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Upcoming Events
May 20, 2011
Healthy Eating For Families
With the growing need for increased awareness about healthy eating, we will be holding a dinner focused on nutrition and healthy living for children and families. More details to follow.
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Thank You Hunger Awareness Breakfast Sponsors and Raffle Donors
The Aim Group, West Roxbury
Dr. William Bebrin D.M.D., Middleton
Cape Ann Kitchens, Stoneham/Gloucester
Dr. Al Costanza, Wakefield
Liz Barbour's Creative Feast
Hollis, NH
D.A.Sullivan,Inc., Wilmington
Designscapes, Lynnfield
Dorothy and Roy Goodwin, Lynnfield
Dr. Frank J. DiMauro D.M.D., Middleton
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Lynn
Gately Funeral Home, Melrose
George and Marianne Snow, Wakefield Health Touch, Inc., Reading
J. Pace and Son Inc., Saugus
Jerome & Christene Barraford, Lynnfield
Keurig, Inc., Reading
Little Theatre Nursery, Lynn
Madam Had'Em, Marblehead
Maria's Gourmet Pasta, Malden
Mary Briggs, Physical Therapy, Wakefield
Melrose LaCrosse, Melrose Beverly & Al Merritt , Lynnfield
Nasty Nonni's, Saugus
Natural Food Exchange, Reading
New England Finery Magazine
Tony Pelusi Jr., JD, CPCC, ACC
Pinnacle Private Wealth, Woburn
Rada's Boutique, Wakefield
Reflexions, Saugus
ReMax Heritage,Debbie Miller Team, Wakefield
Sarni Cleaners, Lynnfield
Salem Five Charitable Foundation
Second Congregational Church, Beverly Soderblom Wellness
Soma Day Spa, Wakefield
Spinale and Co, Swampscott
St. Maria Goretti's Church,Lynnfield
Supino Insurance, Lynnfield and Malden
James F. Tobin, PGA, Melrose
TaggArt Studio, Wakefield
Trader Joe's, Saugus
Twisted Stems, Lynnfield
UDay Spa, Middleton
Universal Plumbing & Heating, Lynnfield
Vista Yacht Charters,
Portsmouth, NH
Wakefield Jewelers
Wakefield Physical Therapy
Yvonne Blacker Interiors, Lynnfield
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Donate Now
Gathering Change, Inc. is now able to accept online donations through our partnership with justgive.org.
Donations can be made in honor or memory of friends and family. |
Student Recognized by JFK Library for Work with GCI
Madison Cotton of Melrose has been recognized with the Making A Difference Award for the difference she has made in her community through her service with Gathering Change, Inc.
The award is given to students who are nominated by teachers, principals and other community leaders for contributions they have made to their neighborhood, town or community. The students received a personalized certificate at an award ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on March 23rd.
Congratulations Maddie and thank you for your continued service to hungry families in our community!
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Your Change Making A Difference
Donations are being made to the following Food Pantries over the next few days:
- Beverly Bootstraps
- Bread of Life, Malden
- Haven from Hunger, Peabody
- Middleton Food Pantry
- North Reading Food Pantry
- Reading Food Pantry
- Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry
- Saugus United Parish Food Pantry,
- Servants Heart Food Pantry, Melrose
- St. Joseph's Food Pantry Salem
- Stoneham BOH Food Pantry
- The Blessing Room Food Pantry, Lynnfield
GCI thanks you for your generous support!
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Sponsors
Thank you to the following businesses for your continued support:
City Cycle
The Chocolate Truffle
D'Amicis, Wakefield
Louise's Skin Care, Lynnfield
Mary Briggs Physical Therapy, Wakefield
Melaleuca
TaggArt Studios |
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_________________________________
We'd love to hear from you.
Please send Newsletter suggestions, questions or comments to chanshaw@gatheringchangeinc.org
Please send general inquiries to
dgoodwin@gatheringchangeinc.org.
Join Our Mailing List
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President's Letter
 On behalf of the GCI board, I would like to thank everyone who attended our first "Come To The Table" hunger awareness fundraiser held on March 19, 2011. Because of your generous support we will be distributing $4,000 to the food pantries on the North Shore. In addition, a percentage of the funds collected will be matched by the Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Hunger Challenge.
Our hope is that we have inspired you to think differently about hunger. It only takes one person encouraging another person, at the right time, to turn good intentions into meaningful actions. Use your voices, use your hands, trust yourself, listen to your heart, be present, and join us as we continue to support our human family. Simply:
- Ask your book club to bring their coins to your next meeting.
- Invite your neighbors over for coffee and ask them to bring their spare change.
- Inform your families/friends that there will be a bowl on your table for collecting during the holidays.
- Place a collection bowl out at your place of business.
Warmest regards,
Dorothy Goodwin
President
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Hunger Awareness Breakfast Raises $4,000 for Local Food Pantries
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Dorothy Goodwin and Yvonne Blacker display the Event Program
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GCI raised $4,000 at its inaugural fundraiser breakfast, Come to the Table. Held on Saturday, March 19, at the Thomson Country Club in North Reading, this event marked an important milestone for our organization. We have collected approximately $75,000 in spare change for neighbors in need since our inception in October 2008.
According to the Greater Boston Food Bank, one in 11 people in the Commonwealth visit a food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter. With over 100 supporters in attendance, Gathering Change, Inc., President Dorothy Goodwin and Sandy Carriker, co-chair of Christian Community Service, discussed local efforts to combat hunger, which have become even more essential in recent years due to the economic downturn.
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The LoConte family helped make the raffle a huge success - over $700 was raised
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"In 2008 there were 425,000 Massachusetts residents who did not know where their next meal was coming from, and today there are 660,000 residents relying on a food pantry, and another 200,000 rely on a soup kitchen or a shelter for a hot meal," said Goodwin. "Gathering Change, Inc., invites everyone to come to the table to think about what they can do to help their neighbors with basic needs."
With spare change donated from local communities, we have supplied food or funds to over 39 Massachusetts food pantries that provide immediate help to those that are hungry and cannot make it to their next paycheck.
Guests also learned more about healthy eating alternatives from Julie Soderblom of Soderblom Wellness and Liz Barbour's Creative Feast.
Lynnfield High School's all-female a cappella group, A Cabella's, provided the musical entertainment, singing the National Anthem, "Somewhere over the Rainbow," and "Say A Little Prayer."
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Lynnfield High School A Cabellas
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"We believe that our spare change changes lives, and that collectively we can change the course of hunger with this simple act," added Goodwin. "If 1 million Massachusetts residents out the 6.5 million who live in this state saved just $50 in spare change, over a years time, that would amount to $50 million raised. A year from now I hope I can tell that is what is happening at Gathering Change, Inc."
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Lynnfield Middle School Food Drive
For the third year in a row, Thanks to Principal,Stephen Ralston, Fifth Grade Teacher, Patricia Hazelton, along with the Student Council, for inspiring their teachers and classmates to donate over 1,000 pounds of non- perishable food items during their recent food drive. The food was picked up by the Haven From Hunger in Peabody. A percentage of this donation will be matched by the Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Hunger Challenge. Thank you all for sharing your abundance. You have made a difference in your community! |
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Lynnfield Summer Street School Coin Drive:
Bucket of Change = Nourishment and Hope
Many thanks to all the students at the Summer Street School especially, Principal, Jane Tremblay, Stephanie Klove, and the 4th Grade Student Council for collecting over $1,900 in change to help our neighbors in need. You individually and collectively give us a sense of hope and promise for a united world where hunger will no longer exist.
The Student Council is responsible for the posters that were put up around the school for two weeks...to inspire their classmates on what their spare change really means. This donation will be split between the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry which serves over 800 individuals each month and the Haven from Hunger in Peabody which serves 1,200 individuals.
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Summer Street students created posters for their campaign.
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The Student Council came up with the following slogans:
Coins for Lives
Change for Children
Just one coin can make a
difference.
One coin is one big change
...just to name a few.
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About Gathering Change, Inc.
Gathering Change, Inc., is a grassroots charitable organization that collects spare change from our homes, schools, faith communities and businesses. Our mission is to meet the immediate basic needs of citizens within our cities and towns who cannot achieve this goal alone. The funds are distributed back into our local food pantries and social programs. Gathering Change, Inc., gives everyone the opportunity to participate by sharing their abundance, thereby fostering a sense of interconnection, care and well-being throughout our neighborhoods.
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