Coming Up
June 8  The Needham Women's Club's Needham Garden Tour takes place Sunday, June 8th and will feature the gardens of six Needham homeowners. Thanks to the NWC, all proceeds of the Needham Garden Tour will be donated to Circle of Hope. Click here to purchase tickets or learn more.
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Special Requests - Infant clothes: Size 9 months to 18 months
- Toddler clothes: size 2T to 4T
- Men's jeans: All sizes
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...
"Sending my gratitude to everyone who helped me with my attire...Knowing that there are some people out [t]here who care enough to help me when I truly need it...I feel indebted to you all for your kindness."
Amber H. New Student Year Up
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Go To Crew Update
This month we made an unusual request to our Go To Crew members. Our partner in the Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood has asked for help, specifically for baby strollers in good condition (lightweight is ideal, but not a deal breaker). There are at least three struggling mothers in need of a stroller for their baby. We have already received one double stroller.
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.
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Dear Friends of Circle of Hope,
Thank you to all of our generous donors who honored the special women in their lives by donating to Circle of Hope this Mother's Day. I am so very grateful for your outpouring of compassion and support to help us fulfill the most basic needs of poor and homeless mothers and children in the Boston area. Just a few days after Mother's Day we received an emergency request from Marie, a nurse at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, for a porta-crib for an 8 month old baby boy. The mom and 4 year old brother were sharing a bed in a motel but there was no safe place for the baby to sleep. Thanks to the generosity of our COH donors, the very next day we were able to deliver a new porta-crib, 2 new sheets, and a new blanket for this baby. Imagine the relief experienced by this mother. This feeling of relief was expressed to us by the Director of Year Up when one of their prospective students needed clothing. All she had was a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. The program director called us on a Wednesday morning to ask for size 3X business clothing for a woman named Amber so she could start her classes on Monday. We were able to find her several skirts, blouses, and jackets and added a purse and shoes. Our volunteer driver arrived at COH the next morning and was surprised at her small delivery. She usually pulld out of COH with her car loaded. We explained how much this special delivery would mean to the woman who would be able to start a whole new chapter in her life. The thank you note you'll read in this issue is an excerpt from Amber's expression of gratitude.
I join Amber, the mom in the motel, and so many others in thanking you for your unwavering support in times of deepest need.
With deepest thanks,
Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director
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The Needham Garden Tour Supports COH!
What a happy day that was last Fall when the Needham Women's Club board notified us that they had voted to donate all of the proceeds of this year's Needham Garden Tour to Circle of Hope. The Needham Women's Club has long been a generous partner to Circle of Hope with the gift of time, clothing donations, and financial support. And every Saturday, 9-11am, NWC members happily staff the dropoff hours at COH. We are so fortunate to have the support of the 96 caring women that make up the NWC.
If you are unfamiliar with the Needham Garden Tour, this is the third year of this popular event that allows hundreds of tourgoers to walk the gardens of six Needham homeowners who are enthusiastic gardeners. New this year, the Tour is offering a Garden Party that can be attended for a small additional fee. It's a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends, and get a little inspiration to take home with you!
If you would like to go:The Needham Garden Tour takes place Sunday, June 8, Noon-4pm and begins at Needham Historical Society. Tour Tickets purchased by June 7 are $30 and you can get them at the Needham locations of Roche Bros., Sudbury Farms, Volante Farms, Babel's Paint & Decorating, Home Trends, Dedham Savings, Prudential Advantage Real Estate, or online at NeedhamWomensClub.org.Garden Party upgrades can be purchased on the day of the Tour for $10 and are available with a Tour Ticket purchase. |
A COH All Points Bulletin
As we near the end of our fiscal year, we have so much to celebrate. We have experienced substantial growth in supporters, donations, volunteers, partners, and been able to transfer that to supporting more struggling families and individuals. To continue this upward movement we have identified two specific needs that are vital to move to the next level. 1. A COH Transport Van. We are looking for a major sponsor to partner with us in the purchase of a new van or a company that can donate a new or low-mileage van. As Circle of Hopenears its sixth year in operation, the exponential growth of our donor base has enabled us to provide significantly more clothing and essentials to Boston's most vulnerable citizens. By adding new partnerships with shelters and organizations, we are delivering clothing and basic necessities to hundreds more children, women, and men. It is now critical to add the new Circle of Hope Transport Van to our operations. The addition of the new van enables Circle of Hope to make more deliveries, transport more items, have flexibility on timing of deliveries, and utilize all volunteer drivers. The Circle of Hope Transport Van will be an essential tool for Circle of Hope Operations as it is the key to getting donations to the families and individuals who need them WHEN they need them. If you have a connection for us, please e-mail Kate Maguire at [email protected]. 2. A Business Liaison. In an earlier newsletter we spoke about the need of a volunteer School/Business Liaison. We have identified a School Liaison which we feel will be a busy role for this volunteer. We are now looking for a volunteer Business Liaison . This person will be on call to support businesses interested in doing drives for Circle of Hope by providing any signage or handouts required to educate potential donors. Additionally, the liaison would communicate the event internally so that we can publicize it through our media resources. If interested, please e-mail Kate Maguire at [email protected]. |
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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...A Wonderful Donation from Deutsche Bank
 | | L to R, COH volunteers Bruce Goody, Sarah Curtin, and Brenda Robertson of Deutsche Bank |
We have a new friend and partnership at Deutsche Bank. Through an introduction made by COH supporter Brian Chiapinelli, we came in contact with Brenda Robertson who chairs an internal organzation at Deutsche Bank called the Deutsche Asset Women's Network. Brenda initiated a toiletries drive that took place in two Boston offices. The outcome: 255 toiletry items and a check for $200 to purchase other needs that will support Boston's struggling individuals. And as happy as we are with this fantastic gift, the folks at Deutsche Bank are talking about another drive in the Fall! Thank you Brenda and all of the employees who supported this campaign.
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Barbara Waterhouse Speaks to Massachusetts General Federation of Women's Clubs
 | | COH Executive Director, Barbara Waterhouse |
COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse spoke at the Massachusetts General Federation of Women's Club's Annual Meeting a few weeks ago about our mission of providing clothing and comfort to Boston's most vulnerable citizens. Said Waterhouse about the day, "In a room full of women who spend a great deal of their time giving back to their communities, it was an honor to be among them."
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Determined to Get to That Parent Talk Sale!
 | | COH volunteer Lisa Mancino |
COH volunteers, Lisa Mancino and Linda Bloom, collected many, many bags of infant and children's clothing from the recent Parent Talk sale. They were energetic and determined shoppers, aided by Parent Talk volunteers, as they collected summer clothing and shoes for the babies and children in the homeless shelters we serve.
Lisa rose to the challenge of a particularly trying morning as she organized and prepared the snacks, lunches, and supplies to send each of her children off to their respective Saturday morning activities. As she approached her car to go to the Parent Talk sale she realized her car battery was dead. With no time to charge the battery or call AAA she donned her bicycle helmet and rode her bike to the sale! Now that's what we call a dedicated volunteer!
Thank you Lisa and Linda. And thank you Parent Talk for your generous support.
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Sweet Basil Supports COH-Boston
 | | L to R, COH Board Member Clair Windsor, her dad and COH supporter Skip Windsor, and Clair's daughter, Laurel |
Seems like we are always thanking the folks at Sweet Basil for something nice they have done for us! Last month, due to the generosity of Julia and Nardin Baker who won the honor of "Maitre 'D for the Night" at Sweet Basil and the opportunity to designate a charity that a percentage of all sales go to for the night, Monday, May 19 was quite a party! Dozens of you came out to enjoy one of the best restaurants in the Boston area, while others who walked in unknowing about what was going on were so pleased that they would be helping to provide comfort to Boston's families who are struggling.
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