Helping to build a brighter future for people in need


March 2015
In This Issue
Coming Up
 
First Tuesdays, at COH
March 3, 5-7pm

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3rd, Circle of Hope will have late dropoff hours the first Tuesday of every month.  We would especially like to thank Margot Carleton, the COH volunteers who has offered to staff this new important addition to COH's open hours!

Carmen
in Concert

March 13
Come witness tomorrow's opera stars from Boston University's Opera Institute.  This concert is part of Masterwork Chorale's Awareness Through Music series, and Circle of Hope has been designated as the recipient of the proceeds.
Click here for details.

Revival, presented by Dedham Savings and Needham Bank
March 28-29
Revival is an unprecedented home design showcase featuring ten home vignettes, with each inspired room setting made up of previously owned furniture and accessories. Many of the pieces will be restored or reimagined to create a dramatic effect in each display, and all will be available for sale through silent auction. Decorators, designers and gifted visionaries have volunteered their time and resources to create these vignettes for your admiration and enjoyment.  Some of the themes include a vintage Cape outdoor living area, a girl's magical bedroom, and a reading nook.  It all takes place over two days, March 28 and 29 at the Marriott Residence Inn in Needham.

To Purchase a Sunday-Only ticket to Revival, click here.
      
Special Requests
  hat coat glove clipart
  • Adult hats and gloves
  • Men's jeans
  • Adult and children's winter boots
  • Men's sweatshirts and fleece tops
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 PM

Wednesday, 9-10 AM

Wednesday, 3-4 PM

Thursday, 10-11:30 AM  

 

Saturday, 9-11 AM   

   

*NEW, 1st Tuesdays each month, 5-7 pm  

 

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

 

Like us on Facebook

 
Follow us on Twitter

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...

 

 

" Just wanting you to know how great the clothes were today. The long John's , the hoodies, the jeans.....all of it was utterly fantastic. Everybody got something today. "     
 

 

Jennifer McCracken

Episcopal Lunch Program     

Staff Volunteer            

 


Go To Crew Update    

 

The cold weather and snow created all sorts of problems, but one big one for us was that at one point we completely ran out of inventory forcing us to cancel deliveries for the first time in our history.  We not only sent an emergency e-mail to our Go To Crew, we posted our crisis on our Facebook page, and the outpouring of support was in volumes.  We received bags and bags of warm clothing and coats for adults. Businesses like Taylor's Stationery and Soma Physical Therapy and Rehab spread the word to their clients and customers.  Monetary donations came in to purchase new underwear and socks and gently used clothing.  Thanks to all who helped spread the love and warmth of Metrowest Boston to the city's most vulnerable citizens. 

 

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,

The past 5 blizzards have taught me so much - how very grateful I am to our amazing volunteers who came to COH to greet, sort, and package donations.  How much I admire the fortitude and determination of our volunteers who made sure our deliveries got through as promised, some even coming a day ahead of the next storm to make sure that homeless individuals and families were not out in the elements without coats, boots, and warm clothing.  How much we need one another to get through the second snowiest winter in all recorded weather history.

The day before a blizzard we received an urgent request from Renewal House Shelter, a domestic violence shelter in a protected location.  There was a mom and two boys ages 6 and 7 who needed clothing, coats, hats, mittens, and boots.  In short, they had fled an unsafe environment with only what they were wearing.  We at COH knew they wouldn't be able to walk outside the shelter to school or anywhere until we arrived with donations.  The morning after that blizzard dropped another foot of snow  I arrived in the Jeep my daughter nicknamed "The Snow Beast" with the winter clothing and outerwear for this family, including snow pants and boots for both boys.

As I waited in the driveway where we deliver the donations I noticed a mountain of a snow bank covered in children with plastic sleds having fun in the snow.  Francesca, a staff member of Renewal House, greeted me with a hug and said, "All of you at Circle of Hope are like angels.  Our clients are running out of their homes with just a duffel bag or less.  They are low income and coming to our shelter with barely anything.  We just couldn't be more grateful to all of you at Circle of Hope for helping our families."

As I drove out of the driveway I glanced over at the children playing in the snow.  I realized that within the next hour, 6 and 7 year old boys would be joining them, dressed in warm winter gear, and ready to form the joyous memories of a winter wonderland of play.  As I mother, I was imagining their mom's joy in being able to bring her children out to play knowing they would be safe and warm.

Thank you for your generosity in making days of warmth for those in need and for helping children overcome the challenges of poverty to enjoy the sweet days of childhood.

With deepest thanks,


Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director 

Rolling Out     

 

We've been dreaming about it for years, working on it for months, and now the day has finally come.  Circle of Hope has purchased its very own delivery van.  Before now, the clothing donations that you, our donors, have dropped off at Circle of Hope, were neatly sorted and then packed into the personal vehicles of our generous volunteers' cars, SUV's, and minivans.  So much of the time these intrepid volunteer drivers could not even see out of their rear view windows, the bags were piled so high. Often, we've had to make the difficult decision between loading up more winter coats or bedding with the clo
thing.  Leaving donations behind never feels good to us at COH.  Now, we'll have the capacity to  make sure that we never have to say "I'm sorry, that just won't fit."  Help is finally here.

 

We needed to raise the funds for a van to make our dream a reality.  That's when Circle of Hope board member Peter Donovan took the project under his wing.  With the support of COH President/Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse, the two reached out to a few generous individuals to help us reach our goal of raising enough to not only purchase the van but also to customize it and cover operating costs for the first year. We give our most heartfelt thanks to the following people and organizations for their extraordinary generosity in making this dream come true. 

 

Circle of Hope Transport Van Donors

Barbara and Jay Waterhouse, Peter and Louise Donovan, John and Myra Anderson, Kris and Bruce Ginsberg, David and Lynne Liebrock, Judy Waterhouse, The Reverend Robert and Kathryn Windsor, Eric Fireman and Clair Windsor, Dale and Peter Sinesi, Mark Donovan, John and Deborah Brennan, Dana and Carolyn Pope, James Berluti, Bruce and Pam Goody, Robert Kegan, Jeffrey and Rosemarie Rudin, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.  GT Arbuckle has donated maintenance for the life of the van.

 

This means Circle of Hope can deliver much more clothing and necessities to Boston's most vulnerable citizens.  With the van's cargo capacity we can pack as many donations in one delivery as three or four car loads.  Our very own van allows us to make deliveries every time we have enough donations to fill the urgent needs of Boston's poorest families and individuals.   The Circle of Hope Transport Van expands our reach to the children, women, and men struggling for independenceWe are on a roll carrying out Circle of Hope's mission with gratitude and hope in our hearts.  

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...

Area Businesses to the Rescue                  

 

A few weeks ago when we posted on Facebook that our inventory was so low that we had to cancel deliveries to shelters for the first time in our history, the response was unbelievable.  What we didn't expect was the unsolicited response from area businsses.  Taylor's Stationery created a clothing drive and is offering 20% off merchandise when shoppers bring in donations for COH until March 14.  Jim and Georgina Ruetenik of Soma Physical Therapy and Rehab  contacted us saying they would reach out to clients.  Their words were, "Jim and I, the Soma Physical Therapy family team, and our clients, through this clothing drive, hope to help your organization and appreciate all of the efforts by Circle of Hope to assist the homeless folks, who are suffering in very harsh and brutally cold conditions this snowy winter."  And one of our longest-standing business partners, B in Touch Massage is asking their clients to bring in a new pair of socks to donate to COH and for that, they are automatically entered to win one of three complimentary massages.   Thank you everyone!  

Casa Nueva Vida is Growing 
Casa Nueva Vida - Jamaica Plain
Casa Nueva Vida - Jamaica Plain  
 

It wasn't that long ago that we shared with you that Casa Nueva Vida had grown and was operating three family shelters that we support, located in Jamaica Plain and in Lawrence.  We just learned that they have expanded and are serving two more shelters in the Dorchester area as well as scattered site housing in Boston.  As the need grows, we will strive to do more to help Casa Nueva Vida  as they expand their good work helping families gain independence.   

 


Champions for Kids  
 
 

In March, Circle of Hope is partnering with the Champions for Kids program and Walmart in Avon. Donation bins are currently set up at the front of the store to make it easy for customers to drop off donation items. Local blogger Emily Roach was chosen to coordinate the program in our area and selected Circle of Hope to be the recipient of the donation. As the VP of Parent Talk, Emily has worked with Circle of Hope during Parent Talk's semi-annual sales and is aware of the growing need for donations locally, especially after such a tough winter. Champions for Kids is teaming up with Emerald, Kettle Brand, General Mills, Kellogg's and Walmart to help give kids the resources they need to thrive. Learn more about how a micro-grant will be spent on donations by visiting Emily's site at RandomRecycling.com.    


Brookline Women's Commission Supports COH
Brookline Women's Commission logo
 
 

We couldn't believe our luck when Brookline Women's Commission reached out to us a few months ago saying they were holding a children's clothing drive and were wondering if Circle of Hope would like to be one of the recipients of the donated items.  YES, we said.  Cheryl Anne Snyder, Clothing Drive Chair and Treasurer of the organizations said, "In spite of the snow and the cold, the drive was a big success.  The Brookline Commission for Women is pleased to be able to help Circle of Hope in your mission to support those in need throughout the Greater Boston community." 

 


Shout Outs   

L to R:  Alice and Kate volunteer at COH during school vacation.
 L to R, Alice & Kate volunteer at COH during school vacation.

MMB Advertising, wonderful supporters of Circle of Hope, donated dozens of pairs of gloves to warm the hands and hearts of homeless women. Orchestrated by MMB's "CIA" a/k/a Chicks In Advertising.  

  

We're so appreciative of all the school-aged kids that help us by holding drives in our honor and supporting us in many others ways.  But can we just say how much we appreciate Kate and Alice who gave us their time during their February School Break to help out with sorting and organizing orders for delivery?  Also, COH volunteer Dauri Hammer brought in her two little girls to help

COH Volunteer Dauri Hammer's little girls
L to R, Molly and Abby helping mother Dauri at COH. 

one day during vacation.  She says, "We have a new game in our household called keep or donate.  The girls love helping me organize their closets now and they know exactly where their donations are going.  Sometimes they even ask me to play! They also love helping out at COH and can't wait until next time!"

    

 


Circle of Hope | CircleofHopeonline.org | 781.449.3700 |