Helping to build a brighter future for people in need


February 2014
In This Issue
The Hope Necklace
COH-Haiti January Trip
Because of YOU
Coming Up
 
Silver Envelope 
Going on now

Did you receive a silver envelope in the mail from the
Boston Globe?  Inside, there is a little form you can send in with the name of your favorite charity and advertising dollars will be credited to them!  Please consider sending that in with our name on it.  Circle of Hope.  Our address is 65 Rosemary Street, Needham, 02492.

Preview Party 
February 6

Please join us to celebrate the introduction of our new Hope Necklace and be among the first to see the design that embodies the warmth and caring that goes with each delivery to the children, women, and men we serve. The proceeds of the new Hope Necklace will support Circle of Hope's mission of serving people in need. Light snacks will be served and a cash bar. Feel free to bring a friend.  Click here to RSVP by February 4.  

 
February 8, Noon-4pm

Come by and see us where we will have a table set up at Volantes to show our new Hope Necklace.

Coat Drive at Orvis at Legacy Place
Now thru February 9  

For the second year in a row, Orvis at Legacy Place has initiated a Coat Drive and is giving you one more reason to donate a coat to Circle of Hope.  They will present YOU with a $25 coupon towards the purchase of a new coat, jacket or sweater priced at $50 or more!
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Orvis Store Manager Ty Patton preparing for Coat Drive
B In Touch Blanket Drive
February
  
B In Touch Massage Therapy will be collecting BLANKETS for Circle of Hope throughout the entire month of February. For every blanket donated, B In Touch will give you a credit of $5 toward your account or a gift certificate, with a maximum of $25. Blankets should be new or freshly cleaned, preferably of a "soft and cuddly" material, machine-washable, and at least twin-sized (no throws, please!). B In Touch is located at 1253 Highland Avenue.   
 

      
Special Requests
  • Infant girls clothing 0-24 months 
  • Infant boys clothing 18-24 months 
  • Women's pants, Large and Extra Large 
If you have any of the above, please drop them off at 65 Rosemary Street during any of our              
DROP-OFF TIMES:

 

Monday, 9-10 AM 

 

Tuesday, 4-5:00 PM

Wednesday, 9-10:00 AM

Wednesday, 3-4:00 PM

Thursday, 10-11:30 AM  

 

Saturday, 9-11 AM  

 

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We Love to Hear This...

  

It's notes like this, that motivate us to work harder.  You, our supporters, will especially appreciate these words...

  

"For our guests to have the opportunity  to put clean and fresh clothing on helps them with their self esteem and they have a more positive outlook on life. When they go out for job interviews, the clothing they wear can and has made a real difference in being considered seriously for a position. Most of all it shows that people care about them.  You may never meet the people that the clothing has been donated to, but please know that you have been a positive influence in their lives."  

  

John Comaschi

Coordinator of Donations Services

Boston's Long Island Shelter 


Go To Crew Update   

 

In early January we received urgent requests from two of the shelters we support - ATASK, a domestic violence shelter, and Casa Nueva Vida, a family shelter.  Both were looking for twin-size blankets.

As usual, the Go To Crew came to the rescue with armloads of new and gently-used blankets.  Additionally, we received donations from Temple Aliyah and another generous individual to purchase new blankets.  And here's just one more report from our Executive Director, Barbara Waterhouse.  "One member of our Go To Crew came in just as we were closing one night, with new sweat pants, fleece, and other warm items saying she was so very grateful for her warm home.  She just couldn't imagine what it would be like to be outside on such a cold day."  Thank you all for your continued support.

 

The Go To Crew is a small group of supporters who receive an e-mail if a special need arises.  Being a member of the Go To Crew does not obligate its members to donate every time there is a need.  If you would like to be a member of the Go To Crew, or know someone who would like to be on this e-mail list, just respond to this e-mail, or click here.

 

 


Dear Friends of Circle of Hope,

So far this winter has broken records for snow depths and continued frigid temperatures and its not over yet. At Circle of Hope we've broken our very own record for the amount of donations we delivered in a single month. You'll see the numbers in this issue and you'll be astounded. Our volunteers stay late to gather coats for deliveries the next morning. Others come in to volunteer additional hours to make sure that warm clothing gets out the door where its needed most. Team work like this is what Circle of Hope is all about.

 

These team efforts are recognized in hugs given to our drivers and words expressed in notes like the one I received as our drivers departed Long Island Shelter in Boston this past week. John Camaschi, Coordinator of Donations Services, told me that 396 men came in from the cold the night before our delivery. He added, "Large numbers even larger donations from the Circle of Hope. Many thanks. Take Care, God bless you all."

 

This winter we also brought the blessing of much needed medical care to Haiti. I am so very proud of our very own Dr. Emilie Hitron for her amazing progress in Lazil, Haiti. You'll read about her recent trip and I am sure you'll agree that COH Haiti is a model program empowering Haitians helping Haitians achieve sustained access to life saving medical care.

 

I am also proud to introduce the Hope Necklace in this issue. We've created this beautiful necklace to support our mission helping improve the lives of children, women, and men who struggle with homelessness. I think it is a beautiful symbol of hope and I will wear mine with gratitude for the loving bond of a caring community.

 

Blessings abound at Circle of Hope. I am grateful for the gift of so much kindness. In what feels like an endless winter my heart is warmed by your generosity.

  
With deepest thanks,
 
Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director       

Introducing, The Hope Necklace

Many of us wear clothing or jewelry bearing symbols that have special meaning to us....the Tree of Life, a heart, the cross, the Star of David, the Yin-Yang symbol. The design associated with Circle of Hope has special meaning to many. When we asked COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse what the original concept was when it was created over five years ago, she said, "For me, it conveys the image of an embrace and the idea of a human relationship and caring bond. I think the design of the circle, slightly open, symbolizes outstretched arms embracing and also open to all as hopeful, inclusive and inviting."

 

The new Hope Necklace, a delicate pendant imprinted with our unique design, an antique silver finish on a beautiful sterling silver chain is now available for $35. The proceeds of this necklace will further Circle of Hope's mission of providing clothing and basic necessities to children, women, and men who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Purchases may be made online, or you can complete an order form and mail or e-mail it to us. Pssst...if you were wondering what to give a friend or family member for Valentine's Day, the Hope Necklace represents showing love in two ways - to the recipient and to the families and individuals that Circle of Hope serve.

  

P.S.  There are two ways to view the Hope Necklace this month.  This Thursday, February 6, 5-7pm we will have it on display at a little Preview Party at Needham's new Residence Inn.  If you would like to drop by, please RSVP by clicking here.  Also, on Saturday, February 8, noon-4pm we will be at Volante Farms during their Local Food Winter Fest.   Please stop by! 

 

To order online, click here.

To complete an order form to mail in, click here.


 
Rigan at work
Rigan at work
COH-Haiti January Trip
A report from COH-Haiti Director, Dr. Emilie Hitron

 

Thanks to all for your generous support to COH-Haiti.  We have been able to start a full-time clinic in the village of Lazil staffed by Haitian professionals.

 

I returned from Haiti a few days ago and my heart is full of gratitude.  Rigan Luis, our nurse, is doing a wonderful job in the clinic.  He has built units to store medical records, has organized the medications, and is keeping clear records of patient encounters as well as keeping a ledger of income and expenses. His medical judgment is sound. He has pulled several families through bouts of cholera, which continues to be a threat. He also relates a story of being able to start an IV on a severely dehydrated two-week-old infant and keeping that child alive through the night and transferring him successfully to Doctors Without Borders the following day. The child continues to thrive.

 

We were able to purchase a drill for Dr. Emmanuel, the Haitian dentist that visits Lazil every month. He is thrilled that he can now restore teeth. What a difference this will make in peoples' lives.

 

We are grateful that your generous support has allowed us to expand our care for the wonderful citizens of Lazil. Thank you. 

 
Because of YOU...
Because of people like YOU, Circle of Hope is able to help hundreds of people in Boston area homeless shelters and programs serving refugees and disadvantaged youth.  Here are some of our stories from this month...

Shout Out's To Many                           
 

We are very grateful for all of the support we've been receiving from our community!  No doubt we will forget at least one group who ran a drive for us and quietly came by with what was collected, but here are at least a few of the organizations we would like to recognize.  Shout outs and a big thank you to Brenda and Bob at The Closet Exchange for the beautiful women's clothing they donate every month; Cub Scout Pack 4 for the hat and glove drive; Broadmeadow School for dropping off unclaimed lost and found clothing; Temple Beth Shalom for the coat drive; Sew Easy president Lauren Grisolia and her customers for the men's clothing; Temple Aliyah for the donation to purchase blankets; and Westwood Integrated Preschool for the clothing drive.  You inspire so many to give and expand our reach to those in need.  

Record-Breaking Month                         
 

You, our supporters, continue to amaze us.  With your help we keep expanding our donations to more people and more often.  And this past December, we broke our all-time monthly record of deliveries.  Because of you, we delivered clothing valued at nearly $52,000 to the shelters and organizations we support like Project Hope, Renewal House, and Women's Lunch Place.  COH Board President Myra Anderson was thrilled to congratulate the volunteers.  "This is really a testament to the dedication of our staff and volunteers to fulfill our mission to serve the deepest need. I am so pleased and humbled to be part of such a dedicated group."    

Random Stories to Share
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OK, yes, we have a million of them.  But here's two...

The day after our January newsletter was sent out, temperatures dipped into the single digits and our front door kept opening with generous donors carrying armloads of warm clothing. You answered our call for men's winter clothes and, thanks to you, our volunteer driver brought a car full of donations to United Homes Shelter for men in Dorchester two days later. The more than 150 guests at the shelter faced the frigid temperatures warmed by your kindness and beautiful quality clothing. Thank you!

 

Another COH donor told us she and her family served dinner on Christmas Eve to the men at Boston's Long Island Shelter. She had previously donated her father's coat and we told her it was going to a man at Long Island Shelter. Her children felt the invisible thread connecting their family to the community of men gathering for Christmas dinner in the shelter. Now that is a Circle of Hope!

 

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