Make A Difference Project

Every day we wake up with a choice. Every day is a chance for you to make a change for the better. Here are five ways to start:

 

Final Summer Fling

Thursday, September 13th 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Roof Deck @ 100 High Street, Boston

Join Heading Home’s Outreach Council for a Final Summer Fling this Thursday. Take in the city sights while playing a game of bean bag toss. Enter to win dozens of raffle prizes while drinking an ice-cold craft brew. ALL in the name of charity! By attending this event, you’re helping families and individuals in Greater Boston who lack food, shelter and support systems come closer to leading a safe, healthy and productive life. For tickets and more information, click here.

 

Lovelane’s 30th Anniversary Hoedown

Saturday, September 15th 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Duck Puddle Farm

48 Lincoln Rd, Wayland, MA

Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program is celebrating its 30 year anniversary with Lovelane’s 2018 Hoedown. The Hoedown is a jeans and boots outdoor tented event, held on the gorgeous private farm in Wayland.  Fourteen legendary Boston-area celebrity chefs are donating their time, talent and delicious, specially-created tastings just for this event! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Moondance After Dark Party

Saturday, September 15th 9:00 pm to Midnight

Fiedler Field, Charles River Esplanade

47 Mugar Way, Boston  It’s the most glamorous night for young professionals in Boston! Join the Esplanade Association at the Moondance After Dark Party and enjoy cocktails, desserts, and dancing under a clear tent—all while benefiting the Charles River Esplanade! Learn more and purchase your tickets here.

 

New England Village Family Day 2018

Sunday, September 16th 10:30 am to 3:00 pm

New England Village

664 School Street, Pembroke, MA

New England Village’s flagship Family Day event takes place this Sunday!  Guests are treated to a day filled with food, awards, entertainment, raffles, and many other fun activities. New England Village serves 180 adults of any age with intellectual and other developmental disabilities including autism and Down syndrome, and sensory disabilities such as blindness and deafness. To donate or purchase tickets, click here.

 

Fall Fashion Show

Sunday, September 16th 11:30 am to 2:00 pm

Granite Links Golf Club

100 Quarry Hills Drive, Quincy, MA

Support Catholic Charities South with a night of friends, fun, and fashion. Featuring fashions from Sara Campbell, Purple Poppy and Milton’s, you are sure to find what’s new for the season – and, buy what you see on the runway! For tickets and more information, click here.

Positivity and negativity are contagious, so which do you gravitate towards?  Our goal is to make sure you start off every weekend on a positive note. Check out our top three feel-good stories of the week and head into the weekend with your glass half full.

Compassion for All

Via Fox News

When a couple of firefighters in South Carolina noticed an exhausted and dehydrated hummingbird sitting on the curb, they decided to do something about it. The bird was unable to stand or fly so the guys filled up a bottle cap of water waiting for it to regain its strength. Eventually, the bird, which was no bigger than the firefighter’s finger, was back on its feet and flying away. You can teach a man to put out a fire, but that kind of compassion comes from the heart.

Grande Opportunity

Via Today

A Starbucks in Mexico has just opened up its newest location. What’s so newsworthy about this you ask? The new location will be run entirely by employees who are 55 and over. Starbucks is pushing to give more job opportunities to seniors and contribute to the elderly community in Mexico. Located in Mexico City, the location has 7 employees between the ages of 55 and 60. They currently have younger employees working to train them to eventually run the store themselves. Starbucks is hoping this movement will also help create a bond between our generations.

Danny’s Random Acts of Kindness

Via Fox 4 News

How does a random act of violence become a random act of kindness? Through you. This past Monday, Danny Hunter was only about a block from his house when he was shot in the back. He has no idea who fired the shots, or why they did, but he doesn’t want this act of violence to foster anything but kindness. Danny is asking his family and friends to counter this by carrying out random acts of kindness. This is how we make a difference – building positive outcomes from negative experiences. Thank you for this reminder, Danny.

Which path do you choose to take? We hope you follow us and try to see life in a positive light, using each moment as a chance to make a difference!

 

When we think of the needs of the homeless, we often focus on two specific things: food and shelter. However, it is naïve to assume that those two things alone satisfy basic human needs. For homeless women especially, there is a significant lack of availability when it comes to sanitary products and even underwear.

Kate Sanetra-Butler 

Dignity Matters, a Framingham-based 501(c)3 non-profit, was founded by Kate Sanetra-Butler in 2016 after she was asked by a young homeless woman in Copley Square for a spare tampon. After doing some additional research on the topic, Kate realized that there is a desperate need for feminine sanitary products and underwear. Many people falsely believe that these basic necessities are provided by homeless shelter services or for people who receive SNAP benefits (food stamps.) The reality of the situation is that SNAP benefits don’t cover things like sanitary napkins or bras and homeless shelters just can’t keep up with the demand. Even public schools in Massachusetts can’t guarantee that they can provide these products and they aren’t required to.

Having a period is not a choice. Every woman gets it every month, yet there are thousands of women and girls who cannot afford the $10 a month for sanitary products. Because of this, these women and school-aged girls are forced to either resort to unsanitary alternatives or skip school/work altogether. The same is true for women who cannot afford to purchase bras and underwear. Dignity Matters seeks to bring attention to this urgent issue and works with different agencies to ensure that no woman has to live without dignity during her period.

Many of the women that Dignity Matters help are single mothers, low-income or homeless, or women and teens who have escaped domestic violence and cannot return home. Over 40% of women in homeless shelters are employed but cannot afford housing. These women need assistance getting back on their feet, and taking time off of work just because they have their period is often not an option.

Hygiene products, bras, and underwear are almost never donated to shelters. Through donations, fundraisers, and drives, Dignity Matters collects these items and works directly with shelters to distribute to women in need. They also host “bra-events” where women in the shelters are measured and properly fitted for bras.

Through their programs and the generosity of others, Dignity Matters was able to provide 265,000 bras, pairs of underwear, and feminine hygiene products to over 50 homeless shelters, some of the poorest public schools and after-school programs for kids living in poverty and domestic violence programs.

Please join us in supporting Dignity Matters and their work in fighting a crisis happening every day for women and girls across the country.

Interested in donating or hosting a drive?

Visit www.dignity-matters.org to find out how you can help. 

 

 

Follow Dignity Matters on social media:

 Facebook: @donate.bras.underwear.to.women.in.DESPERATE.need

Instagram: @donate.bras.underwear

Bad news got you down? Here’s your weekly pick me up! Let us send you off into the weekend with our top three feel-good stories.

Paying it Forward Pays Off

Via Huffington Post

It was just an average Monday when 19-year-old Mackenzie Mauller went to get her morning coffee at Starbucks. This particular morning, Mauller decided to pay for the coffee of the woman in the drive-thru behind her. By now, we’ve all heard of the “pay it forward” movement, but how many times has this happened to you and you’ve wanted to thank the person? The woman behind Mauller, Nicole Clawson, was truly touched by this act of kindness. After noticing Mauller had pulled into a driveway just a few houses down from her own, she decided to write her a letter. In the note, Clawson, a mother of two, explained that she had been going through a tough time recently – both emotionally and financially. Clawson goes on to tell Mauller just how much her gesture meant to her and how it had turned her entire day around. Even the smallest act of kindness can make the biggest impact.

An Offer He Can’t Refuse

Via BBC News

When 18-year-old Louis Makepeace was turned away from a catering course at the Heart of Worcestershire College, Chef Gordan Ramsey decided to step in. Makepeace was told that because of his dwarfism, he was considered a “safety risk” for the course. After hearing of this discrimination, Ramsay hopped on Twitter to share his disgust with the college and said he would offer Makepeace an apprenticeship any day. Although the original deterrence had him down, this opportunity from Ramsey has re-sparked Makepeace’s flame and he looks forward to seeing what will happen.

First Responder Appreciation

Via Metro

Usually, if you find a car blocking your driveway, you’re not exactly thrilled. However, this homeowner in Flintshire, Wales took a different approach after finding an ambulance at the end of their driveway. These homeowners decided to leave a note for the drivers. The note read “Thank you for blocking my driveway to save a life. Refreshments on me.” Along with the note, they had also left £5. What a sweet and heartwarming gesture of appreciation, the world needs more of that.

Now all you need to do is finish up the rest of your day and take these good vibes home with you for the weekend!

Why do we always dread Monday? Let’s turn this narrative around and give ourselves something to look forward to by getting involved in one of these local fundraisers!

 

2nd Annual Hon. Jeff Abber Memorial Golf Tournament

Monday, August 27^th 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Bayberry Hills Golf Course

635 West Yarmouth Road, West Yarmouth MA

Join The Honorable Jeffrey A. Abber Charitable Foundation for their 2^nd annual Hon. Jeff Abber Golf Tournament. Tickets include continental breakfast, 18 holes of golf and cart, lunch (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads), a fun day, and prizes for the top 3 teams! All net proceeds will benefit the Honorable Jeffrey A. Abber Charitable Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, which supports charities that were important to Jeff including the Pan-Mass Challenge, MGH Caring for a Cure, as well as a scholarship for a Malden High School student in Jeff’s name. For more information and to register, click here.

 

6th Annual Bombshells Against Breast Cancer

Wednesday, August 29^th 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

M.J. O’Connor’s – Westin Waterfront Hotel

425 Summer Street, Boston MA

Deck out in your favorite shades of pink & join the Bombshells of Boston at MJ O’Connor’s Westin Waterfront patio for refreshing drinks, light bites & a night of raising money for the Ellie Fund! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Do it for the Win – Comedy Night Fundraiser

Thursday, August 30^th 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Weymouth-Braintree Lodge of Elks

1197 Washington Street, Weymouth MA

The Harvey Family recently received news that their 2 yr. old son, Winston, was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in one of his kidneys. An operation was performed to remove this kidney and he is currently receiving chemo and radiation treatment for cancer that has traveled to his lymph nodes. Join friends of the Harvey’s for a night of comedy, raffles, and auctions all to benefit the Harvey family. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Yappy Hour

Thursday, August 30^th 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Sand Bar

10 Lighthouse Road, Dennis MA

Join Project Samana for a dog-friendly happy hour at Sand Bar! Enjoy live music, complementary Handmade Titos vodka and Open Farm treat samples with your 4-legged best friend! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Remember September Music Festival 2018

Saturday, September 1^st 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM

283 North Quincy Street, Brockton MA

Remember September Music Festival is an all day, all ages music festival featuring 13 local bands and 11 acoustic acts on two separate stages with original music along with an honor the fallen ceremony. This festival is meant to remind us all of the effects of 9/11 across the world. Proceeds of RSMF benefit the Fraternal Order of Fire Fighter Military Veterans, Inc. For tickets and more information, click here.