Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry would like to extend a huge thank you to the community for the incredible support over the last 6 weeks. COVID-19 has brought about a challenging and uncertain time for many in our community but our hearts are full from your overwhelming love and support.

Because of your generosity, the Newton Food Pantry is able to continue its commitment to help those in need across Newton by offering:

  • Curbside pickup twice a month to Newton residents (previously clients were able to shop once a month.) From March 18th through April 22nd, the Newton Food Pantry served a total of 978 households. Thirty percent of these households are new to the Newton Food Pantry since March 18th.
  • Bulk grocery deliveries to seniors residing in 9 different Newton housing facilities to keep them safe and sheltered in place. From March 18th through April 22nd, over 40% of the total households served (411 households in all) were senior bulk grocery and home deliveries.
  • Home delivery to clients who are homebound because of disability or severe medical conditions.
  • Optimum safety and efficiency for both clients and volunteers with use of 3 new PODS located outside City Hall.
  • Canned and dried goods for the city’s Food for Families Backpack program.
  • The Newton Food Pantry is distributing more than 8,500 pounds of food per week. In addition to distributing a dry goods bag, a produce bag and a refrigerated goods bag, the Newton Food Pantry clients are also receiving personal care items and cleaning agents.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Aside from donating double-bagged grocery bags and egg cartons (please drop off at 61 Ballard Street or 36 Metacomet Road ONLY), please consider a financial donation at www.newtonfoodpantry.org/donate/

Check out this little jingle https://bit.ly/NFP-DBS) just to show you how serious they are about double-bagging.

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors

In the last two weeks Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors has focused on supporting local organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable community members. Neighbors gathered food and collected thousands of dollars for Coleman House, a elderly housing facility in Newton that lost much of their food supply due to a power failure after the storm on the 13th. Neighbors also donated enough funds to the Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry in Newton Corner to buy food supplies the next two months, and helped deliver food from Newton Food Pantry and Centre St Food Pantry to neighbors in need. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed and volunteered for these efforts and others!!

As you can imagine, the need does not end here – in our conversations with partners who work closely with community members deeply affected by COVID-19, we are hearing about the many ways in which families are profoundly struggling during this time. We believe that our community extends beyond the Newton city limits and that it is critical to consider how we can support our neighbors both within and outside of Newton. Many of you have reached out asking for ways to help and we have organized a large, 4-part donation drive this week which will benefit several organizations and communities that are heavily burdened by this crisis. You can contribute any time between now and May 2nd. The houses gathering items for the drives below are all in Newton Centre.

How you can help

Porch Drive #1: Donate non-perishable food for families in Chelsea and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Boston

There continues to be an urgent and growing need for food relief in Chelsea, with the number of families lining up for food increasing greatly as each week goes on. The Salvation Army Chelsea would appreciate NON-PERISHABLE FOOD if you are able to contribute. Items need to be donated by mid-day Tuesday for a Wednesday delivery to the Salvation Army. Any items collected after Tuesday will be donated to SURJ Boston for distribution to families in Boston who also continue to experience great need.

Drop off non-perishable food at 97 Lake Ave in Newton Centre (between Crystal and Laurel)

Porch Drive #2: Donate diapers and wipes

There are many families with young children who need diapers and wipes. Donations will be provided to families in the Early Childhood program at Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Waltham, and to families in Newton.

Drop off diapers and wipes at 15 Norwood Ave 1R in Newton Centre (there is a horse statue on side lawn). Drop off by the garage behind the house.

Porch Drive #3: Donate fabric, sheets, and t-shirts

There continues to be a tremendous need for cloth masks at healthcare facilities, housing facilities, and community agencies, as well as other items such as caps. We are asking for donations of 100% cotton fabric, quilting fabric, sheets, and old T-shirts. No flannel, upholstery, or linen please. All donations will be provided to the MetroWest sewing group which will donate what they make to organizations throughout the region.

Drop off fabric, sheets, and T-shirts at 960 Beacon St in Newton Centre

Don’t have items to donate or can’t make it to Newton Centre to drop off? Consider donating towards gift cards for immigrant and undocumented families

Undocumented families are experiencing many of the hardships facing other families but are also ineligible for many of the funds and supports available due to language and information barriers, legal status, and/or isolation. We would like to raise funds for 40 families in this position from East Boston, Revere, Chelsea, and Lynn. This project is in collaboration with Jessica Harper Santos, Lecturer at Brandeis University and Christian Samame who has been doing community work with youth, families, and elders in Latino neighborhoods around Boston for many years. We are aiming to gather funds to buy a gift card of $50 per family. You can Venmo contributions to Jessica’s account: Jessica-Harper-Santos. All contributions will go towards purchasing gift cards which will be provided directly to families.

Thank you for anything you are able to contribute. Your kindness and generosity during this difficult time is so appreciated.

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors connects community members to support one another and share resources for people who live, work, pray, play and/or learn in Newton. Want to stay involved?

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors
newtonneighborshelping@gmail.com

Nature Exploration Virtual Nature Classes for Ages 3 to 7

Looking for a way to engage your young explorer at home and outdoors?

Sign up for a virtual PUDDLESTOMPERS Nature Exploration class! Each weekly class consists of a pre-recorded lesson with three fabulous naturalists teachers who will lead the children through a virtual circle time about a springtime topic. Then head outside for an interactive outdoor experience where the children can follow along, either with the video or in their own explorations. Afterwards, one of the teachers will read a story based on a springtime topic.

Every participant will get:
* a STEM activity sheet
* an outdoor activity or scavenger hunt
* a handout to extend the learning into the home
* a coloring sheet

Topics so far include “Signs of Spring,” “Birds:Nesting,” “Soil,” and “Seed Growth.” Up next:”Worms!” The beauty of these classes is that they are pre-recorded and can be watched at any time! Price: $15.00 per lesson.

Additional details are available at https://www.puddlestompers.com/virtual-classes or  www.puddlestompers.com. As always, your teachers are here for you! If you have any questions, email  info@puddlestompers.com and a teacher naturalist will be in touch!

One book One Newton

If everyone in Newton buys just one book through the Bookshop.org page, it would greatly reduce the financial burden facing Newtonville Books. If you start your browsing on the  landing page https://bookshop.org/shop/Newtonvillebooks  the site tracks all your purchases and the bookstore receives 30% of all sales. Please help spread the word about this challenge and thank you if you can help  Newtonville Books and Jaime and Mary (parents of a Cabot student).

Girls Connecting, Mentorship Program

Alix de Saint-Aignan, a junior at Newton North, is the Founder of Girls Connecting. The concept is to connect 4th-8th grade mentees with high school mentors (from 10th grade to college) for an hour a week of video chat for support, help with schoolwork, game playing, etc.  Check out the website www.girlsconnecting.com.

She has successfully recruited enough high school-age volunteers to accommodate ~100 mentees. In such an isolating time, Girls Connecting offers mentors and mentees an additional outlet and source of connection to the community.

Please e-mail girlsconnectinginfo@gmail.com or text 617-997-8761 with any questions or to sign up.

Middle School After School Program Enrolling for the fall

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, is accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year. They provide terrific programming for children in the Newton middle schools at the Newton Highlands location in Brigham House and the Hyde Gym. Transportation is arranged daily. To learn more about the program or attend any of several Zoom Open Houses please contact Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit www.highlandsafter-schoolprogram.org.

Two ways to help

Newton South High School’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Club feels tremendous gratitude to the countless healthcare workers who put their own lives on the line to help those afflicted with COVID-19. With that in mind, they have decided to mount a campaign to help our local hospitals battle this pandemic.

There are two ways people can help:

First, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is asking for iPads so hospitalized patients can talk to their loved ones at home. If you can donate any old but functioning iPads, it can help reduce the social isolation for hospitalized patients. A club member can do a contact-free curbside pick-up if you live in the Greater Boston Area. All the patients and the hospital will undoubtedly appreciate it!

Here is the link to donate an iPad: https://forms.gle/uNiNPnzKYFphKM4h8

Second, if you do not have an old iPad but would still like to join in our fight against COVID-19, they’ve also started a GoFundMe page to help the Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center through their fights against COVID-19. Every dollar donated will go towards saving the life of a doctor, nurse, friend or neighbor. Even though we are all apart, we are all in this together!

Here is the link to donate money to the Go Fund Me: http://gf.me/u/xycbfz

Please consider donating to the iPad and fund campaigns so NSHS HOSA can help these wonderful local hospitals during this devastating COVID-19 crisis.

Bass, Voice, Ukulele lessons

Brittany Karlson is a Boston-area resident of 9+ years and professional musician offering Zoom lessons in Bass (upright and electric), Voice, Ukulele. She is a Berklee College of Music graduate, active performer across Europe and USA, experienced teacher with people of all ages from multiple walks of life. Fun, patient, encouraging, knowledgeable. Located nearby in Jamaica Plain and ready to move to in person lessons once it is safe to do so. Please contact Brittany with any questions at brittany.c.karlson@gmail.com

Mindfulness Tutoring and Consulting

Mindfulness Tutoring and Consulting offers experienced and secure online tutoring for students grades 6-12. They can help with staying organized and assisting with assignments.

  • Rates are affordable
  • Schedule is flexible
  • References from Newton parents are available

More information availabble on the website at www.mindfulnesstutoring.com
or contact Susan Alves, PhD at susan@mindfulnesstutoring.com or 617-515-5285.

#NewtonTogether has launched!

Let’s stay connected as a community in the face of COVID-19! On April 20th, Patriots’ Day/Marathon Monday, we invite all Newtonians to make handmade #NewtonTogether signs and display them in your windows. Get creative–make paper signs, use sidewalk chalk, whatever inspires you–and share the incredible joy, strength, and resiliency of Newton. Just because we can’t gather for the Marathon this year, doesn’t mean we can’t connect! Tag your creations in the Facebook event or on social media with #NewtonTogether. For more information, click HERE.

Some Newton villages are also choosing to stand outside at noon on April 20th to clap/bang pots in recognition and gratitude for all the hometown heroes (medical personnel, pharmacists, grocery workers, teachers, etc.) who are working the front lines to keep us all safe. Feel free to recognize your favorite hometown hero in your #NewtonTogether social media posts.

The idea came to the Mayor’s Office from Newton resident Rakashi Chand:

Let us bring our community together in a shared message of perseverance and pride. Let us inspire one another as we are and always have been an unwavering city, that has stood tall and united in the face of adversity and overcome again and again, every challenge, hardship, tragedy and crisis. We will persevere, we will fight in every way we can, we will unite and we will see the dawning of a brave new day. This epidemic will make each day harder than the last, but we will persevere, we will face the challenges that present themselves, because we are strong.

Let’s find a way to inspire our citizens, and remind them that we, like our forefathers and foremothers, will overcome this, and find ways to raise each other up with hope.

In addition, for those of you who are big fans of the Boston Marathon, the Newton, Wellesley and Natick Historical Societies will be showing vintage photos of the Boston Marathon on their websites on April 20th. You are welcome to share your marathon thoughts, memories, and photos of your favorite site on the route using #VirtualMarathon.

Thanks so much for being a part of #NewtonTogether on April 20th! Click here for the flyer with information.