April 2015 - Boston

 

Boston Walk like MADD  

MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers

 

Date/Time: Saturday April 25, 9am-2pm

 

Location: Lake Quannapowitt, Lake Avenue, Wakefield  

 

Come down to MADD's biggest event of the year to help with logistics such as registration, raffle tickets, handing out food, cheering on walkers, timing runners, and handing out water. They need lots of energetic and fun people to help this event be a success. All volunteers are welcome to enjoy food and the party atmosphere once their duties are done. This is a very fun and family-friendly event! Walk Like MADD is intended to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, pay tribute to victims, and raise money for their programs and services. Before and after the walk and run, there is entertainment and kids' activities for everyone to have fun.  

 

Ages: All ages can participate

 

Time Commitment: Flexible

 

Contact: MaryKate DePamphilis, 781.328.0002 Ext 2552, marykate.depamphilis@madd.org. Registration is available online.
www.madd.org 

 

Team for Cures 5K Run/Walk

MMRF Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

   

Date/Time: Sunday, April 26, 7-9:30am, race starts at 8  

 

Location: Carson Beach, 125 William J. Day Boulevard, Boston   

 

This family-friendly 5K walk/run raises both awareness and funds for multiple myeloma. Since its inception in 2001 in Chicago, the MMRF Race for Research program has raised more than $21 million to support the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's urgent work. The MMRF is a non-profit organization and their mission is to find a cure for multiple myeloma, a deadly blood cancer. They host 5Ks in seven different cities throughout the country during the year. The races are a wonderful family-friendly event filled with hope, camaraderie and knowledge sharing among patients, their families and friends, and health professionals. The funds raised at the Race for Research events are so critical to their mission. They have a variety of volunteer posts they are looking to fill (registration, t-shirt hand out, directions on the race course, and post-race water and banana distribution). 

 

Ages: All ages can participate 

 

Time Commitment: Flexible

 

Contact: Erin Crawford crawforde@themmrf.org or Brittany English englishb@themmrf.org or register online
www.themmrf.org 

 

 

Global Youth Service Day 2015  

Boston Cares

 

Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 10am-1pm

 

Location: 50 Park Street, Dorchester, International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) building. The actual event will NOT be held at 50 Park Street. Once you have arrived at 50 Park Street, turn onto Mapes Street and follow for about 1/4 mile. The IUEC Local 4 building will be on your left. Plenty of parking is available. The location is less than a ten minute walk from the Fields Corner Red Line MBTA station.  

 

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual celebration of youth in service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world, engaging youth in over 100 countries and 6 continents. By participating in this project, you will be joining millions of youth everywhere for the world's largest annual day of youth service! During Boston Cares Global Youth Service Day event volunteers will be building and decorating wooden boxes and packing them with gardening supplies to create Healthy Garden Start-Up Kits. These kits will be donated to youth members of the West End House Boys & Girls Club in Allston. Our goal is to promote healthy habits by giving children an outlet to plant and grow their own foods including cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, and oregano. The idea is that when kids grow their own healthy foods, kids eat healthy foods! Toolkits will include Garden Guides developed by the Boston Cares Teen Advisory Council that provide instructions for gardening as well as a healthy recipe booklet. Can't make it to the event? No problem! Boston Cares will provide you with a complete Project Toolkit for groups and/or individuals to participate in the project on their own time and in their own space.  

 

Ages: This is a great opportunity for families with children age five and older. All volunteers under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old.    

 

Time Commitment: Three hours 

 

Contact: Ginelle Testa, 617.422.0910, Ext. 208 or email Ginelle at youth@bostoncares.org. All volunteers under 18 years old must bring a permission form signed by a parent or guardian to give to the Project Leader.
www.bostoncares.org 

 

 

6th Annual Walk Away Homelessness Event  

Family Promise Metrowest (FPM)

 

Date/Time: Saturday, April 11, Registration is at 7:45am, walk begins at 8:30am, wrap-up and prize drawing at 10:30am.  

 

Location: Natick Common, Intersection Rt. 27 & 135  

 

Family Promise Metrowest is a cooperative, interfaith partnership offering hope to homeless families with children through safe transitional housing, meals, and supportive case management as they seek permanent housing. You and your family can join the fun and help raise funds for Family Promise Metrowest's Family Shelter and Transitional Housing Program. Activities include music, children's crafts, face painting and much more. Proceeds support families served by FPM with Temporary Shelter, Job Placement, Tutoring, Health Services, Life Skills Counseling, Clothing, Advocacy, Transportation and Transitional Housing.

 

Ages: All ages can participate

 

Time Commitment: Two-three hours

 

Contact: 508.318.4820
www.familypromisemetrowest.org

 

 

16th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup  

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)

 

Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 9am-noon

 

Location: Various locations from Bellingham to Boston  

 

Join Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) and partner organizations for the 16th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, where thousands of volunteers and community groups come together to beautify the banks of the Charles River from Bellingham to Boston! This annual event provides volunteers the opportunity to contribute positively to the river's health, while developing a connection to some of Massachusetts' most precious natural resources that far outlasts this one-day event. Individuals, families and groups are welcome to participate and join CRWA at one of three regional picnics following the event. Cleanup supplies including gloves and trash bags will be provided and participating volunteers will receive an official 2015 Charles River Cleanup t-shirt while supplies last.    

 

Ages: All ages can participate 

 

Time Commitment: Up to three hours 

 

Contact: 781.788.0007 charles@crwa.org. Registration is available online
www.crwa.org 

 

 

Walk MS: Spring in Concord & Boston  

National MS Society

 

Date/Time: Sunday, April 12, 7:30am - 2pm  

 

Location: Concord & Boston (See website for more location info and alternate dates.)  

 

Volunteers at the Boston or Concord Walk MS will help support more than 2,500 walkers who have joined the movement to create a world free of MS! Volunteer opportunities include: Set-up and registration, Greeters, Route support volunteers (On your bicycle), First aid volunteers (EMT's, Nurses, First Responders, etc.), Route Marker, Wall of Hope, Photographer or route photographer, Finish line cheering and clean up crew, Rest Stop Truck Driver (delivers and picks up rest stop supplies) ...and more!  

 

Ages: Volunteers should be 15 or older 

 

Time Commitment: Varies

 

Contact: Aileen Callahan, aileen.callahan@nmss.org, 1.800.344.4867.
www.msnewengland.org  

 

 

Cheering Station for the 2015 Boston Marathon  

Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter

 

Date/Time: Monday, April 20, 8am - 3pm 

 

Location: Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington St., Newton   

 

On Marathon Monday, the MA/NH Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is hoping to rally up a cheering section of 100+ volunteers. They want to make lots of noise and give their 40 runners some energy before they hit the Newton hills. With all their hard work in training and fundraising, they need to make sure they feel the love! Look for the purple -- you won't be able to miss them.   

 

Ages: All ages can participate.  

 

Time Commitment: Flexible- feel free to come for as long or as little as you can!

 

Contact: Autumn, 617.393.2085
www.alz.org/manh

 

 

The 47th Annual Walk for Hunger  

Project Bread 

 

Date/Time: Sunday, May 3, 6:30am - 4:30pm

 

Location: Arsenal Park, Watertown  

 

Each year, more than 2,000 volunteers come together to make The Walk for Hunger a fun, safe, and successful experience. The Walk covers a 20-mile route through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown and Cambridge. Please join in this beloved event and be part of the effort to eradicate hunger in Massachusetts. The funds raised through The Walk for Hunger will ensure that people of all ages and cultures have sustainable, reliable access to nutritious food - because Project Bread believes the opposite of hungry is not simply full, but healthy. There are many jobs on Walk Day. Plus, you will receive a free Walk for Hunger Volunteer t-shirt! You could pass out water to walkers and stamp walk guides, hand out sandwiches to walkers (must be 18) or help manage our shuttle buses back to Boston Common!  

 

Ages: All ages can participate 

 

Time Commitment: Flexible

 

Contact: To sign up, visit: www.projectbread.org/walk-for-hunger/volunteer
 www.projectbread.org 

 

 

Donate Birthday Baskets   

Heading Home

 

Date/Time: Year-round. Baskets can be delivered to Heading Home's administrative office on weekdays.

 

Location: Heading Home, The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 100, Charlestown  

 

Heading Home's client families consist of a single mom with one to two young children, representing the demographic of a homeless family in Massachusetts. Heading Home's programs provide families with a safe, home-like environment where families can receive the critical support for our youngest shelter residents. Birthday baskets should include: decorations, goodie bags, one to three gifts (suggestions under $40 can be provided), and a cake (or grocery store gift card to cover cake cost). A party activity or an arts and crafts project can also be donated, but not necessary.  

 

Ages: All ages 

 

Time Commitment: Varies; shop and assemble when it works for you!

 

Contact: Caitlin Quinn, Heading Home Development Coordinator, cquinn@headinghomeinc.org or 617.864.8140, ext.135

www.headinghomeinc.org 

 

 

Plant a Row for the Hungry  

Ample Harvest or Garden Writers Association

 

Date/Time: During the growing season  

 

Location: Your garden, community garden, or wherever you have the opportunity  

 

Spring is in the air and gardeners everywhere can't wait to get started. Whether you plant a container garden on a windowsill or a deck, overthrow a patch of lawn in favor of a garden, or join a community effort, planning a row dedicated to the local food shelf can make a world of difference. Donating dedicated produce or extra produce from your garden helps food shelves provide more healthy food options and helps prevent food waste. Check out Doing Good Together's Plant a Row for the Hungry page for more information, reflection questions for your family, and additional resources. To find a food shelf near you that would like to receive your produce donation, visit Ample Harvest's find a food pantry page.   

 

Ages: Everyone can participate 

 

Time Commitment: Varies

 

Contact:  Ample Harvest, info@AmpleHarvest.org or Garden Writer's Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry, PAR Hotline 1.877.492.2727
www.ampleharvest.org, www.gardenwriters.org

 

 
 DGT Families Making a Difference

Are you and your family taking advantage of the opportunities in our monthly listings? We'd love to hear about your experiences. Email us your stories and photos and we'll share them with our readers!

In mid March a number of DGT families from the Boston area came together to help support the Cradles to Crayons Pajama Drive. The event was hosted by Kira Hower, our Boston Coordinator and facilitated by Caryn Oppenheim, youth services coordinator at Cradles to Crayons. The program included a short video about C2C, a reading of the children's book Pajamas of My Dreams, and a thoughtful discussion about what types of donations are important and why. The event ended with the kids and adults making "well wishes" cards to go inside backpacks for the kids. Participants donated over 100 pairs of pajamas and raised awareness about the needs of the C2C families.
 

 

 

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This list was compiled by Doing Good Together? (www.doinggoodtogether.org)
 When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.? Doing Good Together? bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     ? 2015 Doing Good Together?