On the afternoon of December 13, a truck filled with enough toys to rival Santa’s own sleigh arrived at City Hall, and with it came lots of holiday cheer. United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Teamsters Local #653 membership made their generous annual donation to Mayor Robert Sullivan’s Holiday Toy Drive, delivering hundreds of toys for children in need. These gifts will be given to various non-profit organizations in Brockton for distribution to local youth and are sure to brighten the holidays for many children.

This donation was made in honor of Mrs. Maryann Dodge, a lifetime employee of UPS and the organizer of a toy drive each year, who passed away in November of 2020. Through their donation, Maryann’s former co-workers and family members have taken her lead and continued the tradition of giving that she began. The Office of Mayor Sullivan and the City of Brockton sends their gratitude to the UPS employees who donated so many gifts. They serve as a wonderful example of the amazing impact we can make when we work together as a community.

If these UPS employees have made you feel inspired, you too can make a difference! The Holiday Toy Drive is going on until Wednesday, December 20, you can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the Mayor’s office, first floor of City Hall, 45 School St, Monday through Friday from 8:30a-4p. What a great way to embrace the spirit of giving!

Photo & Source Credits: City of Brockton FB Holiday Toy Drive Post & Annual Donation Post

Story written by Alexa Pennington, BuzzAround Intern, Southern New Hampshire University

Get your $10 membership in and join the Brockton Library Foundation for the Annual Meeting! Make your voice heard and come discuss important matters, brainstorming for a great 2024 of free library programs! Plus vote on this year's Foundation Board leadership.

The Brockton Library Foundation is a non-profit community group that helps to support important library programs. Your support helps all Brockton library locations! For more information, visit the foundation's webpage on the library's website.

Source Credit: BrPL website

Sign up now for U.S. Citizenship Classes! The entire course will be 11 weeks long starting from 1/23. You can choose between Tuesday evenings. 6-9p, or Wednesday mornings, 9a-12p.

Requirements:

Register at bit.ly/citizenwaitlist

For questions, call 508-580-7475

While there is much to celebrate this time of year, it's important to remember that these times also generate more waste than usual. As we approach the holiday season, let’s take a moment to consider all the ways we can be more environmentally friendly.

If you are buying a real Christmas tree this year, please remove the tree of all decorations like tinsels, ornaments, metal rings and do not cover the tree in plastic bags when throwing them out. Natural Christmas trees can be recycled into mulch that can be used for municipal landscaping projects. So please take a moment to clear your trees before tossing them out! In Brockton, trees will be collected from curbside between 12/27/23- 1/8/24

Did you received a new phone or tablet during the holidays? Consider recycling your old electronics instead of throwing it out. Any Staples store accept old electronics everyday. Check out the Staples website for the list of electronics they accept. Below are some Staples locations in the area:

The African American Association of Brockton is still collecting toys for their Holiday Toy Drive! Please contact AAABrockton@gmail.com for an application if you would like to apply and have your child attend to receive a toy. You can also email AAA Brockton if you would like to donate toys or help out in any way.

Source Credit: Brockton Community United FB Group

You can help families, children, and adults this winter by donating to Fire Winds of Hope. Accepted donation items include gift cards, candy canes, backpacks, new hats, gloves, scarves, socks, quilts, sweaters, winter coats, and monetary donations. Your support will make a difference for families in need!

For more information or to donate, email Grisel Quinones at fwdskcihope@gmail.com or call Fire Winds of Hope at 774-778-3490 / 774-699-0355.

Massasoit Community College recently hosted a Mental Health Resource Fair in collaboration with the Plymouth County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Local and national organizations with mental health services attended, including Veteran Services, Insurance, and Volunteer opportunities, as well as representatives from Mayor Sullivan's Office and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. It's wonderful to see so many people come together in support of a great cause! Talking about mental health helps reduce the stigma and encourages those in need to seek assistance.

Taking care of your mental health is important, and it's not something that you need to do on your own. There are plenty of resources at Massasoit Community College to assist students with any mental health struggles, including:

For more information about these resources, visit Massasoit Community College's website. You can also get help on the Plymouth County Suicide Prevention Coalition website.

Photo and Source Credits: Massasoit Community College FB page and website

Story written by Alexa Pennington, BuzzAround Intern, Southern New Hampshire University

Father Bill's & MainSpring (FBMS) is a housing and homeless shelter that works to end and prevent homelessness in Southern Massachusetts through important programs that help those in need achieve self-sufficiency.

From now until December 31, every donation to FBMS will be doubled up to $25,000! Be a part of the change and help in their mission to end homelessness.

For more information and to donate, visit FBMS's website.

Source Credit: FBMS FB

In partnership with the City of Brockton and the Town of Avon, MA, Wildlands Trust has secured funding from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program and a private foundation to add new land to this 700-acre urban sanctuary. To access the private funds, we need 200 donations of just $5 or more. We need your help so that D.W. Field Park can continue to serve the health, habitat, and climate resilience needs of Brockton and Avon.

Please donate if you can with the link below.

Learn about mosquitos, their lifecycle, free local services, crucial information, and more that can keep everyone safe in Summer. Start preparing now! In collaboration with the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project.

Come by for face painting and library-themed temporary tattoos!

Come by the library for family fun! Bingo Winners can pick from a selection of books and small trinkets for all ages.

Source credit: BrPL Website

BAHN offers many resources if you are in need. See the following BAHN members for assistance. It's ok to ask for help!

BGCMS Brockton Clubhouse, 233 Warren Ave

You can call Brockton Clubhouse at 508-584-5209 to inquire about their After School programs, which include a daily hot meal.

Catholic Charities, 169 Court St

In addition to food assistance, Catholic Charities provides other basic needs, such as shelters, living assistance, and counseling.

The Charity Guild, 501 Main St

The food Pantry distributes perishable and non-perishable foods to individuals and families requesting assistance, while supplies last.

Massasoit, 1 Massasoit Blvd, Student Center, Room 136

The Pantry is a judgement-free space that students can use daily with their student ID. Those seeking clothing can request an appointment with Alice’s Closet. You can also visit The Pantry to register for a BAHN card.

Call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 or visit their website for more resources.

Source Credit: BGCMS Brockton Clubhouse FB, BAHN webpage

Commission Meeting

Video Courtesy of the Brockton Channels

Video Courtesy of the Brockton Channels

Please do not place your unusable holiday string lights into the curbside recycle bin. Recycle bins containing light strings will not be picked up. Instead, bring your old light strings to Brockton's Recycle Depot for proper recycling.

Visit recyclecoach.com to download the Recycle Coach app for customized scheduling notifications and tips on proper recycling.

Source Credit: City of Brockton FB

Children ages 5-18 are invited to the Clubhouse for special theme days, festive activities, and more on December 26-29th! Don't miss out on all the fun!

Register now by filling out the registration form for licensed child care, pre-teens, or teens, and return them to the Clubhouse. You can also email membershipbrockton@bgcmetrosouth.org.

Source Credit: BGCMS Brockton Club FB

A new sensory hallway has been completed at the Davis K-8 School this past week. This beautiful, fun, and interactive hallway was designed by Brockton High School Class of 2023 and 2024 in collaboration with Terry Roderiques, an occupational therapist, and other teachers. The artworks in the hallways were made using a 3D printer consists of stepping stones where children can play hopscotch, handprints on the wall where children can do wall pushups, and other designs that allow them to take a closer look at numbers and geometry. The staff at Davis K-8 plans to implement this hallway to help their students during times of deregulation and to support their physical and mental emotional development. For more information on this sensory hallway, check out the video on Brockton Public School's Facebook!

Photo Credit: Brockton Public Schools FB

Story by Queenie Chen, BuzzAround Intern, Tufts University

Bliss Through Yoga!

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