Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Needham for Tuesday November 10th, 2020
 
Recent Events:
  • Our Speaker on November 3rd: Sue Crossley, Executive Director, Family Promise Metrowest (photo below)
 
Family Promise is a national charitable organization started in 1986 to fight homelessness. Planning for the Metrowest affiliate started in 2003, the shelter welcomed its first families in 2008. Family Promise guides families out of homelessness and poverty with a comprehensive program of encouragement, guidance and support. Family Promise has added programs over the years to support homeless families. Their Transitional Living program supports families for a year after leaving the shelter. Their Steps to Success program provides educational and career building opportunities to maximize family income.  Their Life program forestalls evictions through advocacy, case management and rental subsidies. Over 50 churches in the Metrowest area support Family Promise programs by offering their classrooms as bedrooms for homeless families.
 
Sue responded to the question of the impact of the expiration of the moratorium on evictions during the pandemic as follows: "we went from 2-5 referrals per week before the moratorium ended to 13-15 referrals per week currently". Family Promise Metrowest receives 90% of its support from unrestricted donations. To donate to Family Promise Metrowest: http://www.familypromisemetrowest.org; there is a "donate" tab in their website.
 
  • Virtual Carnival
 
On November 7th, the Needham Rotary Club presented a Virtual Carnival that was organized by Andy Winig. The carnival was free, but a donation was suggested: the event raised $92 for ShelterBox (provides tents and tools to families displaced by natural disasters and political upheaval). Over 137 kids registered and 60 attended from 14 countries, including: the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Venezuela, India, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. There were seven, professional performers, who dazzled with jokes (Jungle Jim) , magic (Malik the Magic Guy), story-telling (Peter Reynolds), a scavenger hunt (Alex), a Dance-a-thon, and a grand finale involving Jungle Jim climbing into a giant red balloon (see photo above).
 
Congratulations to Andy on a great program, and many thanks to the performers!
 
Upcoming Events:
 
  • Thanksgiving Dinner: due to the pandemic, our efforts to support the Thanksgiving celebrations of shut-ins around our town have adapted to current, more stringent safety requirements. Dan and Sandy will load meal bags that have been prepared and assembled at the Needham Golf Course into the cars of the volunteer delivery drivers. Currently, 185 people have signed up to receive meals. There was lots of interest in participating, but -with fewer jobs available- the required number of drivers has been filled as of this writing.
Upcoming Speakers:
  • On November 17th at noon we welcome Adam and Marissa Goldstein, the owners of Rafi Nova. They purchase textiles directly from Hmong artisans in Vietnam and make them into unique backpacks, pouches and face masks.