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Donate Now
Donations can be made in honor or memory of friends and family.
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News
UUCR Food Drive Success for Reading Food Pantry
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading held their Spring Food Drive for the Reading Food Pantry through the month of April. They collected 140 lbs of food.
Read more in this Patch article:
May 2, 2012
Lynnfield Middle School Does It Again!
During the week of April 2-5 the Lynnfield Middle School PTO sponsored a food drive in conjunction with the Student Council and Gathering Change, Inc.
They collected over 1100 lbs. of food which were sent to the Haven From Hunger in Peabody which serves Lynnfield Residents.
A special Thank You to Patricia Hazelton for your unending commitment and support!
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Your Change Makes A Difference
This month GCI will provide funds to the following food pantries:
Calvary Christian Church
The Blessing Room Food Pantry
47 Grove Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940 Servant's Heart Food Pantry
Faith Evangelical Church
200 Franklin St.
Melrose, MA 02176
Middleton Food Pantry
P.O. Box 855
Middleton, MA 01949 Christian Community Service Food Pantry
North Reading Town Hall
235 North St.
North Reading, MA 01864
Grace Ministries
101 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906
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Sponsors
Thank you to our many supporters:
Baubles Fine Jewelry, Lynnfield
The Book Oasis, Stoneham
Century 21, Wakefield
Christine's Cafe & Confections, Lynnfield
City Cycle, Stoneham
The Chocolate Truffle
D'Amicis, Wakefield
Deborah Capuano's Holistic Massage & Health Therapies
Ernst & Young
Falcon Global Edge, Boston
John Hancock
Liberty Mutual
Louise's Skin Care, Lynnfield
Madison Ave. of Melrose
Mary Briggs Physical Therapy
Melaleuca
Mobil Gas, Post Office Square, Lynnfield
Moderno Salon, Melrose
Natural Food Exchange, Reading
Nokia
Rada Boutique
Second Congregational UCC, Beverly
Silver Clay, Wakefield
Supino Insurance, Lynnfield & Malden
TaggArt Studios, Wakefield
Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading (UUCR)
Village Pharmacy, Lynnfield
Wakefield Physical Therapy Associates, Wakefield
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Upcoming Events
Save the Date: July 14
Scavenger Hunt to Feed the Hungry
Lower Common
Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
9:30 registration
12 p.m. lunch
More details to follow.
October
Michael Nye Exhibit
Endicott College, Beverly
More details to follow.
45 portraits and audio stories will reveal the courage and fragility of those individuals who have experienced hunger.
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We'd love to hear from you.
 Catch up with us on facebook
Send Newsletter suggestions, questions or comments to chanshaw@gatheringchangeinc.org
Send general inquiries to
dgoodwin@gatheringchangeinc.org.
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Dear Friends,
According to "Feeding America" there is not one community in the United States that is free from hunger. The difference with Massachusetts vs. other States is that we have the biggest disparity between the rich and poor. To look around our wealthy neighborhoods you would think that hunger does not exist...but you do not have to go very far to see that it does.
The Greater Boston Food Bank supports over 557 Hunger Agencies in Eastern Massachusetts. This number is even greater when you consider all the food pantries and soup kitchens that depend entirely on private donations.
The solution to this growing problem is complex...but it is clear that there is not just one answer. Gathering Change, Inc., applauds all those who walked 20 miles in the name of hunger this past weekend for Project Bread to support the Greater Boston Food Bank. Their slogan "IT ALL BEGINS WITH FOOD" is so true!
Great job to all the walkers!
Sincerely,
Dorothy Goodwin
President
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What Inspires You? It Takes A Village  Brian Ambrefe from Village Pharmacy in Lynnfield is shown holding the bowl he is using to collect spare change for Gathering Change, Inc. Mr. Ambrefe believes that Gathering Change, Inc., "is a good organization to support." GCI will use the money collected at Village Pharmacy to support food pantries that service Lynnfield residents. "We always support food pantries and volunteer at Haven from Hunger as well", Ambrefe stated enthusiastically.
Hearts Helping Hearts  | |
Pictured are (second row, left to right) Matt, Maria and Maisa; and (first row, l-r) Tiffany, Alexa and Feda. |
The staff at Moderno Salonat 406 Main Street, Melrose, felt their hearts break when they heard that there are Melrose neighbors who do not have enough food to eat week to week. Those neighbors rely on food pantries to help them make ends meet.
Collectively the staff "wanted to help people going through a tough time" said Maria Berardi who initiated collecting change at the salon for Gathering Change, Inc., a local 501c3 charity that raises money for food pantries. The money collected at Moderno Salon will assist in supporting the two food pantries in Melrose.
Compassion Connection  |
Joanne Cotton serves on the Advisory Committe of Gathering Change, Inc. |
What do you get when you have an empathic business owner who is aware of the hunger issue in Massachusetts? You get an individual such as Joanne Cotton: mother, small business owner and former volunteer at her local food pantry. A resident of Melrose, Ms. Cotton, proprietor of Main Street's Madison Ave of Melrose, Boutique Consignment, has a collection bowl on her store's counter for Gathering Change, Inc. "As a business owner, I have become (even) more aware of the great need" said Ms. Cotton. "And I love to be connected to the community". Thank you Joanne Cotton and your generous customers ~ you collectively support the two food pantries in Melrose! What inspires you to get involved in your community?
Write to Judy Bousquin or Marianne Snow and share your story:
msnow@gatheringchangeinc.org jbousquin@gatheringchangeinc.org __________________________________________________ |
99 Restaurant "Dining For A Cause" A Success!
Over $1,000 raised
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GCI Board members Dorothy Goodwin, Donna Hegan, Marianne Snow and Judy Bousquin are beaming after a fun and successful event. |
Dear Friends,
I am overwhelmed, but not at all surprised, by your generosity at the 99 Restaurant "Dining For A Cause" held on Monday evening, April 23rd, to raise money for Gathering Change. We were able to raise $1,028.00.
We will be donating the proceeds to several food pantries, including Lynnfield and surrounding communities.
With gratitude,
Donna Hegan
Fundraising Chair
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Bucket of Hope and Nourishment Campaign Kicks Off at Summer Street School
The Summer Street School in Lynnfield is once again collecting spare change. The Student Council kicked off their Bucket of Hope and Nourishment Campaign with an inspiring assembly. Below is a photo of Mrs. Percoskie's 4th Grade Classroom. They are all smiles after their first week of collecting over $834.88.
One more week to go.....WOW!
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GCI and Feinstein Fdn. $1 Million Hunger Challenge
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Hunger Challenge during the months of March and April. The Feinstein Foundation will match a percentage of every $1 or pound of food collected by our board and volunteers during this period. Check out their website at www.feinsteinfoundation.org. |
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About Gathering Change, Inc.
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization that collects spare change from our communities for distribution back into our neighborhood food pantries and social programs. Since our first collection in October of 2008 we have been able to donate food or funds to over 40 Massachusetts food pantries.
What's in your pocket?
A loaf of bread, a gallon of milk?
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