[3631] in APO News
volunteers needed to hand out presents to homeless kids
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jamie Rosenblum)
Wed Dec 16 11:55:13 1998
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 11:55:52 -0500
To: apo-news@MIT.EDU
From: Jamie Rosenblum <jamie@alum.mit.edu>
This is onfo on the ninth annual holiday party for homeless kids. If
you're interested follow the directions at the bottom. If you're in town
and interested, I can try to get an APO group together to go. I'll be gone
by then, but if enough are around I can P.C. and get more info, but I have
to know by tonight because I'm flying home tomorrow.
Jamie
I found out more information, as I think I'm going to try and help out:
They could use help either Saturday or Sunday.
On Saturday they will be setting up the whole place from 7a.m.-7p.m. and
volunteers usually come for at least an hour, but don't have to stay for
the whole time.
On Sunday they ask that the volunteers dress nicely (i.e. for boys wear
slacks) and be at the bayside expo place at 10:30a.m. and stay till the end
at 4p.m. (since the volunteers will be working with kids).
They plan to have 1600 children and 800 Mothers.
If you think you can help you can email Nancy Hallberg with your name so
she can preregister you at nancyh@bscg.com or you can leave a message for
her at 617-242-3534.
Hope this helps
-Brad Ricketson
>
>
>MEDIA ADVISORY Contact:
> Catherine Horton
>617-928-3149
>
>
>1500 CHILDREN TO ATTEND 9TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
>FOR BOSTON'S HOMELESS FAMILIES
>
>"CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY" hosts event at the Bayside Exposition Center,
>Boston
>
>
>DATE: Sunday, December 20, 1998
>PLACE: Bayside Expo
>TIME: 12pm - 4pm
>EVENT: "Christmas in the City", a non-profit organization to benefit
>Boston's Homeless Children, will host 9th annual Christmas Party for
>families living in over 25 local shelters. An unprecedented 1500 children
>are expected to attend.
>
>Come and see how Filene's Basement turns an ordinary hall into the magical
>North Pole!
>
>Watch as the children's faces light up at receiving a hot dinner
>(compliments of Fasano's of Braintree) as well as a gift from their own
>Christmas "wish list", a bag filled with donated incidentals including
>hats, mittens, an age appropriate book courtesy of New England Mobile
>Books, an activity toy from Safety 1st, a long sleeve *T* shirt from the
>Boston Athletic Association, a hat from Lids, stuffed animals and much
>more!
>
>Don't miss the unveiling of the Winter Wonderland at 1:30 where parents
>and kids will enjoy hours of non-stop entertainment. Activities include:
>Pictures with Santa
>Free Haircuts from SalonPini of Newbury Street
>Face painting
>3 Moonwalks
>Merry-Go-Round
>Giant Slide
>Petting Zoo
>Reptile Exhibit
>Baseball Pitching Station
>Trackless Train
>Hat making with the Children's Museum
>Excersise class from BUILDING ACTIVE CHILDREN
>
>Christmas in the City Annual Party, Page 2
>
>
>Additional live performances include:
>The extremely talented local band "Ice" performs for the 5th straight year
>Fanuel Hall=A2s Premier Street magician, Blair Tollefson
>South Central Mass Choir
>Caribbean Explosion
>South Shore Joey's
>Arthur the Aardvark from Channel 2
>And much, much more
>
>Soldiers of Health will also be on hand with a medical booth to provide
>health information for parents
>
>Hundreds of volunteers are gearing up for the annual event, spending
>countless hours soliciting donations, organizing activities and
>coordinating the distribution of gifts and services to help make it a
>special day that these kids won't soon forget.
>
>Christmas in the City was founded by John and Sparky Kennedy of Scituate,
>MA. "Christmas In The City" is a non-profit organization dedicated to
>help spread the Christmas Spirit to Boston's homeless children all year
>long.
>
>Additional Programs sponsored by "Christmas in the City" include:
>
>ADOPT A FAMILY
>With funds generated from the organization, Christmas in the City, helps
>families make a successful transition from homeless shelters to
>independent living. Once a person feels he/she is ready to venture out on
>his or her own, C.I.T.C. provides a transitional "box of basics"
>including pots, pans, sheets, towels, utensils, etc. Then, volunteers
>interview the families on a monthly basis. A list of necessities is
>established and posted at Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy clinics. From
>there, clients to help support the families needs donate goods and
>services. Nine families have benefited from this program to date, and
>this year, 8 people who made a successful transition have come back to
>volunteer at the annual Christmas Party.
>
>Shelter Support
>Lifehouse was chosen as the first shelter to be adopted by C.I.T.C. The
>program assesses the immediate needs of a shelter (i.e. furniture, toys
>for the kids, clothes) and raises money to meet those needs. Most
>recently, C.I.T.C. established a grant to allow a day care program to run
>out of the shelter. The program pays mothers to take turns caring for the
>children so others can work, look for jobs, take classes etc. to work
>toward independent living.
>
>This year the C.I.T.C. auction raised $85,000 to help fund this event, and
>recently provided 250 thanksgiving meals to local shelters for
>Thanksgiving this year.
>
--------------------
Jamie Rosenblum
jamie@alum.mit.edu
