The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley charity news: Thanksgiving dinners for cancer patients & families; Friendly bears

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The latest news about Wellesley people being nice:

Thanksgiving dinners for cancer patients

Wellesley Service League members partnered with the Ellie Fund to deliver Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday, Nov. 26 to the homes of 24 cancer patients and families. The Professional Ladies Association of Boston and Lambert’s Fruit of Westwood provided the ingredients.

The kindness—dinners plus a bouquet of flowers—came at a time that can be especially challenging for those being treated for breast cancer patients who may be unable to be around large groups for health reasons or may be feeling the financial burdens of treatment.

Turkey dinners via Ellie Fund and partners
Courtesy photo

 

Bears for good causes

A group of ambitious volunteers from Wellesley for years has been meeting on Wednesdays at the Council on Aging to sew bears that are then constructed and stuffed before being donated to various organizations in need. The effort was initiated by former COA director Greta Crisley in 1996.
Community Service Bears have gone to such organizations as the Wellesley Fire Department, to comfort kids at the scenes of emergencies, and to the Salvation Army and Wellesley Kiwanis. Local students have sometimes joined the regular members of the sewing group.
Thanks to Priscilla Messing for sharing photos and information on this.
sewing bears at COA
Courtesy photos

 

sewing bears at COA

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Linden Square, Wellesley

Linden Square, Wellesley
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Wicked Clear Ice, Wellesley

Wellesley resident spearheads winter clothing drive to benefit refugees

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Winter clothing drive, Wellesley

Wellesley resident Seva Bedi is organizing a drive to support Haitian refugees at Ascentria Care Alliance‘s shelter. The drive aims to collect as many winter clothes and legos as possible from community members to help during this holiday season.

The drive will run through December 16, with donations being accepted at drop-off boxes located on the porch of 2 Polaris Circle in Wellesley, MA. For added convenience, donation pick-ups can be arranged—email at sevabedi5@gmail.com to coordinate.

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Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Haskins Automotive, Wellesley

Wellesley Turkey Trot 2024 sweet as pie

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This year’s bigger-than-ever Wellesley Turkey Trot got Thanksgiving off to a spirited start for well over 2,000 runners and walkers and their supporters. The 5K course starts and ends in Linden Square, hitting Wellesley Square and the Wellesley College campus in between.

Participants donned their finest spandex, turkey hats, and even tank tops in what turned out to be less chilly and wet conditions than anticipated.

Thanks to race director Kate Maul and team, along with the Wellesley Police Department, for delivering a well run event. Speaking of running well, Wellesley High alum Bijan Mazaheri finished first overall in less than 15:30; Marian Johnson finished first among female runners with a time of 17:37 (see full results).

Wellesley turkey trot 2024Wellesley turkey trot 2024Wellesley turkey trot 2024

Wellesley turkey trot 2024Wellesley turkey trot 2024

Wellesley Turkey Trot Wellesley Turkey Trot Wellesley Turkey Trot

Wellesley turkey trot 2024
Race director Kate Maul with overall first place finisher Bijan Mazaheri in front of the Carol Chaoui plaque

Wellesley turkey trot 2024
#1 fan Lynne Smith

 

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YMCA, Swellesley ad
Wellesley Village Church
Wellesley Field Hockey

Sign up to ring the Salvation Army Red Kettle bell in Wellesley

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It’s that time of year—the 2024 Red Kettle Campaign! The Wellesley Kiwanis Club will host the Salvation Army Red Kettle in front of Roche Bros. in Linden Square, Monday, Dec. 9 – Tuesday, Dec. 24. Volunteer bell ringers are needed to support this community effort.

Sign up here to ring the Red Kettle bell. (Please note that if you want to ring by yourself, kindly enter your name into both name fields for the day and hour of your choice.)

Salvation Army bell ringers, Jim and Priscilla Worrall
Jim and Priscilla Worrall, Salvation Army bell ringers, 2023

The Wellesley Red Kettle is a critical source of funding for those experiencing medical, housing, food and other needs. Red Kettle Drive donations are distributed to those in need by the Wellesley Council on Aging, Wellesley Department of Health, Wellesley Friendly Aid, and Veterans Services.

In the last ten years Kettle receipts have been nearly $25,000 each year, an amazing total. Bell ringers have come from many corners—citizens young and old, town employees, Wellesley High Key Clubbers, members of the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant. One and all are welcome!

Look for The Swellesley Report to be there on Friday, Dec. 13.

If you have any questions, please contact Kate Staehly at kps39@verizon.net or 781-431-0360 or wellesleykiwanis@gmail.com

Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic

Community Fund for Wellesley gives out $50k in grants to worthy nonprofits

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Community Fund for Wellesley board

Community Fund for Wellesley has awarded nearly $50K in grants this year via its CFFW endowed fund and the Al Robinson Fund for Arts to local nonprofits in health care, food insecurity, environmental protection, community building, education, and arts organizations.

Held at Papa Razzi on Thursday, the annual grant awards event drew a crowd of 75, which included donors, award recipients, and volunteers. It’s this group that board member Wendy Paul during opening remarks credited with helping the Community Fund for Wellesley effectively distribute funding. “You’re the folks who know about community need,” she said, “and those are really important people for us to be working with.”

This year’s round of recipients included five first-time grant awardees. Among them was the Kiwanis, which is using their grant funds for a pilot mental health program that focuses on the health and well-being of the community’s youth and their families. President of the organization (and a Wellesley Select Board member), Beth Sullivan Woods, spoke of “the incredible rise in anxiety, isolation, and mental health struggles in our youth,” and how caregivers need help to navigate the often-complicated mental health services realm.

Grant funding for Wellesley Theatre Project will help the arts organization fund a program formed to serve Wellesley’s elementary school-aged METCO students. Executive director of WTP, Hillary Drew, spoke of how participating students spend  one of their “stay days” learning the basics of acting, dance and music, in fun and engaging format. 

This endowed fund of the Community Foundation for MetroWest has awarded grants worth more than $760,000 since its founding in 2008.

Community Fund for Wellesley’s 2024 grant recipients

Art Wellesley
Community Investors
Dignity Matters Wellesley Chapter
Gratis Healthcare
Human Relations Services, Inc. (HRS)
Jeff’s Place
Kiwanis Club of Wellesley, Mass.
Land’s Sake Farm Weston
Village Table Wellesley
Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs
Wellesley Celebrations Committee
Wellesley Conservation Land Trust
Wellesley Food Pantry
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra

Wellesley Theatre Project

Volunteer for Community Fund for Wellesley

Community Fund for Wellesley needs YOU! Start the ball rolling here or contact them at (508) 647-2260.
St. Andrews, Wellesley
The Cashmere Sale, Wellesley

Wellesley non-profit & charity news: Diabetes benefit concert on Nov. 15; Kids Backing Kids Holiday Gift Drive has begun

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., non-profit and charity news:

 

Diabetes benefit concert on Nov. 15

 

Wellesley High School seniors Henry Tushman, Andy Yang, Ethan Liu and Max Chen look to use music to create a positive impact with their benefit concert called “Songs for Science.”

All money raised will be donated to fund the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. The performance will be in the Wellesley Village Church on Friday November 15th at 7:30 PM in the sanctuary, but feel free to show up as early as 7:00pm to enjoy some beverages.

Purchase tickets.

Max Chen, Andy Yang, Ethan and Anthony Liu.
Max Chen, Andy Yang, Ethan and Anthony Liu (courtesy photo)

 

Henry Tushman
Henry Tushman (courtesy photo)

 

Kids Backing Kids Holiday Gift Drive in full swing

kids backing kids logoWellesley’s Kids Backing Kids is once again holding a Holiday Gift Drive to benefit children and families in Wellesley and our surrounding communities.

This will be the non-profit’s 5th annual Holiday Drive, a program that has presented thousands of gifts to children since 2020.

If you are interested in sponsoring one or more children this holiday season, simply sign up and you will be emailed a child-specific gift wish list. 

Once you have shopped, Kids Backing Kids volunteers will collect the gifts from you or you can drop them off at the organization’s location. Kids Backing Kids will then host a special gift-wrapping day with volunteers and families (stay tuned for more information on participating in the gift wrapping event after Thanksgiving).

New this year is that Sprague Elementary School is running a toy drive that will supplement what Kids Backing Kids is doing for the children and families being supported in Wellesley.

If you are unable to shop for gifts but still want to help, Kids Backing Kids accepts monetary donations of any amount to support the program.

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School news: METCO Showcase; It’s Wellesley Spelling Bee Wednesday; Raiders football team scores for breast cancer patients

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The latest Wellesley Public Schools news:

 

METCO Showcase

 

Wellesley was well represented at the recent METCO Showcase in Dorchester, where hundreds of Boston families learned about educational opportunities at suburban school districts such as Wellesley. Stephanie Holland, METCO director for Wellesley Public Schools, and Superintendent David Lussier were among those at the event.

Wellesley began its relationship with the METCO program in 1966 as one of the original seven founding districts.

The first METCO application lottery cycle closes on Nov 30.

Wellesley METCO photo
Wellesley School Supt. David Lussier put to rest any rumors that he might be moonlighting as Wally the Green Monster. Shown here with Stephanie Holland, METCO director, Wellesley Public Schools, and the Red Sox mascots Wally and Tessie. (Photo by METCO HQ)

 

 

Wellesley Spelling Bee on Wednesday, Nov. 13

 

wellesleybeeThe Wellesley Education Foundation’s 35th Wellesley Spelling Bee is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 13 (7pm) at the high school, and the public is welcome to attend and cheer on the dozens of teams. Proceeds from the event fund grants to local educators.

A team from the Wellesley Mothers Forum won in 2023.

 

 

Raiders football team supports breast cancer patients

 

This past October in honor of Breast Cancer Month, the Wellesley High School Football team raised over $2,300 for the Ellie Fund, a local organization that provides support services for breast cancer patients.

This is the second year the Raiders have raised money for the Ellie Fund, and the plan is to make this an annual effort.

They raised money by selling bracelets and hats.

football fundraising
Courtesy photo

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