A Message from our Executive Director | | |
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
September is always a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we lean in and support one another. This month, as our nation observes World Alzheimer’s Month and Hunger Action Month, we are reminded that a strong community comes together to support our neighbors' unmet needs.
At the center of our work are two of our larger initiatives: our Food Pantry and our Dementia Care Partners Support Program. Because of your incredible support, both programs are growing rapidly to meet the needs of our families. In addition to your financial support, here is how we are coming together this month, and how you can join in.
Standing Against Food Insecurity:
This past month, we have supported 393 food pantry visits. We have two exciting opportunities to make a difference together to support our pantry:
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Empty Bowls Event at North Hill – Monday, September 14th at 5:30 PM. North Hill is hosting an Empty Bowls event with all proceeds benefiting the Council. Guests receive a bowl upon arrival and can sample soups from local favorites like Blue on Highland, North Hill, The Common Room, and the Needham Golf Club (to name a few). Tickets are $42 and include soup, bread, beer, and wine. Purchase tickets here.
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Ride and Stride for Food – Sunday, September 27th, 9:00 AM. The Council has entered a team in this annual event to raise awareness about food insecurity and secure critical funds for local food pantries. We have 17 team members and would love a few more to join us! Our goal is to raise $10,000 for our food pantry, so please consider joining or supporting us. Register or donate here.
Surrounding Our Caregivers & Families with Support:
The Dementia Care Partners Support program continues to grow.
- We are excited to announce a new offering: a Zoom Meditation Class for Caregivers. More information can be found here.
- Families are enjoying the Council's Memory Cafe which is now being offered twice a month. More info here.
Whether you ride, walk, attend an event, join a class, or donate, your support fuels every service we provide. Thank you for your partnership and generosity.
With gratitude,
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Sandra Robinson
Executive Director, Needham Community Council
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Thank you, Neighbors!
The Council receives incredible support from the community, in so many forms. We’d like to give a shout out to these groups for their generosity:
- Sophia, from The Student Association for Migrant Education, collected school supplies to offer to immigrants and refugees beginning a new school year. She generously donated her surplus to the Council for distribution to our food pantry families.
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Syniti, a local business, collected 133 lbs. of food for our food pantry and asked for financial donations from employees who generously donated $1,665.
- The Needham Free Public Library ran a food drive resulting in over 100 lbs. of food being donated by library patrons and staff.
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Thank You for Giving Back to School!
Thanks to our incredible community, we raised $13,361 to help food pantry families start the school year strong.
Huge thanks to Copley Motor Cars, Fidelity Bank, and 41 individual donors for making this goal a reality. We are so grateful for your support!
Here are a few messages of appreciation from the families you helped.
| | A personalized thank you from a food pantry family. | |
Ride & Stride For Food 🚴♀️🏃♂️
Join the Council’s team at the Ride & Stride for Food to help raise awareness about hunger in our local communities and to raise funds for the Council’s Food Pantry. Participants can either walk (3.1 miles) or choose to bike a 25-, 50-, or 62-mile route.
Can’t walk or ride? Consider donating to our team to help us achieve our $10,000 fundraising goal. Sign up or donate here.
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Join Us for Empty Bowls at North Hill!
Celebrate North Hill’s 42nd anniversary with us on September 14th. All proceeds benefit the Needham Community Council Food Pantry! Guests will receive a bowl handcrafted in North Hill’s ceramic studio and will sample soups from local restaurants and vote for their favorite. Every $42 ticket directly supports local families with monthly food assistance and equips local students with back-to-school gift cards. Purchase tickets here.
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| | Dementia Care Partners Support | | | Click here or on the image to enlarge. | |
New Program: Mindfulness & Meditation
We are excited to announce a new Mindfulness & Meditation program for care partners, led by Cindy Loughran, beginning Wednesday, September 23, virtually via Zoom.
This free, 8-week program is designed specifically to support the well-being of dementia care partners. Each session will introduce simple, practical mindfulness and meditation practices that can be incorporated into everyday life.
More Info Here
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Memory Cafes
Welcoming, stigma-free social gatherings where individuals living with dementia and their care partners can relax, connect, and enjoy time together in a supportive environment.
Memory Cafe: Tuesday, September 22 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Needham VFW
Activity: All are welcome! We are pleased to welcome the Mug Hug Project! Join us as we paint and decorate flower pots. This fun, hands-on activity brings together creativity, connection, and joy. Please find more information on the flyer. To register or learn more, please contact Program Manager Stephanie Knoch.
| 👉The Memory Cafe is now offered bi-monthly. To see the detailed Memory Cafe schedule, please click on this link. |
| | English Language Learning (ELL) | | | |
Back-to-School Means Back-to-Learning-English
Anyone who has tried to learn another language knows that speaking is the hardest part. Remembering the vocabulary, using the correct verb tense, and stringing together a complete sentence in a second language is not an easy task! That is where our ELL Conversation Groups come in. The groups offer English learners a place to come and practice. In these groups, ELLs take the material that they have studied with their tutor and transform that knowledge into real life conversations. And beyond the learning, friendships are made!
Our ELL Conversation groups, including Walk & Talks, start the week of September 14th. If you are an ELL, please join one of the groups! If you are a tutor, please encourage your learner to sign up for some conversation practice! Please find the fall schedule here or on our website.
Please email ELL Program Manager, Sheila Roberts, or call (781) 444-2415 with any questions.
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School-Related Anxiety: What Families Should Know
Wednesday, October 7
Anxiety surrounding school has increased in recent years, particularly in high-achieving communities, ranging from nervousness before tests to wholesale school refusal.
Join Dr. Ben Lovett, Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, for an interactive workshop designed specifically for families. Dr. Lovett will discuss effective ways to manage student concerns and offer practical guidance on how parents can approach these sensitive topics directly with their children.
Registration details will be posted next week on the Council's website here. Please email Mindful Community Program Manager, Cathy Wong, or call (781) 444-2415 with any questions.
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Tech Teens are Back
Students from the Needham High School technology clubs offer technology talks with technology support sessions after.
🤖 Wednesday, Sept 16 | Beyond Nuts & Bolts: Robotics
An introduction to the science of robotics hosted by our local teen robotics team before their live demonstration.
🎮 Friday, Sept 18 | Hands-On Robot Showcase
Get up close with student-built robots, learn how engineering and coding work together, and take control of a robot yourself!
🛡️ Wednesday, Sept 30 & Friday, Oct 2 | Internet Safety & Scam Protection
Learn practical tips on how to spot scams, phishing emails, and fake text messages to stay safe online.
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Tech Assistance at the CATH
💡 Tech Assistance & Tablet Classes at the CATH
Location: CATH (Upstairs table/chairs near the elevator/patio)
Weekly Drop-In Tech Help:
🗓️ Tuesdays: 1–3 PM (Bruce) | 🗓️ Wednesdays: 1–2 PM (Neal) | 🗓️ Thursdays: 1–3 PM (Stefano)
📱 October Workshop Series: Tablet Basics (iPad & Android) Build your confidence using Apple iPads and Android tablets!
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🗓️ Oct 8: Intro & Navigation
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🗓️ Oct 15: Settings
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🗓️ Oct 22: Apps—What Can a Tablet Do?
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🗓️ Oct 29: Communication (Email & Zoom)
📍 Location: Stay tuned! (Location details coming soon)
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Back Pack to School Sale
Sept. 10 and 11
Shop, Save and SURPRISE! If you spend $20 at the Council Thrift on Sept. 10 and 11, you are eligible to open one of our mini backpacks and find a special savings coupon!
You could win $15 worth of jewelry or you could win an extra stamp on your Council Cash Card.....our Back Packs are full of surprises!
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Annual Coat Sale
October 22, 23, and 24
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
– Alfred Wainwright
Thanks for the tip Alfred, but we hardy New Englanders know how to dress for the cold! We also know how to stretch a dollar and there is no place better than the Council Thrift for that! So mark your calendars for October 22, 23, and 24 and come shop at our Coat Sale upstairs at the Council Thrift.
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Holiday Sale
December 3,4, and 5
Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated Holiday Sale brought to you by The Council Thrift. Join us for this wonderful seasonal event and find great treasures while supporting a good cause: every purchase directly benefits the Council's community programs.
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Volunteer of the Month: Barbara Soojian
We call our front office Grand Central Station because of the constant traffic and ringing phones. And we could not handle all of it without the help of our office volunteers. One volunteer, Barbara Soojian, has volunteered over 300 hours, answering phones, dispatching Council Care rides, and updating our database. She was instrumental in helping us over the Summer as she covered for vacationing staff or supported new staff. Her flexibility, customer service, and patience is so appreciated. Thank you, Barbara, for all you do!
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Council Thrift & Donation
Hours
Monday & Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
Closed Wednesday & Sunday
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Office
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4 pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
| | Please note our upcoming holiday closures: Council Thrift will be closed on Saturday, September 12 for Rosh Hashanah, as well as Saturday, September 19 and Monday, September 21 for Yom Kippur. Additionally, the Food Pantry will be closed on Monday, September 21. | |
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Needham Community Council
570 Hillside Avenue
Needham, MA 02494
781-444-2415
office@needhamcouncil.org
Connect with us:
| | The Needham Community Council is a private 501(C)3 non-profit organization which supports people in Needham who have under-met health, educational or social needs, and promotes volunteerism, community and a sense of shared responsibility. | | | | |
