Tag Archives: donate

Fashion

Dorrie – always in style! … ‘Tis the season for helping the less fortunate – people and animals!

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Dorrie says dropping off clean, warm clothing and blankets at the Mustard Seed soup kitchen on Piedmont Street is the giving thing to do this Christmas!🐺🐶🐕🐺🎄🎄🎄🎁

By Dorrie Maynard

Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings, Merry Christmas, Meilleurs Voeux, Felices Fiestas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, and any others that I may have missed!

As we all go on about with our busy preparations for the festivities this season with family and friends, please take some time to remember and acknowledge those who don’t have people to spend the holidays with. There are many out there who don’t even have a safe and warm place to sleep at night.

I know there is a fine line between enabling and helping, but just for this season we can all try to not judge others until we have walked in their shoes or know their battles. Some are out there because they are drinking and/or drugging and choose to continue to do so, and others are out there because of circumstances that they may have contributed to or had no assistance to handle.

A place like the Mustard Seed on Piedmont street is a great place to start giving back to your community! You can drop off gently used, clean, warm clothing, groceries, toiletries, sleeping bags, blankets, pairs of socks, or even offer to prepare and serve a meal to the sometimes more than 100 hungry people who visit daily.

The Mustard Seed is open Monday through Friday, 4 pm – 6 pm.

Other local places to consider: Abby’s House, the Veteran’s Shelter, St. John’s Feeding program, your local senior center, the Boy’s & Girls Club of Worcester, the Friendly House, the Salvation Army, just to name a few.

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SONY DSC

Children at the Friendly House Annual Christmas Party, held this past Sunday at FH, 36 Wall St., met Santa, got a holiday gift, had fun and were treated to entertainment because of the efforts and love of volunteers – and FH Executive Director Gordon Hargrove! Donations of gently used (or new!), warm, clean clothing and blankets are always needed this time of year at the Friendly House!

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SONY DSC

I don’t like to give money to pan handlers, but I do try to always have some granola bars in my car to hand
out. There was one man on a corner I recognized from working at a local food pantry, and I offered him a bar.

He said, “No thanks. I don’t have any teeth.” And then he smiled at me.

I didn’t have have anything else to give him, but he was gracious when I offered something.

I also try to have on hand: a pair of gloves, mittens, hat, scarf this time of year to give out to folks on street corners. I know it might be their attempt to look cold, thus making people
feel more sorry for them, but at least I feel better knowing they have something warm as I drive off.

If you are more into helping animals, as some are, for various reasons, another suggestion is to give to your local animal rescue league/society. They are always in need of used, clean blankets and towels, rolls of paper towels, bleach, cat litter, pet food, etc. You can always call ahead or look on line at their wish lists to find out what they truly are in need of, as things change daily, depending upon what they have or have run out of.

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Help animals who may need food, shelter or a forever home!

I always believe it is best to donate to small local rescues, as they help animals in your area. I don’t like to donateto the places that you see ads for on TV as they are paying for those ads, and those “free” t-shirts or bags
that they are willing to send you for your donation aren’t “free” either.

Something else that people can do this holiday season and throughout the year: Volunteer!!! Pick a passion! Get involved in your community! It may take some time to find the perfect place where you feel like you belong, but there are plenty of places out there
that are in need of regular volunteers.

So with all this said, I would like to wish everyone a very warm, safe, happy and healthy holiday season. All the best in the coming New Year! In this very difficult world that we live in, try to have a little compassion in your heart and empathy for others. Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards All!

InCity Voices

PLEASE! Remember our homeless vets this holiday season! #GivingTuesday is Nov. 29

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Please think of Veteran Homestead this holiday season!

Give to our veterans to thank them for our freedom!

Greetings!

This year Veteran Homestead is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day of GIVING fueled by the power of social media.

In two weeks, on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (Tuesday, 29 November) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

We will be posting and tweeting every day and I ask that you follow Veteran Homestead on Facebook, Twitter (@vethomestead) and Instagram (@veteranhomestead) and share our posts to your network of family, friends and colleagues.

Our mission is to creatively engage as many people as possible via social media to show the good work we do for our veterans in hopes that you will go to our website and DONATE.

90% of all Veteran Homestead funds go directly to veteran care, 10% solely to facility maintenance and administration.

Veteran Homestead Inc., is an independent, non-profit organization that provides housing and care to U.S. Armed Services Veterans from across the nation who are elderly, disabled or diagnosed with a terminal illness.

With six unique facilities in New England and Puerto Rico, our team of credentialed professionals serve those who have served in our armed forces, with compassion and dedication without regard to race, religion, or sexual orientation.

All Veteran Homestead programs are drug and alcohol free.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Leslie Lightfoot
Founder & CEO
VeteranHomestead.org

***

One terrific program:

Hero Homestead
Leominster, Massachusetts

The Hero Homestead is a 15 bed, substance free facility located in Leominster.

Residents are encouraged to co-exist, assisting each other and attending to as many of their own needs as possible.

This program provides transitional housing for veterans who are dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues, as well as other challenges related to homelessness.

To learn all about the HOMESTEAD’S PROGRAMS click HERE!  

InCity Feature, InCity Voices

Still time to donate coats to WPS’s “Coats for Kids”

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By Paula Harrity, coordinator of volunteers, Worcester Public Schools

Every day school is in session, more than 23,000 students converge on the Worcester Public Schools. More than two thirds of these children are poor, many do not speak English as a first language in their home, and increasingly, the Worcester Public Schools welcomes refugees who have come here from war torn nations, and they have witnessed first-hand the horrors of mass destruction and hunger.

The Coats for Kids program provides new winter outerwear to needy children who attend the Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Head Start, Community Partnerships and for Children, and several area homeless shelters. This service began 25 year ago and serviced 400 children. Last year (2010-2011) 2,200+ children were given new winter jackets, hats & mittens. This past year the program was expanded to secondary students. In addition, a quantity of winter jackets, hats & mittens were provided to the Parent Information Center to have on hand for needy families arriving from other countries.

Students who receive this service are referred by the building principal or program directors. All of these children are at or below the poverty level and qualify for free or reduced school lunches. The program takes place from mid October to mid January. Families are very thankful for this assistance for this service during these very difficult economic times.

This past year the program expanded to include secondary schools, the SAMS program, ACT program (all sites), Adult Education and Alternative Education programs.

Individuals who donate to this program range from individual community members; to church, work and family groups. Individuals or groups can get the information and do the shopping themselves or send in a donation and the Worcester Educational Development Foundation, Inc and Junior League of Worcester assists with the shopping. We also have a group of shoppers from RSVP-Worcester Area Volunteers who assist with shopping.

We are also very fortunate to have so many corporate/business partners for this project. They donate funding, serve as drop off sites and get employees involved in the program and serve on the advisory board.

This program is administered through the Worcester Public Schools Volunteer Office.

InCity Voices, Uncategorized

Too much stuff! In 2011 let’s donate, recyle …

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By William S. Coleman III

Everybody just stop and take a minute and inventory everything you have. Now I’m talking about shoes, shirts, dresses, coats, plates, your cups, kitchen gadgets, furniture, combs, brushes, TV’s, typewriters, computers, videotapes, CD’s , DVD’s, old LP’s, sneakers, rotted food in your refrigerator, telephones, fax machines, old love letters, underwear, toothbrushes, books, radios, air conditioners that don’t work, tires, stuff in garage or attic, unused medications, old batteries, pens, pencils, kids (just kidding), empty plastic bottles, lawnmowers, newspapers, socks, slippers, canned goods in our cupboards, too many sins on your soul, too many pocketbooks, too many receipts, too many tools, too many bad memories, too many broken hearts, too many thoughts of woulda, coulda, shoulda, too many regrets, too many missed opportunities.

We’ve all got too much stuff!

During this time of year think about lightening your load. Continue reading Too much stuff! In 2011 let’s donate, recyle … →

InCity Feature, InCity Letters, InCity Voices

Our “Give A Book” campaign is up and running! Please donate books (or your time)!

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By Worcester School Committee member John Monfredo

Worcester: The City That Reads Committee has kicked off its fourth annual G.A.B. (Give A Book) Drive; it will continue until May 15 (Spring into Books). Its goal: to place a book into the hands of children who may not be able to afford to purchase a book of their very own. This volunteer committee is headed by my wife, Anne-Marie, a former educator, and me. This organization’s objective is to promote literacy awareness across the Worcester. We have had a number of events towards this goal, and we have collected over 50,000 books during the past three years with our “Give a Book” program.

Last year 20,000 gently used and new books were collected for the children in our city. The books were distributed to the children in June for summer reading and additional books were given to social service agencies, health centers, summer school projects and other organizations that work with children. Our goal this year is to collect at least another 20,000 books and try to hit 25,000! We believe we can do it with everyone’s help! Continue reading Our “Give A Book” campaign is up and running! Please donate books (or your time)! →