Interested in any of the below activities? Stop by the Connect & Commit office or email Ms. Gordon at agordon@winchester.k12.ma.us.
Also,
check out our most recent newsletter
Connect
& Commit Service Opportunities - February 2008
Saturday,
February 2nd
- Franklin Park Winter Volunteer Day - 10:00 -1:00 (9:30-1:30 with travel) Wednesday,
February 6th – WFEE Trivia Bee Fundraiser –
6:30 – 9:00 pm Saturday,
February 9th - Marathon Training with Joints
in Motion - 7:00 -11:00am (6:30-11:30am with travel) Watertown Saturday,
February 9th - Game Day at Women’s Lunch Place
- 10:30am-12:30pm (10:00am-1:00pm with travel) 67 Newbury Street, Boston Saturday
& Sunday, Feb. 9th & 10th
- Winchester Historical Society Film Series- 1:30- 4:30pm Sunday,
February 10th - TeenLife Boston Community Service
Fair - 2- 5pm Monday,
February 18th through 21st
- Teen Team Works - 10:30am- 4:00pm Sunday,
February 24th - Special Needs Cross Country
Skiing and Snow Shoeing- 11:00am-2:00pm Saturday,
March 1st - Council of Social Concern’s Silent
Auction Ongoing
Opportunities Vinson
Owen Volunteer – Morning or Afterschool North
Suburban YMCA, Birthday Parties, Woburn Minuteman
Senior Services, Friendly Visitor, Winchester Youth
for Understanding, Host Family Donate
Your Used Printer Cartridges Ambrose
Elementary School – Pennies for Peace project Elderly
resident looking for a reading volunteer Elementary
school student needs math help Jenks
Senior Center Library help American
Cancer Society - Relays for Life Vinson
Owen Volunteer – Morning or Afterschool The
Other Three R’s – Serving our planet, Serving us all Vinson
Owen Volunteer – Morning or Afterschool North
Suburban YMCA, Birthday Parties, Woburn Minuteman
Senior Services, Friendly Visitor, Winchester Youth
for Understanding, Host Family Donate
Your Used Printer Cartridges
Help
the Franklin Park Coalition to save the historic, 200-acres of woodlands
in Franklin Park by cutting prickly vines that kill young trees. Please
wear layers and glove liners under leather palm work gloves (they have
work gloves for those who don't). Nylon parkas will get ripped by
the thorns, so it's best to wear a big, hooded sweatshirt or wool
jacket. Hot chocolate and donuts provided! Sign up in Connect &
Commit office by Tuesday, January 29th; permission
slip required.
WFEE
needs volunteers to help with various tasks at this fun event. Volunteers
receive a free T-shirt and refreshments are provided. At the Town Hall.
Sign up in Connect & Commit office by Thursday, Jan. 31
Come
join Joints in Motion, the Arthritis Foundation's marathon team,
and help provide road support to these special athletes during their
training runs. Volunteers will help at liquid and first aid stations
or can run/bike along with athletes as they navigate the marathon course.
Volunteers are trained before each session on emergency procedures and
have an orientation on helping athletes work toward their goals. Come
and help train these special athletes, learn endurance training skills
and also get yourself in great shape too! Sign up in Connect &
Commit office by Wednesday, January 30th; permission
slip required.
For
over 25 years, the Women's Lunch Place has been a daytime community
in Boston for poor and homeless women and their children. Bring your
favorite game and join the guests at Women’s Lunch Place for some fun.
At noon we will help serve lunch to our new friends and are welcome
to grab a bite ourselves. Sign up in the Connect & Commit office
by Tuesday, February 5th; permission slip required.
Lincoln
School, Winchester
In
celebration of its 75th year, the Society presents "Then
and Now in Winchester, 1933 and 2008", a series of programs contrasting
the culture and conditions of society and our town. We can help
by ushering and monitoring attendees during the films. Come spend an
afternoon at the movies, be captivated by the artistry of a classic
film, and help out a valued community organization at the same time.
The Winchester Historical Society presents educational programs and
exhibits, as well as collects, preserves, and shares materials on Winchester's
ever developing history so that present and future generations can understand
more fully their predecessors, their community, and themselves.
Sign
up in the Connect & Commit office by Wednesday, January 30th.
The
Atrium Mall, Chestnut Hill
This
event, co-sponsored by Google and the Atrium Mall, features 35 well
known non-profit exhibitors who welcome teens as individual or group
volunteers, interns, and staff. Middle and high school students, youth
groups, parents, and teachers welcome! See www.teenlifeboston.com
for information.
Location:
Various BOOYAH! Project Sites throughout Boston
Teen
Team Works is a 4 day, small group volunteer program designed for high
school teens ages 13-18. The program provides opportunities to participate
in teambuilding and leadership workshops, while learning about the issues,
organizations and communities encountered through volunteer services
and action steps one can to take in response to what is learned. Group
meets at 190 High St. in downtown Boston every day at 10:30am and travels
together to the project sites. BOOYAH! t-shirts are provided for you
to wear during projects, Charlie cards are provided for transportation
to the project and back home, and snacks are provided. Sign up using
application at www.bostoncares.org.
Due by February 13th.
Weston
Come
cross-country ski or snowshoe with athletes with disabilities. There
will be a hot chocolate/lunch break half way through this three hour
program. Skis and snowshoes will be provided if you do not have your
own - but you are encouraged to bring yours if you have them. Kid Friendly,
13+. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. With the Newton
Parks and Recreation Department. Sign up at www.bostoncares.org,
volunteer projects. Project Leader: Liz Resch
Woburn:
at Council of Social Concern and Hilton Boston
Help
the Council of Social Concern with their annual silent auction fundraiser:
from 11:30am-2:00pm, load auction items into the truck at the Council
and then unload and take to the auction space at the Hilton Boston-Woburn.
Or if you prefer, a Saturday night out with your friends and some free
pizza: from 5:30-7:30, walk around and keep track of the winning bid
sheets, or help at the auction table from 7:00-9:45 pm. A 1-hour optional
training is on Thursday 2/28 at 7:00pm at the Council office. The Council
provides services to address community needs for child care, parenting
and wellness education, and food assistance. Sign up in Connect &
Commit office by Wednesday, January 29h; permission
slip required.
Volunteer
with a Kindergartner with Special Needs
Devote
a little time each week to playing with a cheerful kindergarten student
with physical and communication challenges in his home near WHS after
school or in the evening. A rewarding experience for students interested
in teaching or child development.
Provide
assistance and encouragement to elementary school students as they use
an educational computer program for extra help during one or more of
the following times: Monday 2:40 -3:10 pm, Tuesday morning, 8:00 -8:30am,
or Wednesday, 2:40-3:10 pm. From January 7 through May; please commit
to at least 8 sessions.
The
YMCA of Greater Boston is dedicated to improving the health of mind,
body, and spirit of individuals and families in our communities. Help
out with the ever popular YMCA birthday party! You would be responsible
for helping the coordinators set up and break down tables and chairs,
blow up balloons, and run games, sports, the bouncy house, and monitor
the pool. Birthday parties are weekends only. You need only be 14+ and
be friendly, fun, full of energy, and willing to help out. Contact Kasey
Ward, 781-935-3270.
Minuteman
Senior Service's mission is to help elders remain in their homes-
safe, comfortable and independent- for as long as they are able, and
to support their caregivers as they face the challenges presented by
the competing needs of family, work and self. Be matched with a homebound
senior for 1 hour weekly home visits. Break the isolation of frail seniors.
Enjoy discovering common interests and activities. Gain the pleasure
of friendship and satisfaction in making a difference to a lonely senior.
It doesn't take special skills...just a willingness to listen, offer
encouragement, and talk about what you have learned about life. Must
have own transportation. Contact: Debbie Barr, (781) 272-7177; http://www.minutemansenior.org
Youth
for Understanding offers the youth exchange programs for students ages
15-19 from around the world to live with a volunteer host family. Help
us by hosting a young person for an academic school year or semester.
A YFU exchange student becomes a member of your family, participates
in family activities, shares in home responsibilities, and provides
your family with an international friendship that can last a lifetime!
YFU international exchange students, who have studied English, are carefully
selected and are chosen for their academic excellence and on the basis
of teacher recommendations. Contact: Theresa Nowak (617) 868-3660; http://www.yfu-usa.org
Raise
funds for the C&C club and reduce waste by dropping off used Laser
jet and Inkjet printer cartridges to the collection box in the main
hall.
Ambrose
is looking for students who are reading the fabulous "Three Cups
of Tea" by Greg Mortenson who would like to meet with some Ambrose
students and staff to get their "Pennies for Peace" project
rolling (the fundraiser for building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan).
Visit
and read the New Yorker or other publications one or twice a week with
an elderly resident who is visually impaired. A trailblazer in her time,
you could also hear her stories of living in Hollywood in the early
40’s and having a woman’s show on Vermont’s first TV station. At the
Gables in Winchester; own transportation required.
A
Lynch elementary school student needs a Math tutor to help her focus.
Meet once per week during the school week in the afternoon (before 6
pm); schedule worked out between the tutor and the family.
Two
volunteers are needed to help the Jenks Senior Center library to rearrange
their books for two hours on couple of afternoons. If interested, please
leave a message for Rose Cammarata at the Jenks Center at 781-721- 7136.
Join
the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®: a time and place
where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember
those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches too
many lives. Sign up to start a team, join a team or do a survivor lap.
Donate to a participant, team or event, or be a luminaria. 1-800-ACS-2345.
www.relayforlife.org.
2/15-2/16 Boston College, The Plex, 3/2 North Suburban
Family YMCA, Spin for Hope, 4/11 Tufts University.
Provide
assistance and encouragement to elementary school students as they use
an educational computer program for extra help during one or more of
the following times: Monday 2:40 -3:10 pm, Tuesday morning, 8:00 -8:30am,
or Wednesday, 2:40-3:10 pm. From January 7 through May; please commit
to at least 8 sessions.
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Do
you know about the MA incentives that promote renewable energy and
energy efficiency? See www.newdream.org/consumer
Is
there something you need? Something you no longer need? Use craigslist.com
to get rid of or find used or free items, and the Freecycle Network
(freecycle.org)
for all things free fifty-free.
New
York City will soon require large stores and retail chains to collect
and recycle plastic bags they give to shoppers…You can drop off
yours at the Council of Social Concern’s Food Pantry in Woburn,
where they need 1,000 bags each month!
Volunteer
with a Kindergartner with Special Needs
Devote
a little time each week to playing with a cheerful kindergarten student
with physical and communication challenges in his home near WHS after
school or in the evening. A rewarding experience for students interested
in teaching or child development.
Provide
assistance and encouragement to elementary school students as they use
an educational computer program for extra help during one or more of
the following times: Monday 2:40 -3:10 pm, Tuesday morning, 8:00 -8:30am,
or Wednesday, 2:40-3:10 pm. From January 7 through May; please commit
to at least 8 sessions.
The
YMCA of Greater Boston is dedicated to improving the health of mind,
body, and spirit of individuals and families in our communities. Help
out with the ever popular YMCA birthday party! You would be responsible
for helping the coordinators set up and break down tables and chairs,
blow up balloons, and run games, sports, the bouncy house, and monitor
the pool. Birthday parties are weekends only. You need only be 14+ and
be friendly, fun, full of energy, and willing to help out. Contact
Kasey Ward, 781-935-3270.
Minuteman
Senior Service's mission is to help elders remain in their homes-
safe, comfortable and independent- for as long as they are able, and
to support their caregivers as they face the challenges presented by
the competing needs of family, work and self. Be matched with a homebound
senior for 1 hour weekly home visits. Break the isolation of frail
seniors. Enjoy discovering common interests and activities. Gain the
pleasure of friendship and satisfaction in making a difference to a
lonely senior. It doesn't take special skills...just a willingness
to listen, offer encouragement, and talk about what you have learned
about life. Must have own transportation. Contact: Debbie Barr, (781)
272-7177; http://www.minutemansenior.org
Youth
for Understanding offers the youth exchange programs for students ages
15-19 from around the world to live with a volunteer host family. Help
us by hosting a young person for an academic school year or semester.
A YFU exchange student becomes a member of your family, participates
in family activities, shares in home responsibilities, and provides
your family with an international friendship that can last a lifetime!
YFU international exchange students, who have studied English, are carefully
selected and are chosen for their academic excellence and on the basis
of teacher recommendations. Contact: Theresa Nowak (617) 868-3660;
http://www.yfu-usa.org
Raise
funds for the C&C club and reduce waste by dropping off used Laser
jet and Inkjet printer cartridges to the collection box in the main
hall.