It’s November - the beginning of our season of gratitude and giving. This month marks Newton Neighbors’ third year of seeking to close the food insecurity gap during the holiday. Did you know that 1 in 10 households struggles to feed their family? It’s a heartbreaking fact and our goal is to help put food on neighbors’ tables this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive
Last year we served 150 families throughout Newton, Brockton and Waltham with $50 supermarket Gift Cards. We are launching this much-valued program again and we hope you will help. Due to the rising food prices we are all seeing this year, our goal is to distribute gift cards of $75 to each family. If you are able to make a donation in any amount, please go to https://www.newtonneighbors.org/donate. We know that the families would be so grateful! We will distribute the gift cards through partner agencies in Newton, Waltham and Brockton to families in need this holiday. If you have any questions about gift cards, please email us at newtonneighborshelping@gmail.com
Thank you!
Local Events in November
November is full of fun family events, opportunities to protect our environment and suggestions for giving back to your community! Here are just a few. Check out the other newsletters and calendars listed at the end of this newsletter too.
November 5, 9am - noon: Village Bank Shred Day
Protect your old documents by stopping by The Village Bank Auburndale Branch, 307 Auburn Street, on November 5. The event will run from 9 am to noon in the back parking lot.
Two standard 24×24″ boxes of documents will be accepted per person and can include items such as:
Bank statements
Old mail/magazines
Bills
Medical records
Other unwanted paper documents containing personal, identifiable information
Paper only: no plastic folders, bindings, paper clipped or stapled documents. Thanks and see you there! https://www.village-bank.com/shred-day/
Missed Shred Day? Another chance on the 12th
If you miss Shred Day at The Village Bank, slots are available for Newton’s Community Document Shredding and Drug Take Back Day, 8 am to noon on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Newton Resource Recovery Center, 115 Rumford Avenue. Advance sign-up is required. Call Customer Service at 617-796-1000 to make an appointment. The document shredding service is for residential materials only.
Unused and expired prescription medication will also be collected.
November 5, 1 - 4pm: Pumpkin Smash
After shredding your old documents, green your Halloween at Newton's annual Pumpkin Smash on November 5 from 1 - 4pm, rain or shine. Stop by to smash your pumpkin, touch-a-truck and donate unwanted candy or costumes. Grab a bite from a local food truck all while learning about managing your food waste and composting.
You could put your Halloween pumpkin in with your yard waste, but how much more fun would it be to “green your Halloween” and smash it? Fling pumpkins with the catapult, a pumpkin target or the Pumpkin Smashing grounds. This family-friendly event takes our orange pumpkins and turns them “green.” All our smashed pumpkins will be composted by Black Earth Compost, thus reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions and creating a valuable amendment for our soils. Don't forget to remove any candles or decorations from your pumpkin.
Don’t forget to bring any unwanted candy and costumes – they will be donated.
It's going to be a smashing good time! Pre-register for the event at https://bit.ly/3rLh2oY
November 8, 7am - 8pm: Election Day
To preview your ballot, check your voter registration status and find your polling place, go to https://www.newtonma.gov/government/elections. You can vote early at City Hall through November 4.
Coats for Kids
Cradles to Crayons is holding a children’s coat drive. No kid should have to face a cold New England winter without a warm coat, and by supporting Coats for Kids, you can help make sure they won’t.
51% of the $100,000 Coats for Kids goal has already been raised — that comes out to nearly 4,000 coats so far! Each $13 donation equals one quality winter coat, due to bulk purchasing power. Show your support today by selecting the “become a fundraiser" button at https://connect.clickandpledge.com/.../2022CoatsforKids.
Deadline November 15: Claim Your Child Tax Credit
Use this simplified tax filing tool to claim your Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and any missing amount of your third stimulus payment. You have until November 15 to claim your tax benefits in 2022! This a benefit due to low income families, but you must apply. Failure to do so means the loss of thousands of dollars due to you.
This form usually takes about 15 minutes to complete, and tax documents are not required. If you want to claim additional money with the Earned Income Tax Credit, you will need your W-2(s) from your employer.
You may have received Letter 6550 from the IRS explaining that you may be eligible for these benefits. Watch this video for more information.
November 3 - 16: Don’t Close Your Eyes — Ukrainian Artists Respond to the War
The New Art Center, 245 Walnut Street, will display Don’t Close Your Eyes: Ukrainian Artists Respond to the War in its New Art Corridor, November 3 - 26. There will be an opening reception on November 5, 5 - 8pm. Parking behind the building.
Jointly curated by Halyna Andrusenko, an artist from Kyiv, and Hanna Melnyczuk, a Ukrainian-American artist, the exhibits include over 150 works on paper by 26 artists from various regions of Ukraine. All the work was created in response to the war that began February 24. Works will be for sale, with 50% of the proceeds going to the artist and the other 50% to a humanitarian organization.
For other helpful newsletters and ways to connect with Newton, visit our webpage at https://www.newtonneighbors.org/welcoming-neighbors.
We give thanks…
…for our neighbors, our community, and the opportunity to serve it. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Newton Neighbors!
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