Students Award 

Community Servings 

with $7,000 Grant

We're pleased to share that recently Community Servings was generously awarded $7,000 by the Learning by Giving Foundation, a unique foundation partner with an extremely creative and forward-thinking grant making process. The Learning by Giving Foundation seeks to educate the next generation of philanthropists by awarding grants to colleges, universities, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) for the students to distribute to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2003 by Doris Buffet, Learning by Giving Foundation has partnered with over 30 colleges and universities around the United States.

In 2013 the Learning by Giving Foundation introduced "Giving with Purpose," the first ever MOOC on effective charitable giving. Over 8,000 individuals from around the world registered for the free online course. In the "Giving with Purpose" online classroom, students nominated and advocated for a local nonprofit organization of their choice within a 50-mile radius of their home. This year, there were over 300 nominations and students voted on the top 30 charities using their newly acquired philanthropic skills. Community Servings is honored to be chosen as one of the 30 finalists, receiving $7,000 in funds to support our Food and Nutrition Program.

Thank you to the Learning by Giving Foundation, "Giving with Purpose" students, and Northeastern University. Your support will help us continue to feed our sick and hungry neighbors.

Warm Holiday "Thank You's" from our Critically-ill Clients

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of volunteers, our clients received meaningful gifts and a festive meal this holiday season. Our hard-working kitchen staff and 50 daily volunteers prepared and delivered over 925 holiday meals for our critically-ill neighbors to enjoy over the holidays, including Cornish hens and all the fixins'. In addition to the extra efforts in our kitchen, we organized and delivered Holiday Baskets to our clients, bringing warm clothes, basic necessities and holiday treats to those who need it most. Please enjoy some of the following "thank you's" we received during this season:

Our Client Services Coordinator, Sarah, took a call in December from one of our clients, a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with lung cancer, diabetes and neuropathy. She has no family and lives alone. In the last few months she had undergone multiple hospitalizations. On the day she called, two Community Servings volunteers had arrived at her door with a beautifully decorated Holiday Basket, full of gifts. She quietly said to Sarah, "You just made my Christmas! Without you, I would just be alone..." Then she started to cry.

Just last week, Community Servings received a beautiful card, hot coffee and donuts from a family member of a critically-ill client. The card read, "I want to thank you for my uncle's gift bag! He doesn't smile much but he smiled ear to ear when he received his holiday basket. He's so happy with his gifts."

Community Servings is deeply grateful to each and every volunteer who called clients for their holiday wish lists, organized toy drives, purchased items for our clients' gift baskets, prepared, packaged and delivered Holiday Meals, and sorted and delivered Holiday Baskets. Your time, energy and dedication are an inspiration!