August 2017 - Boston

 
We Need You!
DGT Boston Listing Coordinator

You can make a difference for families and nonprofits in your community. Doing Good Together is looking for a volunteer listings coordinator to help us research and curate our monthly family-friendly volunteer listing. The coordinator:
  • Researches nonprofits in the Boston area
  • Contacts identified nonprofits, either by email and/or phone, to find out about potential family-friendly volunteer opportunities
  • Identifies 4-6 different family-friendly volunteer opportunities each month
  • Writes up the opportunities for the Boston monthly listing
DGT staff will offer step-by-step instructions, answer your questions and provide all the materials you need to find family-friendly volunteer opportunities in your community. Learn about the great work of local organizations and help grow more big-hearted families -- all while working from home, on your own schedule!

Time Commitment: Five to ten hours per month. One-year commitment preferred.
 
Contact: Laurie, laurie@doinggoodtogether.org
 
 
Drop by the Farm and Get Your Hands Dirty for Hunger Relief
Community Harvest Program
 
Date/Time: Drop in Monday through Saturday, 9am - noon, now through September (except for holiday weekends)
 
Location: Brigham Hill Community Farm, 37 Wheeler Road, Grafton
 
Community Harvest Project is a nonprofit farm that engages volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to provide to those experiencing hunger. Through our volunteer farming programs, education initiatives, and community partnerships, we bring thousands of community members together each year to improve access to healthy foods for individuals and families in need across Worcester County. The farm is a great place to help children understand how food is grown, about volunteering while impacting their awareness of hunger and our efforts to improve the food supply for those seeking hunger relief. No gardening experience is necessary. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Bring a water bottle, hat, sneakers and sunscreen. Gloves are available onsite. All work is outdoors and in the fields, harvest happens rain or shine so please dress accordingly. Season length can vary due to the nature of farming, so check Facebook for up-to-date openings and closings.
 
Ages: All ages are welcome. An adult must accompany children under 16.5
 
Time Commitment: Up to three hours per shift. Volunteer anytime Monday through Saturday, 9am-noon for as long as you like.
 
Contact: Wayne McAuliffe, wayne@community-harvest.org
 
 
Back to School Backpack Drive
JFS Metrowest
 
Date/Time: Monday, August 21, 10am - noon, and Tuesday, August 22, 10am - noon
 
Location(s):
  • Wellesley Public Library, 530 Washington Street, Wellesley, August 21
  • Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St, Framingham, August 22
With summer flying by, it's time to start getting ready for the upcoming school year by lending a helping hand to children in the Metrowest area. This is the sixth consecutive year of the Build-a-Backpack event, where the goal is to give away 330 backpacks full of school supplies to families in our community who need them the most. Every year, JFS collects school supplies for children ages five to ten through corporate donations and local supply drives. Volunteers (often families with young children) are asked to bring new backpacks to the event where they stuff them full of school supplies, choosing who the backpack will go to, i.e. 2nd grade girl, 4th grade boy, etc. Then JFS distributes the filled backpacks to the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham as well as the parent information center for the Framingham Public Schools. Please bring a backpack or two with you.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Two hours
 
Contact: Kayla Hopkins at 508.875.3100 x220 or khopkins@jfsmw.org. Registration is available online.
www.jfsmw.org
 
 
Making Lunch for the Ladies
On The Rise, Inc.
 
Date/Time: Flexible, this opportunity is available six days a week. Meals should be dropped off between 8 - 11am, prior day delivery can be arranged if needed.
 
Location: 341 Broadway, Cambridge

For the homeless women at On The Rise, a healthy and hearty meal enjoyed in a safe home is invaluable. They rely on the kind hearts and culinary talents of volunteers to cook a meal in their kitchen and deliver to On the Rise directly. This volunteer opportunity fills one of their greatest needs by being able to offer a healthy and hearty meal to a woman who otherwise would not have many options. Don't shy away from this opportunity even if you don't consider yourself a cook; store bought and pre-made items are also welcome. As the women are as diverse as their palates, you choose what you would like to make; it is sure to be appreciated and enjoyed! Shopping, preparing and cooking these meals is a wonderful opportunity to give back with your children, as they can get involved at any age. To respect the privacy of the women, volunteers do not serve lunch at On The Rise. Lunch is set up family-style in the comfy kitchen and women help themselves. Entrée should serve 15 adults; sides and dessert are optional. Fresh fruit is encouraged with lunch donations. Click here for more specific lunch preparation and delivery information .

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.
 
Time Commitment: Flexible, this can be a one-time opportunity or you may sign up for multiple shifts throughout the year
 
Contact: Keyton Sheely, keyton.sheely@ontherise.org or 617.497.7968 ext. 36. Volunteers must preregister and registration is available online.
www.ontherise.org
 
 
Family Service Day on the Farm!
The MSPCA at Nevins Farm
 
Date/Time: Monday, September 4, 9am -noon
 
Location: The MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuem

Many children want to help animals on a farm, but the MSPCA requires children to be 16 or older to work with the animals. Younger kids can also experience what it's really like to roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty on a farm - cleaning cages and mucking stalls! That's why they offer the MSPCA at Nevins Farm's "Family Service Day" series. At the Family Service Day on the Farm, adult-child pairs are able to participate as hands-on volunteers at the MSPCA. Each group participates in three activities: an animal care chore, support chores, and an educational presentation that includes a fun activity and animal meet & greet. Animal care chores include cleaning cat cages, walking gentle dogs, or mucking horse stalls. The program provides a fun and educational opportunity for families to make a meaningful contribution to the MSPCA's animal care efforts.

Ages: This program is for children ages 6 - 10. Each child must attend with a parent or adult guardian.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: humaneeducation@mspca.org, 978.687.7453. Registration is available online.  Families are also welcome to join our kids programs Facebook group! www.mspca.org/adoption-centers/nevins-farm-adoption-center/humane-education-programs-at-nevins-farm/ 
 
 
Backpack Attack - Help fill 2500 backpacks!
The Wish Project
 
Date/Time: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, 9am-2pm from August 1 - September 7 (Drop off by August 19, if possible, so backpacks can get to children before they start school. However, donations will be accepted through September 7.)
 
Location: The Wish Project, 1 A Foundry St., Lowell  
 
It's back to school time! As you prepare for getting back to school yourselves, collect and donate school supplies and new backpacks for needy children. You will be helping The Wish Project reach their goal of 2500 backpacks. New and filled backpacks are distributed to the children from more than 59 homeless shelters and other social service programs in the Merrimack Valley. Items must be NEW for this project. Check out the Backpack attack flier for items each backpack should contain. The contents are kept similar so that all children are gifted equally.  

Ages: All ages can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: info@thewishproject.org, 978.441.9474. For other volunteer opportunities contact patty@thewishproject.org
 
 
Creative for A Cause
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Your home or community

Visit the Doing Good Together Creative for a Cause Project Page for a variety of ideas for nurturing creativity and compassion in your children. When we can understand how someone else is feeling and how they might experience life differently, we can search for innovative ways to help. Creativity in its many forms will inspire children to approach problem solving in new ways, which will help them navigate the many roads to kindness in our complex society. Your family can choose a project or projects that inspire you and apply your creativity to an act of kindness

Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies, depending on project
 
Contact: mail@doinggoodtogether.org
 
 

For years, DGT™ founder Jenny Friedman, PhD, has offered insight, research, and tips on a variety of trending topics in each of her monthly newsletters. These popular offerings are now made better by a new & improved Newsletter archive page on our website which compiles these resources in easy-to-find layout and in more shareable web-based format. Search by category (such as preschoolers vs. tween) or tags, which signify topics such as empathy, nature, or play. Read, share, and of course, subscribe to these offerings today!

 

 

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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. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     © 2017 Doing Good Together™