News & Information on Service Learning, Community Service, & Family Volunteering Opportunities Around Thanksgiving Day

Looking for ways to give back to your community during the holidays. Here are 10 ideas we’ve shared this week on the Hilltown Families Facebook Page.  Ideas range from volunteering with your family for a single evening to hosting an elderly person in your home, and span the four counties of Western MA. There’s also information to share with families in need that you may know.

Do you have a volunteer or community service opportunity for families, children or teens you’d like to share, or have an idea on how families can give back to their community? We want to hear from you!  Email us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.

FAMILY SERVICE NIGHT

Volunteering as a family is a great way to make memories together & helps teach kids about the importance of giving back. This holiday season join us for Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night on Fri, Nov 30 for a fun evening visiting 5 different volunteer stations, each offering a simple, hands-on service project for all ages. Space is limited & preregistration required for this free event. Sign up soon! Big thank you to our sponsors, Northampton Public Schools/CFCE through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, Florence Savings Bank & Greenfield Savings Bank for making this night possible! – Want to join us for this special night of community service? Space is limited, so sign up now!

TIN CAN DRIVE

How many tin cans might you have to recycle after preparing your Thanksgiving Dinner? Rather than recycle, why not REUSE? Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse is holding an empty can drive for a volunteer station they are facilitating at the Hilltown Families Family Community Service Night. Please drop off clean tin cans at the Knack Holiday Pop-up shop this Saturday, November 24th from 10am-4pm in the gorgeous space of the Parlor Room, a new music venue at Signature Sounds Recordings, 32 Masonic Street, Northampton, MA.

FOOD DRIVE

On-air Food Drive… Stop by the WHAI or WPVQ studios on Tuesday, November 20 from 6am – 11am to drop off your non-perishable food items for The Food Bank of Western MA. Breakfast items and coffee will be served.

TURKEYS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry still has turkeys available for families in need! If you need assistance this holiday season or know of a family in need, please send them to the Community Center. Pantry hours for Nov 19-21: Monday from 9am-12noon & 4-7pm; Tuesday from 9am-12noon; Wednesday 9am-5pm.

COMMUNITY DINNER

Do you or someone you know need a hot, home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving Day? Come and enjoy a congregate meal at the William J O’Brien Dinner at the Athol American Legion, corner of Exchange Street and Pequoig Avenue in Athol. Great company, great food, and drop-in’s are welcome. Come early and enjoy a cup of coffee. Transportation is available. For reservations, please call the Athol Council on Aging at 978-249-8986.

MITTEN TREE

The Springfield City Library system will be collecting new mittens, gloves, scarves, and hats in its annual Library Mitten Tree project. Help warm the hearts and hands of area children by making a donation at the Central Library Children’s Room or at any Springfield City Library branch. Donated items are distributed to area groups such as the Red Cross – Pioneer Valley Chapter, the Gray House, and Springfield Partners for Community Action, Inc.. Donations will be accepted from Dec 1 until Jan 6, 2013. Many of this year’s donations will be handmade by the “Knit Lits,” a group of knitters and crocheters who meet every Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the East Springfield Branch Library, and also by the “Knit Alongs,” who meet Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at the East Forest Park Branch Library, 122 Island Pond Road. Newcomers are welcome to join either of the groups, with current members willing to teach knitting and crocheting. For more information about the Mitten Tree Project call the Central Library Children’s Room, 413-263-6828, x201, or stop in: 220 State Street, Springfield.

COMMUNITY BUILD

The Monterey, Massachusetts ice skating rink behind the fire station will be assembled next Saturday, Nov 24th, from 10am-12noon. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed to help attach the side boards and prepare the rink for the January-March season. Hundreds of children, parents, and hockey players enjoy the rink which is managed entirely by volunteers. Its a community effort that needs greater participation to be successful. Please come help and bring a broom, dolly, or cordless drill if possible. For more information, contact Steve at sgraves8@yahoo.com anytime.

PARENT SUPPORT

Parent-child Home Program brings a Home visitor to your home twice a week to show you fun ways to help your child learn through play… Community Action Family Center Programs currently have openings in Greenfield, Turners Falls and Orange areas. Families in the Franklin County town can call for more information or to enroll 413-475-1550.

SOCKS FOR ELDERS

Do you have extra unused socks laying around the house? This year Florence Savings Bankis once again joining forces with Highland Valley Elder Services and other local banks to support the “Socks for Seniors” program to help low-income seniors in the area with new socks. If you wish to contribute to this program, you can drop off pairs of unused socks as at one of our FSB branches or at one of the other participating bank locations between November 1st – 30th. For more information on this great program, visit www.socksforseniors.com

HOST FAMILIES

Adult Family Care (AFC) from Franklin County Home Care (FCHCC) seeks nurturing community homes for young adults and elderly persons unable to live safely at home alone. Host family receives support, monthly stipend and paid vacation. Contact FCHCC to find out more at info@fchcc.org or 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259.