Category Archives: Social Outreach

NewtonSERVES is currently accepting project registrations for its 12th annual Day of Service to be held Sunday, April 29th, 2012.

Last year, more than 60 projects involving 1,000 volunteers were set up across Newton to benefit local non0profit organizations, schools and public spaces. Newton-based, non-profit organizations, groups of Newton citizens, community service agencies and Newton city agencies can create morning, afternoon or all-day projects in which community volunteers can participate. Typical projects include cleaning up parks, planting gardens, building and painting school bookshelves, spring cleaning at non-profit organizations and helping senior citizens.

For more information, please visit http://newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES.html

Drive a Senior–Make a Friend!  Newton at Home, a member organization dedicated to helping Newton seniors age in their own homes, is looking for volunteers who can give rides to seniors.  Make a new friend while helping someone get to a doctor’s appointment, the supermarket, a social event or the airport.  Volunteer as much as you can at your convenience, and know that you have made a difference in a Newton senior’s life. You’ll meet interesting people and share great conversation along the way!  For more information, call Julie Plaut Mahoney at volcoord@newtonathome.org.

The 6th Annual Environmental Art Contest is open to students grades K-5 who live or attend school in Newton! New this year: an after-school program category for teams with students from different grades. The contest is co-sponsored by Green Decade/Newton and other organizations.
 
The theme is “If I were President, I would ________ to make America greener.”
·       Participants may enter as an individual or in teams of 2, 3 or 4 children.
·       Artwork may be 2-dimensional posters, sculptures or iMovies/video
·       All entries (team or individual) will be judged together by grade level.  After-school program entries will be judged separately from grades K-5.
 
Entries are due Monday, February 27. The awards ceremony will be Thursday, April 5 at the Newton Cultural Center, where all artwork will be displayed April 5 -19. Students must register on-line to participate at www.greendecade.org. Information: 617-965-1995 or EnviroArtContest@greendecade.org.

The Newton Family Singers invite singers of all ages and abilities to a Community SingAlong.  Come sing with us, and enjoy a cozy afternoon of favorite songs with friends, family and neighbors, on Sunday January 22nd, from 1:00 to 2:15 pm at the Waban Library.  For lyrics we’ll use the folk song collection Rise Up Singing, so bring a copy if you can. Acoustic instruments are welcome. Many thanks to the Waban Library Center for hosting this event.  Suggested donation: $10 per family or $5 for individuals.  The WLC is located at 1608 Beacon Street.  For more information email us at newfamilysingers@gmail.com, visit us at www.newtonfamilysingers.org, or find us on Facebook!

Thursday, January 26, 6:30 PM, at Veronique in Brookline, MA
Please join us for this special evening that will honor Anne Larner, Board President of Historic Newton and an outstanding leader and community activist. Also featuring Tufts University’s own singing sensations, The BEELZEBUBS, this event will include cocktails, a light supper, and a chance to participate in an auction featuring radio personality, Matty Siegel of Kiss 108, as guest auctioneer.  Proceeds from ticket sales will help underwrite a new education program in Anne Larner’s name at the newly renovated Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds in Newton.  
 Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased online at www.historicnewton.org.

Be a Winter Buddy: Join Newton at Home’s New Winter Buddy Program! We all know our New England winters are long and there are storms aplenty. We’ve designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside.  Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:

1. Advise that a storm is coming.
2. Assess need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and
batteries, etc).
3. Develop plans for snow removal.
4. Call your buddy every day of the storm.
5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.

Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment,
but would give both buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction
from helping others.  If you would like to participate, please contact
Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694.

Newton at Home is an organization dedicated to empowering Newton’s
seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of
mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to
comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a
sense of community. We are holding a Winter Buddy Information Session on January 9 at 11:30am and January 19 at 2pm. Please join us.

Neighborhood Event for West Newton, Auburndale & Newton Lower Falls on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 (snow date 7 February 2012) at Warren House, 1600 Washington Street.

How would you allocate nearly $20 million for affordable housing, historic resources, open space & recreation land in Newton over the next 5 years? Come tell us on Tuesday, January 24th from 7-9 pm at Warren House, 1600 Washington Street in West Newton. Enjoy a slide show about past CPA projects & neighborhood history. Add your ideas for future projects to our interactive maps. Refreshments provided! For more information, see www.newtonma.gov/cpa or contact Alice E. Ingerson, phone: 617.796.1144 or email: aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Future CPA Neigthborhood Birthday Parties
27 March 2012 – Waban, Newton Upper Falls, & Newton Highlands (Ward 5)
22 May 2012 – Newton Centre, Thompsonville, & Chestnut Hill (Wards 6 & 7)
25 September 2012 – South Side, including Oak Hill & Oak Hill Park (Ward 8)­­­­­­­­­­­­­