Dear Neighbors,
We hope everyone’s first week back at school went as smoothly as anything can these days! We are so thankful to all of you who, despite all the demands on your time and resources, open your hearts to your neighbors who need help. Here are a few of the most pressing requests in our community right now.
In our Facebook group: Requests for laptops and school supplies
A group of volunteers working with seniors plus others are looking for laptop donations. For details, click here.
Members of our community are looking for support with school supplies and school-at-home setups including desks, chairs, and more. If you need these types of supplies or have some to spare, please check out this thread in our group.
Food drive for kids at Centre Street Food Pantry
Looking to be a part of something great? Since COVID struck, the Centre Street Food Pantry is seeing firsthand how parents are struggling to put food on the table. Without daily access to free breakfast and lunch at school, many kids are in real need.
The Pantry’s Kids Club initiative provides extra bags of kid-friendly food to over 600 children per month. As the numbers continue to grow, here's how you can help:
Fill brown-handled grocery bags with items from the list at https://cutt.ly/mfI19wt. Feel free to include a card or drawing in the bag. This is a meaningful activity to do with your kids while you discuss food insecurity.
Drop off bags outdoors on Saturday, September 26, from 10AM to noon, 11 Homer Street, Newton Center (entrance on Furber Lane).
Donate home goods at Welcome Home
Have home goods you no longer use? Welcome Home, Inc., is a home-goods pantry based in Newton. Volunteers clean and redistribute, free of charge, donations that would otherwise end up in landfills. Welcome Home is especially in need of bedding, towels, small appliances, and cookware. Email welcomehomemass@gmail.com to schedule a drop-off appointment.
Need home goods yourself? No fees, no forms, no requirements: just contact Welcome Home at 617-454-4795 or welcomehomemass@gmail.com.
Coat drive
We Care Charity is collaborating with the House Of Mercy homeless shelter to organize a coat drive. Please donate new or gently used coats, jackets, hats, gloves, or scarves to those in need. Drop off at 337 Linwood Avenue, Newton. Did I link to the right organizations?
Boys & Girls Club scholarship donations
The Boys & Girls Club of Newton is requesting donations to help cover their sliding-scale fees for families needing out-of-school-time support. See the PDF at the bottom of this message for details on the out-of-school-time program or go to newtonbgc.com/outofschooltimeprogram.
The Club now has to pay staff for full-time roles rather than just after school, and they had to make a significant investment in technology so kids can log in. Please consider donating to newtonbgc.com/donate. Thank you!
Cradles to Crayons volunteer opportunities
Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts has many terrific volunteer opportunities for individuals and families. The need is huge, especially for on-site volunteers.
For on-site volunteer opportunities: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/.../in-the-giving-factory For at-home volunteer opportunities: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/boston/at-home-activities
Keep Newton Beautiful
On October 3rd, join Newton facebook group Keep Newton Beautiful & communities across the state for the Great Massachusetts Cleanup, sponsored by Keep Massachusetts Beautiful (rescheduled from the spring):
The group will decide on exact locations based on the number of volunteers and their interest. Newton DPW will help us with supplies and post-event pickup. More details coming soon!
Please email keepnewtonbeautiful@gmail.com with any questions.
Want to be more actively involved with NNHN?
We are hoping to grow our NNHN coordinator team. Here are some opportunities to get involved:
Coordinating ongoing projects such as food delivery
Researching local services and resources
Organizing donation drives
Writing newsletters
Developing a website
Tracking data for monitoring and evaluation
Developing relationships with realtors and leasing offices to reach out to new residents
This is by no means an exhaustive list! If you have other ways you want to be involved, please let us know at NewtonNeighborsHelping@gmail.com.
As always, please keep checking our Facebook group for ways to help or ask for assistance. Thank you to our generous community for all the love and support!
Stay safe,
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