Helping to build a brighter future for people in need


February 2015
In This Issue
Coming Up
 
Carmen in Concert
March 13
Come witness tomorrow's opera stars from Boston University's Opera Institute.  This concert is part of Masterwork Chorale's Awareness Through Music series, and Circle of Hope has been designated as the recipient of the proceeds.
Click here for details.

Revival
March 28-29
Revival will be an annual event to benefit Circle of Hope.  This special event will feature "vignettes" of beautiful spaces around the home, all created from previously-used furniture and accessories by area decorators, designers, and creative visionaries.  

      
Special Requests
 hat coat glove clipart
  • Adult hats and gloves
  • Men's jeans
  • Adult winter boots
  • Men's thermal or long-sleeved shirts for layering
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, 4-5:00 PM

Wednesday, 9-10:00 AM

Wednesday, 3-4:00 PM

Thursday, 10-11:30 AM  

 

Saturday, 9-11 AM   

 

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...

 

 

"...thanks for being a light of hope for all those who really need it."     
 

 

Ellen M.

Circle of Hope   

Volunteer Driver            

 


Go To Crew Update   

 

Last month's Go To Crew request for warm men's coats produced an outpouring of love and support that was remarkable.  Within the week we delivered 55 coats to the homeless men seeking shelter at the South End Fitness Center.
Thank you to all the Go To Crew members who not only surveyed their own closets but asked their friends to do the same. 

 

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.

 

 


Dear Friends of Circle of Hope,

I remember an expression my mom used to say in winter, "cold hands, warm heart."  I recently bought myself a thermal mug for my steamy coffee that has that saying printed on the side.  Even without that written reminder I think about the generous hearts of our volunteers and donors.  We work together to give cold hands mittens and gloves, as well as much needed hats, boots, and coats so that homeless children and adults can stay healthy and warm in the snowy outdoors.  From the generous outpouring of our "Go To Crew" to the community clothing and coat drives, you make certain we deliver warmth to those who so urgently need it.
 
Our business partners like Closet Exchange and Savers are warming our neighbors and showing us that "gently used" can be good as new!  In fact, the theme of our upcoming event called Revival (you'll read about in this issue) is about repurposing goods to raise money to support Circle of Hope's service to homeless families and individuals.  What better way to come together with our supporters and partners than to celebrate with a cocktail party and auction to benefit our programs?  I am so very grateful for the work of the event committee volunteers, designers, and co-sponsors at Needham Bank and Dedham Savings who are busy preparing what will be an amazing event!
 
We're being celebrated and supported by the Masterworks Chorale with a special performance at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge on March 13th.  Mark your calendars and get ready for beautiful music sponsored by a loyal COH donor whose tribute to her parents also honors the volunteer hours dedicated by her sister at COH.  What a truly inspirational family.
 
Thank you to all COH donors, volunteers, and partners whose hearts expand to meet the growing needs of our neighbors.  I am so very grateful for your warmth and caring in the cold of winter and throughout the year.

With deepest thanks,


Barbara Waterhouse
Executive Director 

Revival is Coming   

 

Circle of Hope has been fortunate to be the recipient of wonderful fundraising events such as last year's Needham Garden Tour and in 2013, Dancing with the Needham Stars.  This was the inspiration that led us to our first-ever signature event fundraiser, Revival

Restored. Repurposed. Transformed.


Revival is an unprecedented home design showcase featuring ten home vignettes, each made up of previously owned furniture and accessories. Many of the pieces will be restored or reimagined to create a dramatic effect in each setting, and all will be available for sale through silent auction. Individuals or teams of decorators, designers and creative visionaries have volunteered their time and resources to create vignettes.   Revival is co-presented by Needham Bank and Dedham Savings and will take place March 28-29 at the Marriott Residence Inn in Needham.   The Revival Preview Party takes place on the 28th followed by a more informal showcase of the designer's vignettes on the 29th.    

 

Revival Preview Party  

Revival kicks off on Saturday evening, March 28, 2015 with a Preview Party. There are a limited number ot tickets available for this party and it is expected to sell out.  Preview Party ticketholders will not only be the first to view and bid on the ten vignettes in a cocktail party setting complemented with live music.  but they may also return the second day, Sunday, March 29, during the informal designer vignette showcase, any time between noon and 4pm. Preview Party ticketholders have the option of attending the early Preview Party, 5-7pm, or the later Preview Party, 7-9pm.  Tickets to the Preview Party are $50 and may be purchased by clicking here.

Revival In Every Sense of the Word.

The proceeds of Revival will enable Circle of Hope to serve Boston's homeless and at risk children, women, and men by providing essential clothing for dignity and health, school and work, and a future of self-reliance.  This is further made possible by our Co-Presenters, Dedham Savings and Needham Bank.  We are also supported by Charles River Apparel, Coldwell Banker, Home Trends, the Needham Women's Club, and Roche Bros., who are Patron Sponsors of Revival.  Together, with your support, Revival will do just that for Boston's most vulnerable citizens.

_____________________________________________

Learn more about Revival by clicking here.

Interested in becoming a Patron Sponsor of Revival?  There are a limited number of spots available. 
 
Questions?  E-mail [email protected]

 

 

 

Because of YOU...
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...

Circle of Hope - Somerville                 
 Circle of Hope - Somerville 

 

In last month's newsletter, you may have read about our new satellite at St. James Episcopal Church in Somerville.  Here's what is being promoted right now... "The Somerville center for Circle of Hope, located at St. James Episcopal Church, is now distributing gently used children's winter coats to Solutions at Work. Coats will be given to needy children through Solutions at Work's Children's Clothing Exchange program. This is in addition to men and women's business clothing also being offered that will bring added confidence to individuals in employment interviews and workday situations."  

Savers Offers More to Support COH
 
 

For quite a while now, "Savers" located in Norwood has been setting aside gently-worn clothing for Circle of Hope that has not sold within a reasonable amount of time.  This has been a wonderful gift as we are able to obtain in-season clothing that can be brought to the children, women, and men who need it, immediately.  NOW, the management team at the West Roxbury location of "Savers" has offered to do the very same thing.  Savers times two.  Thank you! 

 


Charles River Apparel Continues to Give
 
 

Here's an excerpt from an e-mail sent to our Executive Director, Barbara Waterhouse, from Gary Cole at Charles River Apparel on one cold January morning. "We have around 300 pieces of clothing we would like to donate to Circle of Hope.  Mostly hooded sweatshirts and women's jackets."  This is the result of the recent Instagram Challenge initiated by Charles River Apparel.  We are once again, so very grateful to have them as a partner.  

 


Shout Outs   
 

  

Thank you to our longest standing partners at the Closet Exchange for their generosity!  Just when it seems our women's clothing supply is getting low, Closet Exchange appears with a bounty of bags full of gorgeous clothing for women in need.  We couldn't do it without you!!   

  

Thank you to to the staff at MMB Advertising in Boston for holding an enormous clothing drive for us.  They dropped off an overflowing van full of beautiful gently worn clothing to us a few weeks ago. 

 

Second Time Around in Wellesley once again donated dozens of beautiful shirts and slacks to be delivered to the women who need them.   

   
We're so happy to meet Beth Agostino who, with her husband, live in Needham and own a health/fitness business in Woburn called Peoplefit Health and Fitness Center. They learned about Circle of Hope through a clothing drive being held at Mitchell Elementary School in Needham and decided to initiate a clothing drive at the business!  Already we have received dozens of beautiful coats.     

 

Did you know that J. Jill in The Mall at Chestnut Hill has been providing clothing to Circle of Hope for the past 3 years? What started as a promotional discount for shoppers has turned into regular pick-ups by COH, of high quality clothing and returns for our women who are homeless.  How generous!  

 


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