Helping to build a brighter future for people in need


July/August 2014
In This Issue
Adding to the Sum of Good in the World
Because of YOU
L to R, Project Hope staffer Joanne and Project Hope Shelter Director Rosa
Coming Up
 
Summer Schedule 
July 18 - Labor Day

Please note that Circle of Hope will be closed July 18 through Labor Day.  Please save your back-to-school clothes for COH for when we re-open Tuesday, September 2nd!

      
Special Requests
  • Infant clothing - all sizes
  • Women's tops - Size L, XL, and up
  • Children's swimsuits - all sizes 
  • Women's swimsuits - Size Medium, L, XL   
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   

 

If you would like to make a financial donation to Circle of Hope, click here

 

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You Must Hear This...
 

  

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

 

"Never have I seen  a full house in the middle of June...thanks for all your assistance."

 

 

John Comaschi  

Boston's Long Island Shelter 

Go To Crew Update   

 

We are so grateful to the donors who brought us wonderful summer sandals and sneakers in response to our "Go To Crew" request.  One donor came with a grocery bag filled with different children's sizes, some of which went out to children at Casa Nueva Vida shelter that same day.  One pair of shoes from her bag, along with a pair from another  "Go To Crew" member went to fill a special request for an 8 month old baby boy and 2 year old girl at Project Hope Shelter.

Additionally this month, we put out an emergency request for men's pants and jeans to deliver to Boston's Long Island Shelter.  
According to our contact, John Comaschi, there is a significant increase in the number of clients receiving shelter.  In a recent e-mail he said, "Never have I seen  a full house in the middle of June...thanks for all your assistance." 

 

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,

We've had an amazing summer already.  We've had a record number of requests for men's clothing from Long Island Shelter in Boston.  They had to add more beds, bringing the total number of guests to 450 men each night.  Pine Street Inn reached out for our help for the first time to help the men in their programs.  In this issue you'll read about our "Go To Crew" members who helped us answer these calls, in addition to filling our empty cubbies with children's sneakers and shoes.
 
I hope you'll read our tribute to my mentor and dear friend, Carolyn Panasevich, who passed away recently and left us all a legacy of meeting needs one person, one place at a time.  She would be so very thrilled to see the outpouring of generosity in her own town from the Needham Women's Club, as well as our neighbors in Wellesley giving from their place of deep compassion.   I can picture her smile matching that of Rosa Almanzar, Project Hope Shelter Director, as she gratefully unloaded all the bags of women and children's summer clothing and shoes this week.
 
We should all be so very proud of giving homeless children a chance to go to the YMCA wearing the sneakers and bathing suits we provided.  Imagine their moms being able to wear summer clothing that fits and dignifies their daily lives.  Picture the clothing director at Pine Street Inn as he passed out dress shirts and ties to the graduates thanks to our donors and volunteers at Circle of Hope.

I will take time this summer to reflect on the joy of helping so many people in need.  I will give thanks each day for all of you who give so generously of your time and treasures.  And I wish you all the blessing of time to relax and enjoy a healthy summer.

Thank you, all, for the abundance of love and joy we have at Circle of Hope and share with our neighbors in need.

With deepest thanks,


Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director 

Carolyn Panasevich
"Adding to the Sum of Good in the World"     

 

Every act of kindness, "adds to the sum of good in the world." These are the words of Carolyn Panasevich, the true founder and mentor for Circle of Hope.  Carolyn was a pioneer in many ways... a classical musician, music teacher, religious education teacher, mother, founder of homeless shelters in Boston, and a volunteer leader with Christ Episcopal Church in Needham. Recently Carolyn passed away at 88 years old leaving a legacy of giving that inspires Circle of Hope Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse every day. Here are some memories of Carolyn that Barbara shares.

"I remember Carolyn's Garage Ministry postings in our church bulletin asking for gently used clothing and household goods needed in homeless shelters in Boston to be dropped off in her garage. When several weeks passed without a notice I approached Carolyn at coffee hour, introduced myself, and asked why nothing was posted about her Garage Ministry. Carolyn said her garage was full of clothing donations but her friend's minivan broke down and she had no way to deliver the donations to the shelters because her car was too small. I offered to use my husband's SUV and make a delivery with Carolyn to the shelter. What began as a one-time offer became a partnership that covered many miles over the next 8 years.

During those shelter deliveries Carolyn shared so much of her wisdom, compassion, and mischievous sense of humor. She always told me to grab a bag on the way to the front door of the shelter (why waste a trip) and she never left without asking what else was needed and sealed the deal with a hug.

I remember a very cold day as we finished delivering our donations in Roxbury I was turning the corner and heading down a steep, icy hill when Carolyn told me to stop the car. Her next instruction was to put down my window and ask an elderly man in the street if he wanted a sandwich. When I called out to the man Carolyn handed me her brown bag lunch and a coke as the man answered, "Yes."   I hadn't really noticed the man, more occupied with the icy road, but Carolyn saw him and his need; a simple act of kindness by this woman who understood how to truly see people and meet their needs in the moment.

When the deliveries became too difficult for Carolyn, I would call the shelter directors, tell them we were coming, and when we arrived they ran out to the car to greet her with smiles, hugs, and thanks. When Carolyn could no longer make the trips I promised to keep going.

I kept my promise and, with the help of a corps of energetic, creative, and talented people, Circle of Hope was established in 2008. Carolyn loved to hear about our progress at Circle of Hope and my stories from the open road. And the shelter directors continued asking for Carolyn updates. The work of my beloved friend continues. Together, with our generous Circle of Hope donors, business partners, and amazing volunteers, we honor Carolyn's legacy of compassion in action."  

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...

Pine Street Inn Reaches out to COH                        
 

You may have seen the story in the Boston Globe about graduates of a job training program at Pine Street Inn.  We are proud to say that we were part of that event

A few weeks ago we received a call from the folks at Pine Street Inn.  Although we have reached out to them in the past, up until now they felt they had the resources needed to support their clients.  They were preparing for this graduation ceremony of 92 men who had completed a job training program and wanted to offer something nice for them to wear. They needed our help and we were proud to provide shirts and ties to 30% of the graduates. In fact, according to Eileen Mullen, COH Volunteer Coordinator, we sent along 34 dress shirts and 27 ties for the graduation ceremony, and on top of that, we delivered 69 new casual shirts.   


Thank You Needham Women's Club!           
 L to R, Dani Sammut/NWC Ways & Means Co-Chair, Barbara Waterhouse/COH Executive Director

What do we say to an organization who not only helps us all year long by operating our Saturday drop-off hours, but then voted to donate not some, but ALL of this year's epic Needham Garden Tour to Circle of Hope? Thank you does not begin to say how grateful we are to the Needham Women's Club. We just LOVE you, and thank our lucky stars that you have chosen us to support.  Together we make a difference in many peoples' lives. 

Thank You to Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club
 
 
Imagine how surprised and thrilled we were when Megan Burns, President of Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club, chose COH as the recipient of her outgoing term award.  Megan presented a most generous check of $1,000 to COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse.  We are so grateful for this donation and with it are looking forward to doing even more for the children, women, and men in the Greater Boston area who are struggling for independence.


Project Hope's Rise and Shine Breakfast                
1st Row L to R, Project Hope Ambassador Joyce, COH Volunteer Judy Waterhouse, COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse, Project Hope Ambassador Blanca, 2nd Row COH Director of Development Kate Maguire, COH Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Mullen, COH-Haiti Director Emilie Hitron, COH Volunteer Louise Donovan, COH Board Member Peter Donovan

We wish all of our supporters could attend Project Hope's powerful annual event, the Rise and Shine breakfast.  Attendees meet, speak with, and hear from Project Hope "Ambassadors" who with the support of Project Hope
have escaped homelessness and moved to independence.  The stories are breathtaking and always make us very proud to support Project Hope.  We were told that about half of the Ambassadors in attendance that day were wearing clothing from Circle of Hope!  Thanks to you, we are making a difference.

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