Meals on Wheels Drivers Needed! Have you been looking for a fun community service activity for you and your child/children? Meals on Wheels is it! The LPPTA has committed to delivering meals to seniors in Lexington every Friday. In addition to our Friday delivery the senior center is in need of drivers on Wednesdays mornings for the months of January and February. The route is short; around six houses, and only takes one to one and a half hours to complete (10:30am to 12pm). You may sign up for as little as one delivery. We are always in need of back-up drivers. if you are available in case of a last moment cancellation on Wednesday or Friday mornings please sign up as a back up driver.
If you would like to sign up or find out more about delivering meals, please e-mail or call Alix Fox at alixobrien@hotmail.com or 617-669-2944
COMMUNITY SERVICE NEWS
NEXT MEETING: Are you looking for a way to help in the community big or small? Then please join us for our next Community Service Meeting on Monday, March 10th at 11am. The meeting will be at the home of Yolanda Taylor, 30 Burroughs Road. Please feel free to bring the kids along. You may RSVP to yolandataylor@mac.com
SPENDING TIME WITH SENIORS: Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent events: Holiday treats in December, the brown bag lunch in January, and Valentine’s treats in February. The seniors have been absolutely thrilled with our involvement. Please join us for a little snack, socializing and song on Friday, March 14th at the Muzzey Senior Center located at 1475 Massachusetts Avenue. We will be collecting BASKETS you will be discarding for our May Day Baskets. Please drop off your baskets to the front porch of 1088 Massachusetts Avenue.
ESTEEM BOXES: We would like to thank Sephora (Burlington), Avon (Barbara Keefe, Leadership Representative), and Lord&Taylor (Burlington) for their generous contributions of sample products to our Esteem Boxes project. The women in local homeless shelters who receive these treasures undoubtedly felt so much affection during the Valentine season. On Februrary 12th, we delivered these tokens of love (87 shoeboxes decorated by our beloved preschoolers) to those who needed them most.
We are truly grateful for all of the time, effort, and energy that Sephora, Avon, and Lord&Taylor gave to our cause. They helped us model for our young children what generosity means, especially for women who may need reminders of goodness in the world.
Thank you so very much for all of the parents and preschoolers who decorated shoe boxes for this important project. A special note of appreciation goes to our dear Winterfun volunteers, Jackie Lupone and Susan Morin, who orchestrated the shoebox decorations. Also, Paula Sutton who helped from beginning to end. This project wouldn’t have happened without you!
CRADLES TO CRAYONS: The Community Service team has enjoyed working with Cradles to Crayons foundation in the past and is pleased to organize a donation drive for them this winter. This organization provides low income and homeless children, from birth to preteen, the basic essentials they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn and valued. We are collecting BOOKS for children and preteens. Please drop them off on the front porch at 1088 Mass. Ave. by MONDAY, March 10th. These books will be priceless to these children. To find out more about Cradles to Crayons go to www.cradlestocrayons.com .
SPRING PLANTING: Calling all green thumbs! Our Spring Planting at Vynebrook Village will be held on THURSDAY, April 17th at 3:30pm. Raindate is Friday, the 18th. We will provide the flowers, soil and snacks you provide your ready to get dirty kids and some shovels. This is a great time for the kids and seniors and helps beautify the Vynebrook courtyard. Please RSVP to Suzie at suzie_byers@hotmail.com .
MOTHER'S DAY POCKETBOOK/DIAPER BAG DRIVE: We are collecting for our 2nd annual pocketbook/diaper bag drive for the women in the Waltham shelters. We are looking for donations of pocketbooks, diaper bags, toiletries, magazines, books and $10 giftcards to grocery stores, pharmacies or McDonalds to stuff inside the bags. So think about buying a new pocketbook for you (you deserve it) and donate your old one. This will really put a smile on a mother's face. You may drop off these items to the home of Shannon Amsler, 6 Hampton Road. Any questions please contact Shannon at Amsler1@comcast.net.
MEALS ON WHEELS: DRIVE FOR FUN! With all the driving we busy parents of active kids do, it's a great feeling to do a little driving that gives back to our community. Please consider delivering Meals on Wheels. The LPPTA has committed to delivering meals to seniors in Lexington every Friday at 10:30 am, which means you can finish the route and still make that pre-school pick-up! Our driver schedule is full for all Fridays through May 23rd, but we would love to have new drivers for the inevitable schedule changes, or to start in the spring, so sign up for May 30th or later!
You can do the deliveries with (or without!) your children, and you may sign up for as little as one delivery at a time, which means you can participate when your schedule allows! Many of our drivers find this a rewarding activity for themselves and their children, and it makes a tangible difference to our seniors.
To sign up or find out more about delivering meals, please e-mail or call Alix Fox at alixobrien@hotmail.com or 617-669-2944.
Looking to donate gently used toys, books, clothes, etc.? Please check out our LPPTA Donation links list:
www.agapeintl.org Gently used toys for HIV/AIDS orphanages in India.
www.goodwillmass.org Winter clothing for children and adults, household goods, small appliances.
www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org New books, toys, art supplies, play equipment and games for children to age 8.
www.vva.org Vietnam Veterans of America. They will pick up household items at your house.
www.prisonbookprogram.org Soft cover books for prisoners. Please check website for subject ideas.
www.cradlestocrayons.org New and gently-used clothing, books, toys, baby items and school supplies for kids age 0-12.
www.birthdaywishes.org Provides birthday parties for homeless children. Check out website to see wish list.
www.mahomeless.org. Massachusetts Coalition for the homeless. Regularly pick up furniture, household items, and other material items. Also check website for wish list.