Coming Up
First Tuesdays
June 2, 5-7pm Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, Circle of Hope will have late dropoff hours. And you can expect this again in July... the first Tuesday of every month. Thank you Margot Carleton, the COH volunteer who has offered to staff this new important addition to COH's open hours!
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Special Requests
- New men's socks
- Men's backpacks
- Women's shorts and capris
If you have any of the above, please drop them off at 65 Rosemary Street during any of our...
DROP-OFF TIMES:
Monday, 9-10 AM
Tuesday, 4-5 PM
Wednesday, 9-10 AM
Wednesday, 3-4 PM
Thursday, 10-11:30 AM
Saturday, 9-11 AM
*NEW, 1st Tuesdays each month, 5-7 pm
If you would like to make a financial donation to Circle of Hope, click here.
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You Must Hear This...
It's notes like this that motivate us to work harder. You, our supporters, will especially be moved by these words...
"Circle of Hope serves ATASK in real, tangible ways."
Cristina Lee Interim Co-Executive Director ATASK and Director of Transitional Housing
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Go To Crew Update
In May we put out an emergency request for baby clothing, especially for Casa Nueva Vida Family Shelter. We are thrilled to receive not only clothing donations from our Go To Crew, but also cash donations to our Go To Crew fund. It's not too late to help. Please consider dropping off infant clothing, all sizes. Or simply donate to our Go To Crew emergency fund by
The Go To Crew is a small group of supporters who receive an e-mail if a special need arises. Being a member of the Go To Crew does not obligate its members to donate every time there is a need. If you would like to be a member of the Go To Crew, or know someone who would like to be on this e-mail list, just respond to this e-mail, or click here.  |
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Dear Friends of Circle of Hope,
Big changes are happening at Circle of Hope. We're saying good-bye to our energetic Director of Development, Kate Maguire, who is moving to New York City where, no doubt, she will add to its vibrancy and most certainly offer her skills and talents to support NYC organizations in her signature style. We welcome two new volunteers who will take over some of our communications. Cecilia Shipley and Amy Granger will work behind the scenes to keep you "in the know" about all things Circle of Hope. Our social media volunteer, Samantha Nurmenniemi, will post and tweet our news too. It "takes a village" to fill Kate's shoes and we're still on the lookout for more talented folks. We'll miss Kate and wish her a grand life adventure in NYC.
We've brightened our work spaces at COH with lights that don't dangle from extension cords, replaced fuses with circuit breakers, and repaired our doorbell to welcome donors. Even more important are the changes happening with the homeless shelters and programs we serve. You'll read about how critical Circle of Hope has become for Boston's primary hospital serving the homeless. Added to the list of homeless shelters who rely on Circle of Hope as the sole provider of clothing and necessities, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless clinical staff gives our donations to heal and care for our most fragile neighbors.
The more things change, however, the more they remain the same. At Circle of Hope we remain steadfast in our dedication and compassionate service for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Thank you for joining us in this labor of loving kindness.
With deepest thanks,
Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director
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COH Now Sole Provider to Boston Healthcare for the Homeless
When the homeless are in need of medical attention in the Boston area, it's Boston Healthcare for the Homeless (BHCHP) who come to the rescue. And now, when those men and women need clothing, it's Circle of Hope that will provide it. BHCHP recently changed their clothing donation
policy and will ONLY accept clothing delivered by Circle of Hope. Says Alyssa Brassil, BHCHP's Manager of Special Events & Annual Fund Planning, "You always bring us such great stuff and it is always in great condition...We just don't have the space or resources to keep up with it."
We are honored to support this hard-working organization in an even more vital way. The Emergency Clothing Room is where items are stored for patients at BHCHP headquarters. So that you, our supporters, can be aware of what we need to deliver to BHCHP, below is their list of vital needs.
Essential Stock Items for the Emergency Clothing Room Men-tee shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants in a variety of sizes (shorts in summer) Women-tee shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants in a variety of sizes (shorts in summer) Winter coats Belts of varying width Sneakers and boots Backpacks
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Because of people like YOU, Circle of Hope is able to help hundreds of people in Boston area homeless shelters and programs serving refugees and disadvantaged youth. Here are some of our stories from this month...
Many Angels Needed Now and Always (MANNA)
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| Clothing ready to be offered to lunch guests |
The call came from Jennifer McCracken, a nurse with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and volunteer at the Episcopal Cathedral's MANNA (Many Angels Needed Now and Always) Monday Lunch program in Boston that serves lunch to dozens of homeless people. Jennifer asked if Circle of Hope could bring and distribute vital winter clothing and outerwear as winter bore down on homeless guests. We rolled up our sleeves and asked you for MORE, and you responded in abundance.
Circle of Hope directly impacted many people who spent nights on the streets this winter in extreme conditions after the unplanned closure of Long Island Shelter (LIS). For the past 6 years those staying overnight at LIS received clothing from Circle of Hope. With your donations, Circle of Hope Volunteers Myra Anderson, Barbara Brailey, Arden Mason, Debby Rempis, and Terry Windhorst distributed clothing and outerwear all winter long and now continue our COH program into the spring. We are so very grateful for your generosity in helping us care for these vulnerable men and women and so proud of the dedication and tenacity of our COH volunteers.
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416 = 208
We were stunned when 13-year old Ben Shaer walked in with 416 pairs of underwear to donate to Boston's children, women, and men who are homeless. This was part of his Mitzvah project. New underwear are so vitally important at Circle of Hope since it is an item that cannot be donated previously worn. When we deliver underwear to those who need them, we generally provide two pairs per person. So, Ben has supported 208 people with this donation said COH President/Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse, and they will "feel healthier and have respect, dignity and hope when they need it most." She added, "Circle of Hope will be able to deliver to some of our 18 Boston-area homeless family and domestic violence shelters and hospital clinics.
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COH Expands Support of St. Francis House Shelter
Circle of Hope has long been a supporter of St. Francis House Shelter located at 39 Boylston Street in Boston. Now we will also be supporting a program called MAP (Moving Ahead Program), a job and life-skills training program that helps students learn to identify, pursue, and succeed in careers that match their abilities, skills, and work values. The program emphasizes the importance of job readiness and satisfaction, which can increase students' ability to secure and maintain employment and housing, thus improving their lives and the community-at-large. The students receive business clothing at the end of the program. COH has arranged to deliver apparel to support MAP.
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| Toiletries donated by Noble & Greenough |
Thanks Again
Below is a story retold by COH Executive Director Barbara Waterhouse as heard from John Comaschi who works with homeless men at a new homeless shelter on Southampton Street in Boston. John was our key contact at Long Island Shelter for years until the city closed the bridge earlier this year. Now he is helping many of the same men at this facility. The "prizes" in the story were all donated from Noble and Greenough School students, families, and faculty.
"John told me a fabulous story! He said one night recently they were looking for an activity for 37 men who stayed in the new shelter at Southampton Street - the first floor is partially open. So John brought in his record player and vinyl records to play for the men, some of who are only in their early 20's and had never seen vinyl records before! The first record he played was, "Rock around the clock" and the last one was, "The Wanderer". John organized a raffle for the guys and gave away bags of toiletries made from our donations as prizes for the men. He thanked us again for all of the donations!!"
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Mother's Day Tribute Campaign
Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love you bestowed on us during our annual Mother's Day campaign. Your donations of over $5,000 will help us fulfill the needs of mothers who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. More than half of the donors asked us to send a Mother's Day Tribute Card in honor of or in memory of that important person in their life. We are so appreciative of your support.
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