Hello, my name is Shreeda Vyas and I am one of the founders of Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors. When I think about where we were a year ago, and where we are today, I am amazed. I am proud to announce that we have incorporated as a nonprofit (Newton Neighbors, Inc.) and that we have a fiscal partner, Newton Community Pride. This enables us to accept fundraising and solidify our organization.
What I want to share in this post is how we approached our work in the early days of March 2020. At that time using our “one-on-one” approach, we identified community needs, available resources and focused on matching neighbors to each other. We created a Google form for people to complete where they could ask for help or offer it. Through this “database,” we matched neighbors to neighbors to offer financial contributions, deliver groceries and/or prescriptions for people without transportation, provide Zoom guidance and SO MUCH MORE.
No ask was too big or too small. In a world forced to social distance, people came together virtually. These connections brought the community together in vital ways. Over the course of months, the one on one help moved towards broader scale efforts of working with our partners and creating food delivery systems, organizing porch drives and collecting donations.
Accesibility Matters
We translated our Google form into eight
languages to reach more people in the community.
Early Feedback
"Thank you so so much again for donations, and please pass along my deepest gratitude to anyone who sent help to me.
Please let them know it is making a real difference right now for me and my kids."
Emotional Connections Matter
"I want to explain that the impact of your work and contributions from people who gave and continue giving their support is so pivotal. It is not only the actual material impact of being able to buy shampoo and soap, and gas for the car. It is also A HUGE emotional impact of knowing there is someone here who is simply willing to help, to say yes, not to send me away to another place with a closed door. It is a power of love that transcends all. I am just so grateful that you organized this group, grateful for your help, grateful for donations, for care, for people who say yes. “
The Network grew and more people joined us
“I have been grateful for the opportunity to help in any way I can as my other volunteer positions have been suspended. Everything I have done has been well organized, efficient and easy to do.”
Thank you for being a part of our mutual aid network!
You can support the work of Newton Neighbors!
You can now make contributions to us by mailing a check!
Payable to: our fiscal sponsor Newton Community Pride
Mail to: 1294 Centre Street Newton 02459 (write Newton Neighbors in the memo line)
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