds All Expectations!

Dear Neighbors,We hope that you all enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving with family and friends. At Newton Neighbors, our holidays were warmed by the response we received to our annual Thanksgiving supermarket gift card drive. The Bruce Hugh Wilson Giving Thanks Drive has, as of this writing, raised over $27,000 to help our neighbors enjoy the bounties of the season, and more donations are expected to arrive in the next few days! Once again, YOU, our wonderfully generous neighbors and friends, put us atop our goals and enable us to reach more of our neighbors with much needed help.We especially want to thank the family and friends of Bruce Wilson, who jumpstart this Drive each year in memory of our dear friend Bruce, his love of this season of giving, and his own will to address food insecurity in our community. He is still inspiring us all to do and give more! 

Our Community Steps Up to Fill the SNAP Gap 

As the November 1st SNAP deadline approached, the City of Newton mobilized to ensure that its residents were able to access food. Newton Neighbors was proud to have been called upon to assist with organizing the efforts, and members of our team worked tirelessly to organize, sort, and transport donated food—anything needed to get the job done. Please join us in thanking the Mayor’s Office, Health and Human Services, our team members, all who stepped up to volunteer, and, of course, all who donated. This is the best of community! 

Please pay special attention to this month’s request for Freedge and food pantry delivery volunteers. Our regular day to serve the patrons of the Freedge is on Thursdays. Many of the upcoming holidays occur on Thursdays, but need does not take the day off. Please help if you can! We recognize that some of our wonderful and loyal food pantry drivers may be heading out of town for the holiday weeks so please, if you will be in town, sign up for a delivery shift: it's quick, easy, and very important. Details below.

Call for Volunteers: Food Pantry Delivery

Help deliver groceries from local food pantries to our neighbors who are unable to get to the pantries on their own. This is an important initiative for Newton Neighbors and, especially during the holiday season, we can always use more hands (and cars). If you are able to help, we would be most grateful! It usually takes about an hour of your time and makes a big difference to so many in our community.

Our schedule is:

• Tuesdays from Centre Street Food Pantry. Pickup time 2:15 – 2:45.

• Wednesdays from Newton Food Pantry. Scheduled pickups between 12:15 – 2:45.

Sign up for December: https://volunteersignup.org/DP99Q

Call for Volunteers: Freedge

Every Thursday, Newton Neighbors coordinates donations to the Newton Community Freedge, Newton Food Pantry’s community refrigerator and pantry initiative. Volunteer opportunities throughout the day include picking up donations from business partners and bringing them to the Freedge, and cleaning and maintaining the Freedge. Located in the parking lot of Central Cleaners at 420 Watertown Street in Nonantum, the Freedge is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and offers free food and personal-care items to neighbors in need.Please sign up here to help: FREEDGE Volunteers November and December 2025 signup sheet  

Community Happenings

Holiday Gift Drive

Through December 10

All Village Bank locations in Newton

Every year The Village Bank, in collaboration with the City of Newton Health and Human Services, organizes a holiday gift drive. Drop off your donation during business hours in the collection bins located in all Newton branches of The Village Bank. Donations are accepted until December 10th. Help ensure that every child in Newton, ages 0 - 10, is able to celebrate their holiday with a brand new, just-for-them gift!You can also donate at Mayor Fuller's Holiday Mimi Golf Hole in Fun at City Hall, December 5 - 7 (more info below).

Cooper Center Grand Opening

Friday, December 5, 10 am

345 Walnut St, Newtonville

Join Mayor Fuller and the Department of Older Adult Services as our City cuts the ribbon at the opening of the brand new Cooper Center for Active Living, 345 Walnut Street, in the heart of Newtonville. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, December 5, and there will be loads of special activities all weekend, and for all ages! Check out the schedule of events on the CIty's website at newtonma.gov.

Holiday Mini Golf “Hole in Fun”

December 5 - 7

Newton City Hall 

City Hall will once again be transformed into an 18-hole mini golf course, complete with greens and holes winding through the secret staircase into Mayor Fuller’s office, City Council Chambers, and the War Memorial. Your price of admission: please bring a new, unwrapped toy or game suitable for a child ages 0 - 10 years old. For details and to register, see newtonma.gov.

And, while you are golfing your way around City, don’t forget to VOTE for your favorite Gingerbread House on display at City Hall. The houses will be on display from December 5 - 16th.

Ukrainian Art Show and Sale

Sunday, December 7, 2 - 6 pm

New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville

Come see what Ukrainian artists are continuing to create in the face of war and continuous bombardment. Ukraine Forwardis sponsoring this exhibition and sale of Ukrainian fine arts and one-of-a-kind handicrafts at the New Art Center on December 7, 2 - 6 pm. Items for show and sale include paintings and graphic art by Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American artists as well as ceramics, wood, and textile objects crafted by artisans in Ukraine and the diaspora.

Admission to the exhibition is free. Refreshments will be served. 

Ukraine Forward is a Boston-based, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine Forward has raised over $2.2 million for medical and humanitarian supplies for frontline troops, communities, and hospitals.

Celebrate Newton Craft Fair

Sunday, December 7, 10 am - 3 pm

Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Rd 

The Celebrate Newton Holiday Craft Fair is back for another year. Come help us celebrate the work of outstanding artisans who are residents of Newton or otherwise connected to our City. Over 50 artisans will display and sell their works, including weavers, jewelers, quilters, potters, printers, photographers, and more. A highlight of the event each year is live music performed by local musicians. 

Park Lighting

Sunday, December 7, 6:15 pm

Coletti-Magni Park, Nonantum 

The Nonantum Children’s Christmas Party Association will hold their annual Park Lighting at Coletti Magni Park on Sunday, December 7, starting at 6:15 pm, with hot chocolate and caroling. Santa and friends arrive from the North Pole and will be available for photos. Bring your letter to Santa’s mailbox, and don’t forget your return address!

We at Newton Neighbors wish you all a joyous Holiday Season! Whatever the holiday you observe, we hope you enjoy the warmth of family and friends, and of a community that cares.