Dear Neighbors,
The crisp, cold air is reminding us that winter is around the corner, so here at NNHN we’re turning our attention to ways in which we can support our neighbors as we head into the holiday season. So far we have organized four drives to help families obtain food, winter gear, and holiday gifts.
Drive #1: Help families celebrate Thanksgiving in Brockton and Waltham
NNHN has partnered with the Brockton Workers Alliance and Thom Charles River Early Intervention to bring Thanksgiving to families who are struggling to make ends meet. Most of these families commute and work in Newton and neighboring towns. Many of these families include undocumented parents who have not been able to receive any unemployment or stimulus checks. Many work in restaurants and are at risk of losing their jobs as outdoor dining ends and restaurants close early. Some work in landscaping, and unless we have an abundance of snow, they will have several months with little to no income.
Our goal is to raise $3,500 to purchase and distribute 70 gift cards of $50 each to families in Brockton and Waltham during the week of Thanksgiving. If you can support this effort, please Venmo your donations to NNHN coordinator Charlotte Dietz:
@Charlotte-Dietz-1
Please note that your contribution is for the Newton Neighbors grocery-gift-card collection. Charlotte will purchase the cards for our partner organizations to distribute. You can see the progress towards our fundraising goal here.
Drive #2: Donate snow boots to children in Waltham
Ten children in Waltham whose families are supported by Thom Charles River Early Intervention need snow boots. Here is a spreadsheet where you can see the requested sizes and sign up if you are able to donate. If you can donate new boots or gently used hand-me-downs in good condition, please drop them off in a bag or box labeled with the size to:
991 Beacon Street
Newton Centre, MA 02459
Drive #3: Holiday gift cards for residents at The Second Step
We are working to support 15 families (a total of 29 adults and children) at The Second Step with a holiday gift card drive. The Second Step is a community of survivors, advocates, and volunteers who foster the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence. Our goal is to collect gift cards totaling $100 per child and $150 per adult. Consider partnering with friends or family to provide the full list of requested cards for an individual or family. Details about the gift cards can be found here. Please send gift cards to the address below with a note that they are for the 2020 Holiday Drive:
The Second Step, Inc. attn: Attn: Mimi Sperl
P.O. Box 600213
Newtonville, MA 02460
Please send by December 10 in time for Hanukkah.
Drive # 4: Village Bank Holiday Gift Drive
Brighten the holidays for a child in need. The Village Bank has partnered with the Newton Rotary and the Newton Department of Health and Human Services to sponsor the city’s annual Holiday Gift Drive. Please drop off new and unwrapped gifts until December 15 to any Newton branch of The Village Bank.
Gifts should be for children aged newborn to ten years old and may include age-appropriate toys, games, electronics, and sporting goods as well as gift cards from local merchants. Other ways to give include purchasing and shipping online gifts through the Amazon Wish List or making tax-deductible cash donations to the Newton Rotary. Newton Neighbors will also be working with local stores to offer holiday gift kits available to purchase to gift to the toy drive. Look for more details in the coming weeks. For more information on the drive and the Amazon Wish List link, go to https://village-bank.com/holidaygiftdrive.
And finally, get some exercise and trot with the turkeys (and Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors)
The annual Newton Turkey Trot is a virtual race this year. Runners will run on their own time during the week of November 21 – 29. All of the race proceeds will go to the Newton Food Pantry and the Travis Roy Foundation Ethan Wang Fund. Register or donate at www.newtonturkeytrot.org.
If you’d like to join the NNHN team, search for it in the list or click here. The group password is NNHN. So get your turkeys in a row and trot on.
Thanks again for your generosity! You’re what makes our community great.
Stay safe,
Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors
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