When Wellesley launched its volunteer-led Civil Discourse Initiative five years ago, it did so with a goal of bringing community members together for small group discussions. Some of the results of 250 people participating in programs might be hard to measure, but a series of holiday parties being held this season for Wellesley seniors in subsidized housing is as tangible as it gets.
Civil Discourse attendee Nancy Joyce tells us that when she learned there were no holiday events planned specifically for Wellesley seniors in public housing, she reached out to Wellesley Housing Authority Chair Maura Renzella and and Wellesley social worker Wanda Alvarez to see if anything could be done.
They decided to put together three parties, one at each senior housing location in town. The Weston Road and River Street events have already been held, and one more is slated for the Washington Street complex on Dec. 21 from 2-3:30pm. More than 150 people live at those three residences, and those who can’t attend the parties are being given gift bags.
“We only started planning a month ago, but we have been able to get support from so many people and organizations in this short time!” Boyle says. Wellesley Friendly Aid offered to be the fiscal agent, to enable acceptance of tax-free donations. Organizations and individuals ranging from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Wellesley Village Church to Needham Bank, Fells Market, Roche Bros., realtor Teri Adler, were among those making donations or supplying goods and gift cards.
The Hardy and Schofield school neighborhoods came forward with baked goods and donations, while the Wellesley High School Choral Department arranged for singers from a cappella groups Inchordination and Ladies First to entertain party guests (“I think that’s the highlight,” Joyce says).
Wellesley Girl Scouts are serving as party staff, assembling gift bags of items donated by others, and importantly, mingling with residents.
“Everyone just rallied,” Joyce says.
(This is all not to say the Wellesley Council on Aging didn’t have holiday events, including the annual Thanksgiving luncheon with the Fire Department, open to the town’s public housing residents. Also, the Police and Fire Departments were hosting a holiday party at Barton Road, and gifts were being organized for kids in that complex.)
Joyce credits Renee Spencer, the Wellesley Housing Authority’s resident board rep, for bringing the seniors’ needs to her attention in the first place at a Civil Discourse Initiative meeting.
Spencer, in turn, says Joyce has been “a powerhouse” in spearheading the events.
“I enjoyed seeing the children with the seniors, they both had fun,” Spencer says.
Joyce says she learned during the Civil Discourse Initiative that since COVID, support for the communities in subsidized housing has declined for a number of reasons. Some religious and charitable organizations focused their philanthropy in other places, including beyond Wellesley, she was told.
But with some on-the-fly coordination and lots of holiday spirit, Wellesley seniors were served.
“I am really happy with how the parties turned out and I look forward to having a little more time to plan next year!” Joyce says.
Bonus niceness: Lasagna Love
Separately, high school Girl Scouts made lasagna—”Lasagna Love”—and helped bring it to Barton Road residents.
The scouts hail from six different high schools, both private and public.
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