Coming Up
Honor Someone Special for Mother's Day Going on now
 You are invited to make a donation to Circle of Hope in honor of, or in memory of, an important woman in your life - a beautiful card will be sent acknowledging your gift in their honor. Click here to make a donation. Needham Garden Tour - June 8
Special Advance Tickets Available
Only until May 11  The Needham Women's Club's Needham Garden Tour takes place Sunday, June 8th and will feature the gardens of six Needham homeowners. Now through May 11, if you purchase the Special Advance Ticket, you will be invited to a private Garden Party held that day. And the best part? 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.Sweet Basil COH-Boston Event
May 19 Don't cook on Monday, May 19th! COH supporters Julia and Nardin Baker will be your hosts and invite you to dine at Sweet Basil on Monday, May 19th, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Sweet Basil will donate 15% of the evening's proceeds back to Circle of Hope to support our work with Boston's most vulnerable families and individuals.
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Special Requests- Pajamas for children and women
- Infant and toddler spring jackets
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...
"We are so blessed to have the donations [from] COH as they provide items that are needed but have not been obtained. It is hard to imagine not having basic items to care for your newborn and bringing that child back to a shelter or worse even, [a] cold and lonely hotel room. In our busy lives we seldom pause to think about those who are less fortunate. Often our mothers have very limited social support. It is [Circle of Hope] that acts in place of the role of family to fill the gaps for its members in need."
Toni K. Williams, RN Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
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Go To Crew Update
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,
With spring comes the promise of brighter and warmer days. At Circle of Hope we package and deliver your generous donations to brighten the lives of homeless individuals and families. We warm the hearts of the program directors who can hand a mom the perfect size spring clothes so her child goes to school looking clean and bright like everyone else. She can go to her job interview with confidence and dignity wearing business attire that was hand selected for her at Circle of Hope. That mom has the promise of brighter days ahead because of your compassion and kindness.
This Mother's Day please join us in helping mothers on their path to fulfilling their promise to their children for a better life. In this issue you'll read how you can help directly with a gift to honor someone special in your life and at the same time provide for the needs of another loving family. You'll also read about our business partners and community supporters who join us in this mission of providing help for our poorest neighbors.
Please know that I am grateful every day to be in community with so many caring people. I hope your spring is filled with the light and love you give so graciously to so many.
With deepest thanks,
Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director
P.S. I am sorry that we must close on Saturday, May 10th to accommodate a huge gathering of folks at Christ Church right next door to us. There will be no access for drop-offs at COH.
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Honor Someone Special This Mother's Day
The month of May is always a special time at Circle of Hope. Each year, this month is when we focus on honoring the mothers in our own lives and the mothers that we serve in our community.
Every donation of a baby blanket, gently used child's sweater, or carefully hung women's suit, means a bundled baby, a dressed child, and an outfit to help a homeless mother land a job. The blessings these items provide go so far beyond just the material they are made of - they represent support, care, and can give the priceless gift of confidence.
Our thoughts around Mother's Day also focus on ways we help mothers with financial gifts to Circle of Hope. One of Circle of Hope's most beloved programs is our Welcome Baby Bags. A donation of $75 helps fill a bag with brand new newborn clothing, hats, and necessities along with a note letting a homeless mother know she and her baby are loved and supported. And a gift of $150 helps provide a family in crisis the necessities (clothing and toiletries) they so critically need during their most vulnerable time.
We ask that as you think of the mothers in your own life, you consider making a donation to Circle of Hope in their honor. By recognizing them in this way, we are able to spread the love and support shared among mothers with the brave women we serve.
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Circle of Hope will send a beautiful card acknowledging your gift, in honor of, or in memory of that special woman this Mother's Day. Click here to donate online or mail your check made out to Circle of Hope to P.O. Box 920724, Needham, MA 02492.
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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...Sweet Basil Supports COH-Haiti in a Big Way
Thanks to Dave Becker, Tim Fichera, Sarah Shaw, and all the gang at Sweet Basil for supporting COH-Haiti once again. Our fundraiser there in March raised almost $2,000 which was enough to pay Rigan, our nurse, for three months. And thanks to all who supported us by by enjoying the delicious prix fixe. Fifty percent of your dinner bill supported our mission in Haiti.P.S. Check out another Sweet Basil event in Coming Up (left) that supports COH-Boston.
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Even MORE Coats This Year!
About this time last year, we finalized our tally of coats delivered to the families and individuals we support with your help, and were thrilled to report to you that 1,072 coats had been delivered. Roll tape twelve months later, and THIS YEAR (drum roll please), an astounding 1,570 coats were delivered to children, women, and men. YES! We also thought you might like to know that EVERY child cared for by the organizations with which we partner received a coat this year. Thank you for enabling us to help Boston's most vulnerable citizens feel warmer and healthier this winter.
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We Really Appreciate Our Volunteers
 | | Barbara Waterhouse, COH Executive Director |
The evening of Thursday, April 29th was declared Volunteer Appreciation Night at Circle of Hope. All who gathered were able to meet other volunteers, mingle, and enjoy a glass of wine. COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse shared where it all began, and how, with the strength of our army of volunteers, we are becoming a powerful organization with plans to grow. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was two women, who are Ambassadors of Project Hope, one of the organizations we support. These two women, who also happen to be cousins, told their story of becoming homeless, and with the support of Project Hope, these beautiful moms now have jobs and are able to take care of their families. Click here to see more photos from Volunteer Appreciation Night.
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Charles River Apparel Employee Clothing Drive
Last month we told you about the 2,444 BEAUTIFUL articles of clothing donated by Charles River Apparel. Immediately following that, the staff kicked off an employee clothing drive that produced another SIX LARGE BOXES of gently worn clothing for children, women, and men. We loved the poster they created to market the drive in-house so we have to share it with you.
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Thank you Parent Talk and Lisa's!
One evening, just a few weeks ago, members of Parent Talk joined together at Lisa's Boutique in Needham for a "Mom's Night Out". The activity? Shopping and socializing. The outcome? Lisa's donated 10% of all purchases to Circle of Hope. Thanks to Parent Talk for supporting Circle of Hope, and thanks to Lisa's for hosting such a wonderful event.
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