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FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
VALENTINE'S DAY FLOWERS & FEBRUARY SHOE DRIVE
WHAT WE NEED NOW
DONOR SURVEY
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Robyn
Our deep commitment is driven by a vision of a future in which all babies begin life with the same opportunities for future success; and our belief that success should be determined by a formula of hard work sprinkled with good fortune, rather than by demographics such as residential zip code or family income level.  

We are inspired by the dedication of parents in poverty who strive to be the best parents possible in the face of the unthinkable circumstance of making ends meet earning less than $25,000 a year.  

This year, we plan to enroll a new population of local families through neighborhood-based services that will offer parents professional and peer support, paired with essential baby items to offset the financial challenges of raising babies in poverty. 
 
We invite you to partner with us by volunteering, donating baby goods, or making a financial donation. We greatly appreciate your support, and look forward to a year filled with hope and promise.

Thank you for your support, 

Robyn Carter 

Executive Director     

 CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Support During Chaotic Times
girl with toy
Kathy and Tom were referred to Room to Grow at a time of great uncertainty. Expecting a new baby girl, they were already loving parents to a 3-year old daughter and 11-year old son. Kathy was in her fourth year of recovery, focused on her health, and being the best mother possible. Tom was in an apprenticeship working towards his electrician's license. Their lives suddenly changed when the apartment building they were living in was sold and the family was evicted.
 
Without a stable place to live, daily priorities such as keeping warm, food, and shelter for their family became stressful and overwhelming. For the children, shuttling from shelter to shelter was hectic and confusing, and they absorbed much of the stress carried by their parents.

This is when Kathy and Tom came to Room to Grow. For the last two years, during the most frightening and challenging time in their lives, Room to Grow provided information, emotional support and resources to ensure their stability and to support their new baby's healthy development. Room to Grow helped Kathy and Tom learn coping strategies for managing their stress, and taught them how to create more structure for their children.
 
Today, Tom has his electrician's license and is gainfully employed. The family has obtained stable housing and, with parenting strategies learned at Room to Grow, all three children are thriving.  
RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Blooms of Hope roses

February 14 | 2013

Blooms of Hope Valentine's Day Floral Sale   

Celebrate Valentine's Day while helping a great cause! Blooms of Hope will be holding a Valentine's Day Floral sale at Room to Grow's office at 142 Berkeley Street on Thursday, February 14, from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Blooms of Hope is offering three unique and beautiful arrangements, ranging from $45 - $55 and all profits from this sale will be donated to Room to Grow! Click here to pre-order your lovely bouquet now, as a limited number of bouquets will be available for purchase at Room to Grow.    
  

February 9-14 | 2013
Necco Candy Store Opening to Benefit Room to Grow
The New England Confectionery Company (Necco) is celebrating Valentine's Day by opening their candy store located at Necco's world headquarters at 135 American Legion Highway, Revere, Mass. This is the first time the store has been open to the public in years. Start shopping on Saturday, February 9, until Thursday, February 14, all for a great cause. Stock up on classic sweets, including Sweethearts, and all proceeds will be donated to Room to Grow.

February | 2013

Room to Grow's Annual Shoe Drive 

Room to Grow is hosting its annual shoe drive throughout the month of February to help babies navigate their first steps safely. Please join us in putting footwear on the growing feet of babies being raised in poverty by encouraging your office, school, friends and family to participate. Email [email protected] or click here to get started.   

 

January - June | 2013

Blue State Coffee Supports Room to Grow  

Blue State Coffee is not your typical coffee shop. With a commitment to philanthropy and community involvement, they have chosen Room to Grow as one of four organizations to donate a percentage of sales to for the next six months. Visit Blue State Coffee located at 957 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston and make sure to vote for Room to Grow when you order your morning coffee. The more votes we receive, the greater the financial gift, to help us continue to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty.  

WHAT WE NEED NOW

sippy cup photo Room to Grow needs sippy cups, plus long sleeve shirts, sweaters, pants and pajamas for both boys and girls in the following sizes: 24 months, 2T and 3T. And when the snow stops falling, please consider donating your children's winter coats, boots and gear that won't fit next year, to help Room to Grow babies stay warm and cozy all year round. 

 

Click here to see a full list of our urgent needs. 

 

     

DONOR SURVEY
We value your opinions and thoughts. Please click here to complete a donor survey and provide any feedback that will help us as we grow and expand our organization. Thank you!

 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2012

Thanks to your support and generosity, we are pleased to share some of Room to Grow's greatest accomplishments of 2012 as we look ahead to another exciting year:

  

In an expanded and newly renovated space, Room to Grow served 376 total babies in Boston, a significant increase from 2011

We celebrated many graduations and welcomed nearly 100 new babies into the program, retaining 85% of all families enrolled 

Our social workers provided 4,000 hours of parenting support
Families in the community donated 43,151 essential baby items in wonderful condition which were distributed to families in need
1,700 individual and corporate volunteers delivered 5,147 hours of service 

We welcomed a new Executive Director, Robyn Carter and a new Director of Development, Mechilia Salazar

Room to Grow developed new outcome measurement tools to better track our program's impact  

We hosted 500 prominent Bostonians at our best-attended fall gala
Room to Grow was awarded the Boston Cares Community Partnership Award for our commitment to volunteerism
Room to Grow was selected as a Top-Rated Great Nonprofit and is now listed on greatnonprofits.org   

 

 

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