Category: Do Good

Charities and volunteer opporunities in Newton, MA and Boston.

Mini-Golf Fundraiser for Newton Free Library!

Mini-Golf Takes Over the Library

Start practicing your swing. On October 4 and 5, the Newton Free Library will be transformed into an 18-hole mini-golf course, winding its way through the second floor and down the back steps.

Saturday, October 4 (Adults Only, 21+) | 6:00–9:30 PM
Evening fun with food, beer and wine, live music, and a silent auction featuring gift cards/certificates from local restaurants and businesses.

Sunday, October 5 (Family Morning) | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
The silent auction continues, plus coffee, breakfast treats, Cabot’s ice cream and popcorn for the kids!

All proceeds go to the Friends of the Newton Free Library to support amazing community programs!

Support your library

Play through the bookshelves

Bring your family, friends, & neighbors!

Newton Free Library, Newton, MA

Tickets available at www.friendsofthenewtonfreelibrary.org

Limited slots available – grab your tickets now!

September 24, 2025
Are You Greater Than the Sun poem by Sara Ting

Sara Ting, a first-generation Chinese American born in New York City had the honor to deliver a TED Talk in 2021. It offers a solution to uncover and overcome all unconscious biases.

Laws, policies, and technology cannot eliminate them. Individuals must do it. The change must come from within. The heart of the talk is the Sun Poem – Are you greater than the sun/that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, and White/ the sun does not discriminate.” Here are comments from healthcare professionals who watched it.

“The Sun Poem encourages us to pause and think about our interconnectedness as humans. The poem is beautifully non-judgmental while focusing on societal complexities. The Sun Poem is a fantastic trigger for deep discussions and social action.” Larry G. Dunham, D.M.D., F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D. Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Boston 2023

“The powerful quote of being unwanted by Mother Teresa, made me think about how a simple look can make a person feel unwanted. This is something that all healthcare professionals need to be aware of and this TED talk could dramatically improve patient care. Liza Parab- Clinical Research Coordinator in Anesthesia at MGH 2022

World Unity Inc. a non-profit founded by Sara Ting in 1993 is promoting the TED Talk as a DEI resource tool. AECOM a global infrastructure company and Midwestern University a medical school, have adopted it and posted It on their digital platform. This solution is timeless, universal, transformative, and sustainable.

For more information call (617) 522-8645.

April 22, 2024
Newton Food Pantry Volunteers Needed!

Are you looking for a volunteer experience that allows you to give back to your community? The Newton Food Pantry is looking for volunteers. Volunteers are especially needed for Wednesdays starting in September – our food distribution days.

This is a great volunteer opportunity for older kids – feel free to sign up along with your Middle or High School student!

We are a 100% run volunteer organization with a mission to help families in Newton put food on their tables. We simply cannot carry out our mission without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Will you volunteer today? – sign up here

August 19, 2021
Donate to St. Mary’s Winter Clothes Drive in Newton
Winter Clothes Drive: St. Mary’s is conducting a winter clothes drive this coming Saturday, December 5, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. in the church driveway. We are collecting gently used or new winter items such as:
- Clothing (including hats, gloves, mittens, scarfs)
- Sleeping bags
- Blankets
- Disposable handwarmers
These donations will be given to:
- Common Cathedral (serving Boston’s homeless and indigent population)
- Catie’s Closet (clothing for students in need)
- Cradles to Crayons (clothing for infants to preschoolers)
- Various agencies serving the needs of adults (clothing)
Please consider giving to this drive and spreading the word to your family, friends, and neighbors, particularly since the pandemic has local charities serving more people than ever.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

258 Concord St

Lower Falls Newton, MA 02462
November 30, 2020
Nominate Nonantum Boxing Club for Newton’s Best Business of the Year

Newton Patch asks Which Newton Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate Your Favorite!

Please nominate Nonantum Boxing Club here.

Here’s my nomination:

I have boxed at Nonantum Boxing Club for nearly nine years and it is a wonderful place that supports the community, especially those in need. From a boxing perspective, Marc Gargaro, one of the co-owners of Nonantum Boxing Club, is an excellent boxing coach. He has sent more than two dozen fighters to national boxing competitions including Olympic qualifying events. He is also a coach for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Boxing Team that will compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. As a 55-year-old mom, I have a group of other mom friends that have trained with Marc for years. We get the same training and attention from Marc that his fighters do.

On a different side, training future professional athletes is much different in the boxing world than in other sports. Marc trains his team FOR FREE, dedicating hours of his time to team and individual training. He also has a nonprofit in which he offers free boxing fitness and training classes to kids FOR FREE.

But free boxing training is not the only nonprofit work that he does. Nonantum Boxing Club does service work year-round, including hosting a large boxing tournament on behalf of Newton’s Boys and Girls Club. I have seen numerous events that the gym does on behalf of community members in need such as fundraiser workouts to support someone’s medical bills or piles of donations on behalf of a charity that supports women who are escaping relationships in which they are physically abused.

What is most special about Nonantum Boxing Club is the people and the atmosphere that they create. The co-owners are both cousins who grew up in large Italian families right here in Nonantum. They have created a community that also feels like a family where everyone is included. the boxing gym may look intimidating but nothing could be further from the truth.

November 25, 2020
The Pumpkin Patch is OPEN at the United Parish of Auburndale!

The Pumpkin Patch is OPEN at the United Parish of Auburndale!

Modifications in place this year include contactless payment as well as spacing among pallets to enable browsing while social-distancing. A casualty this year is the bake sale, unfortunately! Please wear masks when visiting the Pumpkin Patch.

Enjoy shopping locally for pumpkins and gourds of many sizes and colors. Your purchases are sincerely appreciated, and help support the UPA’s outreach programs as well as the farmers who grow the pumpkins.

Location: 64 Hancock Street, Auburndale (corners of Woodland Road and Grove Street, near Lasell University and Williams School)

Hours: 10AM – 6PM, 7 days a week, through October 31

October 4, 2020
Substance Abuse in Massachusetts

Hi everyone. My name is Sidnie Kulik and I am a junior at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, MA. This past year, I have been taking an online medical problem solving class with an organization called Global Online Academy.

As a part of our final project, we are supposed to address a health issue in our community. For me, it was hard to find a serious health problem in and around Boston due to the strong health care system and medical facilities we have. However, what I found to be shocking was the substance use rates in Massachusetts. In nearly every category, Massachusetts residents use and abuse substances at a higher rate than the national average.

My mission in my project is to raise awareness about this issue. I want to help potential users before they start and outline ways to help those in their recovery process.

Thank you for taking the time to watch the following video and please help spread awareness about substance use disorder in Massachusetts.

April 14, 2020
New Art Center Needs Our Help

New Art Center needs our help. If you are able to, please consider making a donation or buying a gift certificate. New Art Center is also offering online classes in response to COVID-19.

New Art at Home!

In the wake of the ever-changing state of the COVID-19 epidemic, we appreciate the support and care we have received from our community. In response, until we are able to resume in-person classes, we are offering “New Art at Home” to students enrolled in our Spring 2020 classes! We are offering the following formats of remote learning and community building during this time.

We are offering 25+ live classes on our online platform, and we plan to add new content and classes each week.

New Art Center is now offering its spring 2020 classes online! Register now for a variety of classes including: Beginning Drawing: Thursday, April 2 to Thursday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Drawn to Paint: Thursday, April 2 to Thursday, May 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

These remote learning classes are filling quickly, so register today here.

Also, enjoy New Art Center’s Online Gallery “New Art @ Home” right here. More info at newartcenter.org.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at marte@newartcenter.org. We can’t wait to see what artwork you make! Would you like to provide feedback? Email us at marte@newartcenter.org.

Here’s how to purchase a gift certificate to New Art Center:

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/new-art-center-in-newton-inc/new-art-center-needs-your-help

https://newartcenter.org/product/gift-certificate-50/

https://newartcenter.org/product/100-gift-certificate/

https://newartcenter.org/product/200-gift-certificate/

Donate to New Art Center.

But even with our online enrollments and the astounding generosity donors have shown us in the past two weeks, the drop in our earned revenue is alarming and deeply impactful to our long-term viability. We have officially canceled 40 classes, and we have delayed another 27 until May. We are also canceling our April School Vacation program for K- 12.

For every $1 that has been donated since 3/16/20, we have returned approximately $1.25 to students who have withdrawn from classes.

If you can, please continue to support the New Art Center so we can resume normal operations easily with our existing staff and faculty, quickly and safely at the end of this crisis.

April 5, 2020
Dawn Davis Yoga Goes Online! Live Streaming Classes!

Dawn Davis Yoga is now offering Saturday online yoga class at 9:30 for $10. Friends and relatives anywhere in the U.S. can access her classes online.

Live Streaming Classes with Dawn

Tuesdays 9:30-10:30
Wednesdays 9:30-10:30
Fridays 9:30-10:30
Saturdays 9:30-10:30

Register through www.dawndavis.com

If you have a class card, you may use that (it would be at the regular price), or you can purchase a $10 pass for the Saturday class. Classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will all be at 9:30 as well. You may use your existing class card for the weekday classes.

If the global health crisis has had financial implications for you and you are interested in a reduced or free class, please send her a confidential email, no questions asked.

As always, my videos are completely free of charge and you can access the full library of my recorded offerings on my youtube channel: Dawn Davis Yoga.

10% of all proceeds from live-streaming classes go to support the vital work of The Second Step in Newton, MA.

p.s. Free FIVE MINUTES TO FREEDOM: Meditation Medic with Dawn

March 31, 2020
Food for Families in Need
Help for Our Neighbors
- Newton COVID-19 Care Fund: NewtonCareFund
- Centre Street Food Pantry: CentrestFoodPantry.
- Newton Food Pantry: NewtonFoodPantry
- Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry: ArabicBaptistChurch
For those of us who need help – ranging from unemployment insurance and SNAP benefits to mental health resources and emergency intervention – please also see the list of resources here and here. We will update this list of resources as we learn of them.

Food for Families

The Food for Families program has free bags of non-perishable food available for pickup for anybody in need at five locations in Newton. Find the bags in large “pod” containers here:
- Fire Station 2: 1750 Commonwealth Ave., Auburndale
- Fire Station 4: 195 Crafts St., Nonantum
- Fire Station 7: 144 Elliot St., Newton Upper Falls
- Fire Station 10: 755 Dedham St. Newton/Oak Hill (on the south side of the City)
- American Legion Nonantum Post 440: 295 California St., Nonantum (near Watertown)
Please, only 2 bags per family to allow for more families to access food. Also, remember to maintain proper social distancing when picking up the bags (allow a person who is in the pod to exit before entering). Bags can picked up at any time.

Student Meals

The Corner Café, 321 Washington St., is providing free, hot lunches to Newton students pre-K through grade 12. Text “School Lunch” to 617-527-9835 for a no contact pickup.

Grab ‘n Go meals are available for all Newton Public School students. Swing by either of the two locations: the parking area near the auditorium entrance at Newton North and the front parking loop at Newton South High School between 10:00 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday.
March 30, 2020