January 2018 - Boston

 
JF&CS Family Table Distribution
Jewish Family and Children's Service
 
Date/Time: Sunday, January 7 or Sunday, February 11 between two to three hours     
  • 9am: If interested, participate in setting up for the food distribution.
  • 10:15-11:45am: Receive your assignment and pack and deliver groceries. You may arrive anytime during this time frame. You will receive a quick orientation and can then begin packing groceries for several families.
Location: 1430 Main Street, Waltham
 
Family Table provides healthy food on a monthly and emergency basis to individuals and families in need. Their mission is to end hunger in the Greater Boston Jewish community while serving people who need our assistance, regardless of religious affiliation. Family Table fulfills its mission by providing Kosher food, creating a caring Jewish connection, and empowering people to make healthy eating a part of their daily lives. Family Table serves more than 100 towns across Greater Boston, the North Shore, and the South Area. Currently, Family Table is helping more than 500 families each month with groceries and connections to other services. Volunteers are needed to help with the following tasks:
  • Setting up the pantry
  • Packaging and delivering food orders to recipient families
Packing will take approximately 30 - 45 minutes. Your delivery location will not be more than 30 minutes from your hometown but not in your hometown for confidentiality reasons. The clients know that you are just dropping off the food and not visiting.

Ages: All ages are welcome and encouraged to volunteer when accompanied by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: One to three hours depending on the activity. Volunteers can arrive at 9am to help with setup.
 
Contact: Email familytable@jfcsboston.org at least two weeks before distribution date to sign up. All adult volunteers must complete a JF&CS administered CORI background check. If you have volunteered at Family Table previously, you can sign up one week before the distribution date.
www.jfcsboston.org/Our-Services/Community-Services/Center-for-Basic-Needs-Assistance/Family-Table
 
 
The Cambridge MLK Day of Service
Many Helping Hands 365
 
Date/Time: Monday, January 15, 2 - 5 pm
 
Location: Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
 
Come spend an afternoon making a difference in the lives of others. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lend your hands and come work with your children, friends and neighbors for hands-on service projects that will touch the lives of thousands of people in need. Projects include:
  • Making fleece scarves and blankets for homeless children and adults.
  • Making Valentines for elders and veterans.
  • Sorting food, winter clothing, books and toiletries for people in need and more
Don't come empty handed! Bring a can of food, a children's book or a gently used item of winter clothing.

Ages: All ages can participate. Children should be accompanied by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Flexible, up to three hours
 
Contact: info@manyhelpinghands365.org. Registration is available online.
 
 
Operation Sock Drop
Friends of Boston's Homeless
 
Date/Time: Anytime (we need socks all year round)
 
Location: Drop off donations at the 112 Southampton Street Shelter right in the South End. Please contact John Comaschi, in-kind donations coordinator at 617.947.6852. Just let John know when you'd like to drop off your donations and he or someone from the shelter will meet you and unload your car so you don't have to park.
 
Fresh, clean socks (and underwear!) are vital for people's health, warmth, comfort, and dignity and the least donated item to people in greatest need. The shelters we support give out over 8,000 pairs of socks each year. By participating in Operation Sock Drop you not only help keep our community's neediest, most vulnerable citizens safe, warm, and healthy, but you'll them help maintain their dignity and comfort during this most difficult time in their lives. Friends of Boston's Homeless supports the Woods Mullen Women's Shelter and the 112 Southampton Men's Shelter in the South End. These shelters serve over 800 homeless individuals every day.  To get started, just download this flyer and share with everyone you'd like to participate .
 
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:   Mariann Bucina Roca, mariannbucina@fobh.org
www.fobh.org
 
 
Make Housewarming Baskets for Newly Housed People
Friends of Boston's Homeless
 
Date/Time: Anytime (we're helping 150 people/yr. move beyond homelessness into their own safe, dignified housing)
 
Location: Drop off donations at the 112 Southampton Street Shelter right in the South End. Please contact John Comaschi, in-kind donations coordinator at 617.947.6852. Just let John know when you'd like to drop off your donations and he or someone from the shelter will meet you and unload your car so you don't have to park.
 
You and your family can help people who've spent years living on our streets and in shelters feel warmth and excitement as they move into their new place and get started on their new lives by providing the essential items we all need to make our house a home. By assembling and donating Housewarming Baskets, you'll be an important part of welcoming people into their new homes where they'll find the stability and serenity they need to begin their journey to hopeful, peaceful futures. It's as simple as assembling new (not used) items like cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, a set of sheets or towels, in a basket to be given as a housewarming gift to someone about to move into a place of their own- many for the first time in their lives.

And please include a welcome note, it means a lot to the person who receives it.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  Mariann Bucina Roca, mariannbucina@fobh.org
www.fobh.org
 
 
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2018
Boston Cares
 
Date/Time: Monday, January 15, 10am - 1pm
 
Location: Full opportunity address and directions will be sent to you by e-mail after you sign up.

Since 2006, Boston Cares has organized A Day ON, Not a Day OFF projects for MLK Day that have collectively engaged 6,250 individuals of all ages from Boston's neighborhoods and surrounding communities. This year, Boston Cares will organize 600 volunteers to support Boston families who are immigrants and refugees through the creation of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learning tools for community organizations and schools throughout the city of Boston. Volunteers will create English journals, conversation games, mobile lap desks, and vocabulary and citizenship flashcards for organizations for immigrant and refugee families learning English and preparing for the citizenship exam. Additionally, volunteers will join us in building beds for families who do not have a bed of their own. Volunteers will select an activity station based on age and interes t.
 
Ages: MLK Day is always kid-friendly and open to youth ages five and older. There must be one adult for every three youth under 18. If you are under 18 years old, you will need to bring a signed waiver in order to participate. You can download the waiver  here.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: Simon Pringle-Wallace at springle-wallace@bostoncares.org. Registration is available online and pre-registration is required.
www.bostoncares.org/

 
Nevins Farm Reading Program
MPSCA

Date/Time: First or second Sunday of the month, 11am - 2pm. Check website for 2018 dates. The next available date is Sunday, February 4.

Location: The MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen

Accompanied by a parent or guardian, children will read out loud to an adoring canine, feline, or even rabbit audience at this fun family event. While your child practices reading, you'll also be providing valuable social time to our adoptable animals. Bring your favorite book, or borrow one from the MPSCA library.

Ages: For children ages six to ten and a parent/guardian. All participants must have a parent or guardian present for the duration of the program. This event is appropriate for children who are learning to read, and/or could benefit from some practice reading out loud (1st - 4th grade). Please note that due to the nature of this program, and the limited space, we regretfully cannot accommodate younger siblings at this event (or any other unregistered guests).

Time Commitment: Three hours

Contact:  humaneeducation@mspca.org. Advanced registration is required and is available online. Registration for February (the next available date) will open at the end of December. Families are also welcome to join our kids programs Facebook group!
www.mspca.org/nevinseducation
 
 
Make No-Sew Blankets
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Your home or community
 
Enjoy a cozy family kindness project for a cold month! Your children can help make these simple, fleece  blankets and provide comfort to a child in need. No sewing is required. Many local organizations would appreciate your donations of these easy-to-create fleece blankets. Check with hospitals, homeless shelters, care facilities, or police and fire stations to gauge interest. Or you can deliver them to your local chapter of  Project Linus or  Binky Patrol. These two groups will distribute them to organizations with the greatest need. Visit the Doing Good Together Make No-Sew Blankets Project page for blanket-making instructions and reflection questions.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: mail@doinggoodtogether.org
 
Resolve to make 2018 your year to stand for kindness!

Want to make kindness a priority? You're not alone! In fact, there are big-hearted families nationwide who've decided sharing acts of kindness and service should be a top priority in 2018. The Big-Hearted Families Membership Circle can help! Our big-hearted experts are at your service to provide inspiration, motivation, and advice. Plus there are members-only perks too. All for just $24.99 annually.

Get started by joining in conversation with like-minded people. Our Facebook Big-Hearted Conversation Group is now available (free of charge) to anyone who wants to start or continue their family kindness practice. Discuss your goals, challenges, and ideas with other big-hearted families. And enjoy the tips posted by our Big-Hearted Families™ Director, Sarah Aadland.
 

 

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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. 
                                                                            

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