Category: Do Good

Charities and volunteer opporunities in Newton, MA and Boston.

Hire NNHS science team member and help a future scientist

Do you have an odd job? Hire a science team member and help a future scientist

Members of the The Newton North science team (Naturally Selected and Intelligently Designed) are raising money by doing household jobs such as leaf raking and wallpaper removal.

is looking to do small jobs to raise money for the team. We have the manpower for a range of household tasks: leaf raking, snow shoveling, wall painting, wallpaper removal, and in the past we have even catered for a bar mitzvah. Our hours are fairly flexible (just not school hours), and our prices are negotiable.

The money raised supports the team by offsetting expenses including registration fees, textbooks and materials for “build-ahead” events. For example, we must pay for all tools and materials that are used for the Science Olympiad competition, including (but not limited to): carbon fiber, wood, metal, saws, drills, screws, etc.

The final cost for one academic year for Olympiad alone is usually between $2000 and $3000.

Please contact the team about fundraisers at: yongyizhao@gmail.com

November 26, 2013
Newton’s 3 Food Pantries Need Your Help!

Newton has three food pantries which seek volunteers and donations:

Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry is located in the basement of the Waban Community Library at 1608 Beacon St. Food is distributed Wednesdays 1:30 p.m-3:30 p.m. and the third Saturday of every month 11 a.m.-noon.

The pantry is also open for donations when food is distributed. Donations accepted at 6/7 days per week. For more information, contact Vicki at 617-965-8906 or Jackie at 617-527-2394. Click here for more information on volunteering and donating.

Centre Street Food Pantry

The Centre Street Food Pantry is open Tuesdays 4 p.m.–7 p.m. and the first Saturday of every month 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations accepted when the pantry is open. Visit the Centre Street Food Pantry’s website for more info and referrals, or call 617-340-9554.

Click here to find out how to volunteer or contribute to the Centre Street Food Pantry.

Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry

The Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, at 187 Church St. in Newton Corner, is a non-profit organization run by volunteers from the church, community, Boy Scouts troops, YMCA, and Eliot House

It distributes food and clothing the second and fourth Friday of each month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For a referral please contact your local Clergy or the Community Social Worker at 617-796-1282.

November 24, 2013
Donate Your Old Car to Support The Discovery Museums

The Discovery Museums’ Vehicle Donation Program continues through 2013, thanks to the generosity of Christmas Motors in Maynard.

Christmas Motors handles the details of each sale, gives 100% of the proceeds to the museums, and provides the donor with tax credit information.

To donate a vehicle, please contact the museums at 978-264-4200 ext. 24, visit our website, or email eisen@discoverymuseums.org.

For more information on the vehicle donation program, please contact Peter Christmas at Christmas Motors at 978-897-9627.

November 21, 2013
Celebrate Newton Crafts Fair

Celebrate Newton is an annual juried crafts fair sponsored by Newton Community Education (NCE). Proceeds benefit the NCE scholarship fund.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013

Newton South HS
140 Brandeis Rd.
Newton Centre, MA

$3.00 per person
kids under 12 free

Snowdate:
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013
10am – 4pm

November 16, 2013
What the Dickens! (Dance Performance)

My friend Bea Abascal helps with What the Dickens! Her two children will be performing in it (her oldest is featured in the poster!) and it’s a wonderful show! Hope to see you there!

November 5, 2013
NNHS family in need of assistance after fire

A recent fire in Newton has displaced a Newton North family. All possessions, including clothing, have been destroyed. If you would like to help, please consider a gift card donation. A suggestion put forward has been Target as both clothing and food can be purchased in the same location.

If you choose to donate with a gift card, please bring it to the Newton North High School main office so the administration can make sure the family receives your assistance as soon as possible.

As well … the same family has a Day Middle school child as well, so you can also bring it to the Day Middle School main office so the administration can make sure the family receives your assistance as soon as possible.

Firefighters are battling flames at 285 Nahanton St. Credit: Newton Fire Department

November 2, 2013
Register for Run Fur Fun 5K Nov 9th!

Please don’t forget to register for the Run Fur Fun 5k on November 9th! It’s an awesome race hosted by the MSPC and Wicked Happy Dogs is a sponsor!

We are holding a dog friendly after party at Devlins in Brighton on the patio.

Click the link to register and join team Wicked Happy Dogs!

October 26, 2013
Trick or Treat at The Prudential Center Shops

The Shops at Prudential Center, Boston, will host its annual Pru Boo indoor trick-or-treating and family fun event to benefit The Home for Little Wanderers on Sunday, October 27.

For the nineteenth year the Prudential Center will open its doors to hundreds of families from Greater Boston to enjoy “store-to-store” trick-or-treating, a performance by Vanessa Trien and The Jumping Monkeys as well as a variety of activities including:

Boston Ballet – Nutcracker costume/photo opportunity.

New England Aquarium –Tide Pool Open House! This program allows children to handle and observe a wide range of live tidal pool animals from local waters. Also, an appearance by one of NEAQ’s aquatic characters.

Magic Beans – Elmo character appearance (11-11:30AM and 12-12:30PM)

Museum of Science –Dinosaur activities, including Dino Size Me, a dinosaur math activity; dino facts; and make your own Dino puzzles or bookmarks.

NECCO –Craft activities using Necco candy.

Boston Duck Tours – Appearance by official mascot, Kilroy.

The Freedom Trail Foundation – Have your picture taken in the stocks! Learn more about The Freedom Trail.

As well as a number of other activities by Blue Man Group, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Mary Baker Eddy Library, Microsoft, and Zipcar.

Schedule of Events

11:00am – 1:00pm: Trick-or-treat and children’s activities

2:00pm: Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys

With a $4 donation to The Home for Little Wanderers, participants receive a trick-or-treat bag that provides access to trick-or-treating at more than 50 stores and restaurants at the Prudential Center, along with other fun family-friendly activities.

Presenting sponsor, NECCO, The New England Confectionery Company, will provide all candy.

Trick-or-treat bags can be purchased at The Shops at Prudential Center’s Customer Service Desk starting October 1, and at check-in stations located in the Food Court and Center Court starting at 9am the day of the event.

Parking for the day is $16. Parking passes can be picked up at Pru Boo check-in stations.

Halloween Costume Photo Costume Contest:

Submit a photo of your little one in costume October 1 – 23, 2013 for a chance to win a prize pack from The Shops at Prudential Center valued at $100. Share your photo on our Facebook Page, Twitter and/or Instagram. For details visit here.

October 16, 2013
Sign Up for MSPCA’s Run Fur Fun 5k

Wicked Happy Dogs is sponsoring the MSPCA’s Run Fur Fun 5k again this year!

Please sign up to run or walk with team Wicked Happy Dogs! It’s a lot of fun and for a great cause. All runners and walkers can participate with 1 dog.

A 5K (3.1 mile) race on Saturday, November 9, 2013
10:00 am start
Artesani Park, Brighton, MA (along the Charles River)

After the race we are going to head to the patio @ Devlin’s in Brighton for some post-run refreshments. Dogs are welcome, of course 🙂

Hope to see you all there. Please click the link to register!

October 10, 2013
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Well Within Cares

October is domestic violence awareness month.

Well Within is offering 10% of proceeds for any 60 or 90 minute service booked online using the promo code TSSCARES to benefit The Second Step.

The Second Step
Founded in Newton in 1992, The Second Step provides comprehensive programs and services to
survivors of domestic violence that address the aftermath of abuse and helpssurvivors achieve new
possibilities. The Second Step offers transitional housing, advocacy, safety planning, mentoring,
children’s programs, legal case management, and an array of supportive services for families
transitioning away from abuse. The Second Step works to empower survivors over the long term—for
as long as needed as they rebuild their lives. Each year, The Second Step helps transform the lives of
200 survivors and their children. Some still live with their abusers, some live with their children in our
communal residences, and the majority live independently. For more information, or to receive support
for a survivor, volunteer or to make a donation, please visit the agency’s website at
www.thesecondstep.org or call 617-965-3999.

Well Within

Put aside your idea of a spa and open your mind to a whole new level of health and wellness. Well Within is an integrated health center where men and women come to improve their health with high-quality services in a beautiful and serene setting.

The owners, Celeste and Laura, are Licensed Massage Therapists with a passion for treating their clients by combining massage and other therapies to achieve great results. After being in practice for several years and becoming good friends as well as colleagues, an opportunity presented itself and Well Within – Massage and Integrated Health was founded.

Since we opened our doors in October of 2010, we’ve added a number of powerful treatments to our services menu. We offer many services to promote holistic health, and our knowledgeable and talented staff is committed to facilitating, supporting and inspiring a vibrant quality of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life with the intent to nurture intrinsic healing and promote balance.

October 4, 2013