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JANUARY 2020 E-NEWS
LEV'S CORNER
Happy New Year! I am filled with gratitude and ready to forge on for the year and decade ahead. A recent Friday was so busy, in the best way possible.
Not an hour passed that we didn't have someone stop by to show their support and compassion for our community. Donations of all kinds, straight from the heart.
The day started with a neighbor dropping off books and games for our holiday gift program in honor of her grandchildren. Three high school students and their teacher from the Hartsbrook School unpacked a car full of winter coats and clothes from a clothing drive. As volunteers were hanging some of the coats on the rack, two college students representing the Pre-Physician Assistant Club at UMass came in with fleece blankets they made, along with holiday cards to bring some cheer. Shortly before lunch, an employee of US Fish and Wildlife donated 57 pounds of food and a monetary gift they collected for the Food Pantry. Lunch wasn't even over when t
wo staff members at Woodside Children's Center in Amherst brought in new pajamas and books donated by their families and staff for children who may need them. Later in the afternoon, Phi Sigma Pi honors society members at UMass brought in 15 cases of food and drinks. Before leaving for break, they rounded up all their friends who had leftover meal swipes and used them to purchase items for our Food Pantry. So thoughtful!
As the day was winding down, a school employee came in to ask if we could accept fresh milk that would spoil before the students returned from break. "Yes!" We replied, "most definitely! We'll see families over school vacation whose kids won't be getting those milks at school."
It was a remarkable day. Volunteers picked up extra shifts to fill in the gaps we had while others were on vacation. One amazing volunteer bounced between the cold out back, breaking down cardboard, and inside the Pantry, stocking shelves. He stayed and worked all day. Another volunteer brought her sister and brother-in-law in to help. A staff member's spouse took a vacation day from work to pitch in here. Musicians from our Tunes@Noon program performed holiday favorites over lunch. A group of lunch goers made plans to see each other over the holidays. Another comforted a friend who was feeling sad and alone. Families left with gifts for their children for the holidays. And, people did their laundry, ate lunch, and filled their carts with groceries for home.
We are so fortunate to be part of a caring community. Let us all resolve to keep up the fight for human rights, ensuring that in the decade ahead, everyone has access to their basic needs. Thank you to everyone who, though your contributions of time, goods, funds, compassion, music, and camaraderie, make sure that this community provides for each other.
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--Lev Ben-Ezra, Executive Director
Below you'll find upcoming events and special activities happening in the Center this month. You can find our full event calendar on our website as well.
Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and engagement. Please share this e-news with someone who may be interested in our programs.
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Hellos and Goodbyes
We are thrilled to welcome Lisa Solowiej, our new Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator to our staff team. Lisa became a part of the Amherst Survival Center community the day she dropped her now 3rd grader off at pre-school and came into volunteer. Over those 5 years she has continued to volunteer in the Pantry, served as our Pantry Substitute Coordinator, and helped to launch and co-run the hugely successful Neighborhood Food Project, bringing regular food donations into the Center and creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for all, including families with young children. Lisa's background is in Political Science and Legal Studies, with a focus on teaching gender, race, and ethnicity politics. Lisa speaks English and a little Spanish, and is thrilled to get to work with all of the amazing new and returning volunteers at the Center!
Also, Edgar Cancel, our Pantry Coordinator decided to leave his position and return to school. We will miss the passion for food justice, killer pallet-jack skills, and friendly nature that he brought to the Center. We wish him all the best in his next adventures. Starting in February, Jenn Suprenant, Substitute Pantry Coordinator, will assume an Interim Pantry Coordinator role, overseeing the Food Pantry until late spring/early summer. We plan to hire for the role in the Spring, and really look forward to the stability and know-how Jenn will be able to implement out of the gate for these next several months. In January, Lisa and Carleen will be overseeing Pantry Operations.
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VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS
- Wednesday 1/15, 1-2pm
- Tuesday 1/28, 9:30-10:30am
- Wednesday 1/29, 1-2pm
All orientation dates are noted on our online calendar, including any new dates as they are added.
Weekly shifts, monthly shifts, one-time and group opportunities.
For more information or to sign up: contact Lisa Solowiej,
click here, call 549-3968 x111, or email volunteer@amherstsurvival.org .
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NEW YEAR'S DANCE PARTY
Thursday, January 2nd, 4:30-6:30pm
Join us to ring in the New Year with great music and great company!
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FUEL ASSISTANCE
Fridays Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 11AM-1PM
A volunteer is available to help with Fuel Assistance enrollments. Advance signup is required. Call x102 or sign up in the front office.
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Enjoy live music and a delicious lunch.
Music with Jay
Tunes@Noon: Northampton Flutes
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MONTHLY FOOT CLINIC
First Friday of the Month, 11AM-1:30PM
Sorry... the Foot Clinic for January 3rd is cancelled.
Next Foot Clinic is Friday, February 7th.
Registered foot nurse Debra Deane is providing foot care on the first Friday. Open to all. Sign ups required. Sign up in the front office, by calling
x102 or emailing info@amherstsurvival.org
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MOVIN' TO THE MUSIC w/ ROBIN
Mondays, Jan. 6 & 27 ~ 11:00AM-11:50AM
Join Robin for a fun, supportive movement and fitness experience. All abilities welcome!
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SEWING REPAIR WORKSHOP
Thursdays, Jan. 9 & 23 ~
2:00-4:30PM
Now, two times per month! Community members are welcome to bring in special projects (clothing repair, curtains, etc.), get expert guidance, and have access to sewing machines and most of the needed supplies.
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We are CLOSED on Monday, January 20th, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Saturday, Jan. 18 ~ 9:30AM-11:30AM
THE FOOD PANTRY & COMMUNITY STORE ARE OPEN!
3rd Saturday morning of the month.
Last shopper registered at 11:15AM
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Wednesday, Feb. 5th ~ 1:00-2:00PM
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
Important, Location change: Unfortunately, SouthPoint Apartments isn't able to continue hosting the Mobile FoodBank. We are working to find a new South Amherst location. In the meantime, to avoid canceling the mobile, we will temporarily relocate it to the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Rd., North Amherst, PVTA Bus #33.
All are welcome. Each household gets fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) plus extras, in addition to their shop at our onsite Food Pantry. P
lease bring your own bag(s).
The Mobile Food Program happens the first Wednesday of the month in partnership with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Volunteers are needed from 12-3pm. If you're interested, you can sign up here.
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SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We want to recognize the following businesses, organizations, and groups that have made a donation, conducted a drive, or volunteered their time in the past two months. If you frequent any of these businesses or know folks from these groups, please help us extend our appreciation!
If we missed your group, please let us know!
Your kindness and generosity is inspiring and deeply appreciated.
A huge thank you for all the
food drives in November and December:
Aerofit LLC; Amherst College Rotaract Club; Amherst Innovative Living; Amherst Jazzercise ; Amherst Montessori School; Amherst Police Department (Did they do a food drive too?); CAIA Association; Center for Extended Care at Amherst; Citizens Bank; Dale Frank Financial Services; Eaglebrook School; Fort River Elementary School; Grace Church; Greenfield Savings Bank, Hadley;
Hadley Elementary School; Immanuel Lutheran Church; Jewish Community of Amherst; Lichtenberg Veterinary Hospital; Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC); Mi Tierra Restaurant; North Hadley Congregational Church; Oxford University Press; Pelham Elementary School; Quonquont Farm; Relaks ; Riverland Farm; South Church Amherst; South Congregational Church; St. Brigid's Parish; St. Francis of Assisi Parish; Stop & Shop; Sugarloaf Estates; UMass Amherst Computer Science Dept., EMS, Information Technology, Men's Lacrosse, Nutrition Club, Psychology Department; U.S. Fish and Wildlife; Wesley Church; Wesley United Methodist Church; Windfield Senior Estates
Thank you to all the businesses and organizations that donated to our Holiday Gift Program (in addition to many individual donors):
Amherst College Giving Tree; Amherst Police Department; Amherst Montessori School; Atkins Farm; Belchertown Senior Center; Blue Heron Restaurant; Cowls Building Supply; Eric Carle; Museum of Picture Book Art; Immanuel Lutheran Church; Jones Group Realtors; Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, UMass; Reader to Reader, Inc.; Shaolin Kung Fu Center; SWCA Environmental Consultants; TD Bank; The Toy Box; UMass Human Resources; Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst
And...Thank you:
Black Sheet Deli, Lander Grinspoon Academy, Lone Wolf, North Star, and UMass Dining,
for donating food to our Thanksgiving meal and to Immanuel Lutheran Church for hosting the event;
Amherst College Jazz Ensemble
for collecting donations at three recent performances; Amherst Regional Middle School 7th Grade class members volunteered their time;
Cold Spring School
in Belchertown for donating 956 pairs of socks from their annual sock drive; Crocker Farm Elementary School for their "Penny Jar" donations; Earth Foods Café for donating food to our kitchen; First Congregational Church in Amherst for their financial support; First Congregational Church in Hadley for their Financial support;
Hartsbrook School
for conducting a clothing drive and donating a car full of items; Holyoke Pediatrics for their financial support;
Ideal Movers
for their financial support; Marcotte Ford for their financial support; Mom's House Chinese Market for their financial support; Phi Sigma Pi for getting students to apply their leftover campus dining credits toward the purchase of water and snacks for our pantry and delivering all the donations the day before break; Pre-PA (Physician Assistant) Club at UMass for making blankets and cards; Quality Fleet Service for donating Walmart gift cards; Renew Window Cleaning for their financial support; Romboll employees for volunteering their time at the Center; Sidehill Farm for donating 5 gallons of maple yogurt; South Congregational Church for their financial support; Stark Foundation for their contribution to our Turkey Fund; Stony Brook Community Church for their financial support;
Valley Festival Brass
for collecting donations at their annual holiday brass concert; WD Cowls Inc and the Mill District for sponsoring our Neighborhood Food Project;
West Branch Capital
for sponsoring an ad for the Center in the Business West Giving Guide;
Woodside Children's Center
for donating new books and pajamas.
Finally, a special Thank You to Yoga Center Amherst, who has launched a new, ongoing partnership.
Yoga Center Amherst
is now donating 15% of their net revenue every month to the Amherst Survival Center! Their new 'Pay From the Heart' Pay-What-You-Can builds inclusivity for all. Thank you Yoga Center Amherst!
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Amherst Survival Center | PO Box 9629, 138 Sunderland Road | North Amherst, MA 01059
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