Wellesley community roundup: Mental health awareness on library lawn; Touch-a-Truck to collect food; diaper drive in Linden Square

May 20, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley community news:

Mental health awareness on library lawn

Wellesley has set up a flag and sign display on the lawn of Wellesley Free Library’s main branch to boost mental health awareness, and to remind individuals and families that Wellesley is here to help.

The Health Department, which has numerous mental health resources available, hopes the display will encourage more people locally to discuss the subject and seek support if needed.

Wellesley library, mental illness awarness — The colored flags highlight that 1 in 5 U.S. adults are affected by mental health each year.

wellesley parade truck may — Throwback: Wellesley truck parade, May 2011

Touch-a-Truck to collect food

Don’t miss the chance to peek into dump trucks, front loaders, and perhaps even a fire truck or a police cruiser. Bring a non-perishable food donation to help fill a bucket or a truck bed.

A variety of trucks will be open for visitors to explore on Saturday, May 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DPW Headquarters (20 Municipal Way).

Also on Saturday, Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility (RDF) users can fill a truck with non-perishable food at the book exchange area.

All donated food will go to the Wellesley Food Pantry which currently serves approximately 400 clients in about 200 households in town. One third of clients are children 18 years old and younger. Suggested donations include chicken broth (low sodium or no salt), almond milk (plain, unsweetened), canned salmon, laundry detergent, canned beets, Dinty Moore beef stew, prunes, peanut butter in plastic jars, soy milk (plain, unsweetened), and vegetable oil.

When exploring the DPW trucks, please remember to cover your face if you can’t remain distant from others. Surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day.

Questions? Contact the Wellesley DPW by telephone at 781-235-7600 ext. 3300 or by email at [email protected]

Kids Backing Kids organizes diaper drive to help families in need

Kids Backing Kids, Inc. is accepting donations for its 1st annual Diaper Drive in Wellesley. Donations of diapers, pull-ups, and swimmers of all sizes (both new and opened packages) and new containers of baby wipes can be dropped off on Sat., May 22, 8am-3pm in the parking lot across from California Pizza Kitchen.

Kids Backing Kids, Wellesley — Left to right: Olivia Rodrigue (WHS ’22), Grace Rodrigue (WHS ’21), and Simone Rodrigue (WMS)

Then non-profit organization’s volunteers decided to organize a diaper drive upon learning that one in three families cannot afford diapers for their young children. “Diapers are really expensive and we thought that a community-wide diaper drive would be one small way that we could help families in need,” said Grace Rodrigue, co-founder of Kids Backing Kids and a senior at Wellesley High School. “Diapers and wipes are necessities in the first few years of life, costing families as much as $100 per month.”

The need for a diaper drive is greater than ever during the ongoing COVID pandemic. The cost of diapers rose over 8 percent in the last year. But that’s not the end of it. Kimberly-Clark and Proctor & Gamble—two of the big diaper makers—recently said that additional price increases are coming this summer. This will be another blow to low-income families already struggling to make ends meet.

The goal of the drive is to collect 10,000 diapers. “Kids Backing Kids represents the best of the young people in our community, and providing space for the diaper drive is our way to support their great initiative,” said Chris Fleming, Vice President, Asset
Management for Linden Square owner Federal Realty Investment Trust.

Can’t stop by Linden Square? Here are more ways to donate:

[Read more…]

Canceled: Wellesley High lacrosse team car wash: Saturday, May 22

May 17, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The car wash has been canceled. No word on possible rescheduling.

The Wellesley High School boys lacrosse team is holding a car wash in Linden Square (on California Pizza Kitchen side) on Saturday, May 22 from 9-3pm. $10 per vehicle.

Wellesley community news roundup: Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation born; Elmwood Christian Preschool flowerpot fundraiser; Climate group rallies against pipeline

March 23, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, MA community and charity news:

Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation born

The Board of Directors of the Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation has announced the re-naming of the Foundation to the Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation. Since 2012, the Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to organizations supporting the local community.

Wellesley Bank is now Cambridge Trust as a result of a merger finalized last June.

In February 2021, the Foundation granted $10,000 to Casa Myrna, a Boston based non-profit that delivers solutions to end domestic violence through intervention, awareness, and prevention. Further, in March 2021, the Foundation has approved a $10,000 sponsorship for the Boston Arts Academy Foundation Honors event. The Boston Arts Academy is the city’s only public high school for the visual and performing arts, providing a diverse student body with access to college-preparatory arts and academic education.

The Directors of the Foundation review grant requests on a quarterly basis. Organizations wishing to request funding from the Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation may contact the Corporate Secretary via mail at, Corporate Secretary, Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation, 100 Worcester Street, Suite 300, Wellesley, MA 02481 or call (781) 489-7647 for further information.

Help Elmwood Christian Preschool continue to grow

Climate group rallies against pipeline extension

From the Fridays For Future group, an ongoing action organized by Wellesley residents that has been holding rallies weekly for climate-related causes:

Those present this past Friday supported a national hour to demand an end to funding for the Keystone Line 3 Pipeline Extension crossing native American lands and water rights in Minnesota and Michigan.

This was part of a broad campaign to end fossil fuel investments and subsidies globally. The national event was designed to build support and awareness of Native American youth going to Washington, D.C. on April 1 to demand President Biden stop allowing the further extraction and transportation of oil and gas from Canadian tar sands. They will also congratulate Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and seek her support.

Wellesley College presents Grammy-nominated artist JP Saxe

March 15, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley College, JP Saxe Join Wellesley College on Thur., March 18 at 8:30pm for an exclusive concert followed by a Q&A with Grammy nominated artist JP Saxe. All proceeds raised via this Zoom event will go towards UNICEF’s Sustainable Development Goals to fight gender inequality. JP Saxe is a Canadian artist best known for his hit song, “If The World Was Ending,” featuring Julia Michaels. He is currently working on a new album, and has a recently released single with Maren Morris titled, “Line by Line.”

DATE: March 18, 2021

TIME: 8:30pm

Tickets are $10. REGISTER HERE.

Wellesley community news roundup: ABC alumna giving back; Wellesley Theatre Project soiree coming up; Foundation for MetroWest Qwest set for April; library needs someone Trustee

March 11, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Dr. Andra Johnson was one of the first students in the 1970s to attend Wellesley High School as part of the A Better Chance (ABC) program. Fast forward a few years, and now Dr. Johnson has joined the ABC Board of Directors. “I’m excited to focus on helping the Wellesley ABC program to build and maintain a strong post-graduate alumnae network,” she said. “And, I’m thrilled to have a chance to give back to this program and help these amazing young scholars.”

The Allegheny College graduate also holds a masters in social work from Case Western Reserve University, a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, and has served as a Captain in the Army.

“Dr. Johnson will bring important insights from her time as a Wellesley ABC student of color that will help us with the many decisions we make to constantly improve our program,” said Debora White, director of alumnae affairs. “Alumnae giving back to our program is so valuable, whether it’s joining our Board of Directors or giving advice about high school extracurriculars or career development.”

Dr. Johnson currently runs a private practice in Fort Wayne, IN, which offers social work consultation and clinical supervision services, including policy advocacy, in Black women’s cardiovascular disease care. She recently authored a chapter in The International Handbook of Black Community Mental Health.

Save the date for Wellesley Theatre Project’s divine Teal Tie Affair

wtp teal tie affair

Join Wellesley Theatre Project at its yearly fundraiser on Friday, June 11th at 7pm. Enjoy performances, live auction, and more at this always-anticipated virtual soiree. And don’t miss the extra-special pre-show with performances from the archives.

All proceeds from the evening will support Wellesley Theatre Project, a non-profit performing arts organization that

challenges youths to become citizen artists — to improve the quality of life in their local and global community by emphasizing collaboration and cultural and social understanding.

Foundation for MetroWest Qwest set for April

The Foundation for MetroWest has organized a series of virtual activities, including a month-long MetroWest Qwest in April.

MetroWest Qwest designed to inspire children and families to foster a deeper connection to where they live through various at-home activities and local MetroWest field trips that highlight the region. Participants will use an interactive platform to complete various challenges throughout the month that focus on topics such as arts & culture, the environment, history, and much more. Along the way, participants will collect points for each challenge completed and race to the top of the MetroWest Quest leaderboard! Prizes will be distributed to the top families who complete the challenge.

Challenges include:

Visiting a local landmark in your town and learning about its significance to your community
Completing a walking history tour in MetroWest
Making a craft out of recycled materials
Competing against your family in nature bingo

The Foundation will provide participants with resources every step of the challenge! To join in the fun, register here and a link to the interactive webpage will be shared with you by March 28. The event is free to all but a suggested donation is encouraged to support our work.

This event is a part of the 2021 Spring Inspiration Virtual Series taking place March through May of 2021. We are thankful for our generous supporters how helped make this series possible!

Wellesley Free Library seeks Board of Trustees member

Wellesley Free Library, fall 2020 The Wellesley Free Library Board of Trustees is seeking interested candidates to fill a board vacancy.

A vacancy has come up because former Trustees member Ann-Mara Lanza was elected to the Select Board in the March 2nd town election.

The Trustees, together with the Select Board, will appoint an individual to a term beginning in April 2021 and continuing until the annual Town election in March 2022. All Wellesley residents are welcome to apply.

There are six trustees on the Board. These individuals work to provide opportunities for the WFL to fulfill its mission as a community gathering place, a cultural destination, and a gateway to ideas for Library patrons of all ages and interests.

A trustee typically spends several hours per week working on board assignments, attends monthly meetings that alternate between days and evenings, and attends meetings with other Town boards and officials.

This is a volunteer position. See the complete Board of Library Trustee position description.

Interested residents should contact Library Director Jamie Jurgensen at [email protected] by Friday, March 26, 2021.

Save the date: 4th annual Polar Plunge to fight EB goes virtual on Mar. 28th

March 6, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The fourth annual Plunge for Elodie will take place on Mar. 28th as a virtual event this year, and organizers are as committed as ever to the cause. The event raises funds to fight Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disorder in which people are missing a critical protein that helps bind the layers of their skin together. The lack of this protein makes the skin of those with EB extremely fragile. EB is often called “the worst disease you’ve never heard of.” These “butterfly children” live in constant pain with everything they do—from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. Daily bleach baths and painful twice-daily bandage changes that can take hours to complete, plus extreme eating issues, are just a few of the many complications these children face. Their life expectancy is also cut drastically short.

The Plunge—named for 4-year-old Elodie, who has EB and is the daughter of Wellesley native Emily Kubik—began as a quick dip in Morses Pond in Wellesley on a freezing-cold March day. The Plunge is now a major event with global reach that has raised nearly $700,000 toward organizers’ goal of reaching a cure for EB.

Plunge for Elodie, Wellesley — Elodie playing in the snow. Although she endures daily pain and eating issues, her trademark smile is unwavering. This year’s year’s Plunge is dedicated to the life of Sophia Ramsey. Sophie passed away last spring just after her 1st birthday due to EB complications.

PARTICIPATE: People are encouraged to take the plunge into any body of water available to them and to post their respective Plunge videos/photos on social media.

DONATE: 100% of proceeds raised will benefit the EB Research Partnership, the largest non-profit dedicated to curing EB.

Wellesley community news update: Emergency gift card program; Public skates to benefit injured hockey player; Donors come up big for Friendly Aid; Citizens Bank seeks Champions in Action; Restaurants, residents to benefit from food insecurity program

February 18, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

The latest Wellesley non-profit and community news:

Emergency gift card program

Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund money awarded to the Wellesley Service League will purchase gift cards for residents who must unexpectedly quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 and need emergency groceries or cleaning supplies. Volunteer shoppers will use the gift cards to purchase and
drop off supplies for these residents.

WSL_volunteers.masked — Wellesley Service League volunteers (Photo by Beth Shedd)

Public skates to benefit injured hockey player

Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley is offering public skates on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 6-7pm and 7-8pm to raise funds for medical expenses for AJ Quetta, a Bishop Fehan High School senior who suffered an extensive spinal injury during a game in late January.

PUBLIC SKATE

SATURDAY 2/20, 6-7 PM

PUBLIC SKATE

SATURDAY 2/20, 7-8PM

If you wish to make a separate donation directly to A.J and his family please donate here

Donors come up big for Wellesley Friendly Aid

Wellesley Friendly Aid last fall put out the call for residents, businesses and organizations to continue their yearly support of the organization that works to improve the well-being and quality of life of Wellesley residents.

400 donors came up big to the tune of almost $70k to keep going the non-profit’s programs and services that offer assistance to Wellesley individuals and families of all incomes and ages.

WFA administrative manager Karen Mondell fielded calls from residents who reached out for help with financial challenges brought about by COVID-related circumstances.

“Parents are unable to work, having to stay home with their school-aged children who are learning remotely. Programs for disabled young adults have been closed, requiring their parents to remain home as well. Some of these families needed a helping hand to buy food. Others struggled to make rent and car payments,” Mondell said.

“The pandemic-related requests were in addition to those from low-income residents hit by unexpected expenses. Examples of these include the costs of an unexpected move or costly car repairs,” WFA president Deb Cogill added. “Some of our Wellesley neighbors are stretched financially.”

For over 110 years, Wellesley Friendly Aid has provided emergency aid to neighbors in need. “With our donors’ help, WFA will be here for another 110.” Cogill said. “Thank you, Wellesley.”

Citizens Bank seeks Champions in Action for $35K award

Citizens Bank is accepting applications from non-profit organizations until Feb. 26 for its Champions in Action program, which for this round of awards is focused on social equity and inclusion. Organizations selected for the program will receive financial, volunteer and public relations support to help further extend their reach and impact. Eligible nonprofits typically work in collaboration with partners, neighborhood groups, schools, or other organizations to address issues related to the chosen focus area that affect local communities. The non-profit applying for the award should include specific and measurable goals for their program.

Restaurants, residents to benefit from food insecurity program

Restaurants in Wellesley, Brookline, and Newton and area residents lacking healthy meals will benefit from $175K in state funds going to a new food insecurity program launching next month and running through June. More than 10,000 restaurant meals will be delivered to food pantries, senior programs, and others in need who have been affected by COVID-19.

The Newton-Needham Regional Chamber is directing the effort, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Newton, the Wellesley Health Department, and the Brookline Chamber of Commerce. The funding will go to local independent restaurants, with $75,000 allocated to Newton; $60,000 in Brookline; and $40,000 in Wellesley.

Wellesley-based, independent restaurants can apply here.

Subscribe to Swellesley’s daily email