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Make a difference: volunteer opportunities in Waltham

By BETTY BARRER AND CAROL GREENFIELD

As the season of giving unfolds, Waltham residents have countless ways to turn generosity into action. From food pantries to gift drives and clothing exchanges, local nonprofits are calling on volunteers to help strengthen the city’s heart. Whether you have an hour a week or a day to spare, the chance to make a difference lies just around the corner.

Community Day Center of Waltham, at 16 and 20 Felton St., provides day shelter and support services to adults who are experiencing homelessness. Help out in TheShop@20 Felton: Sort donations and provide a warm service experience to guests selecting seasonal, donated clothing and shoes. Also, at the Drop-in Space, distribute donated mail and travel-size essential items (hygiene items, hand warmers, hand sanitizer, etc.) to guests. Support is needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12:30 to 2 p.m. Volunteers are expected to commit for at least one day a week, for three months or longer. Contact: Chloe-Rose, Executive Director, director@communitydaycenter.org; 781-392-6311. 

Healthy Waltham promotes collaborative approaches to improving the health and wellness of underserved and low-income populations. Help with coat distribution on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 101 School St. Also, help with ongoing food pantries. Shifts are generally two to four hours; the next one is Dec. 11. Contact: Maria DiMaggio, Maria@healthy-waltham.org.

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence empowers individuals, families, and communities to overcome domestic violence. Host a Holiday Gift Drive to collect items for families and individuals rebuilding their lives after experiencing domestic violence. Also, organize a fundraising event, such as a school or community collection, to support the Holiday Gift Program. Contact: mcastaneda@reachma.org; 781-891-0724. Also, year-round, enroll in direct volunteer service or internships.

Waltham Clothing Exchange is a thrift shop and longtime project of First Parish, 50 Church St. Become a seasonal volunteer in spring and fall. Tasks include pricing, tag writing and tagging, sorting, hanging, display assistants, assisting consignors and customers, etc.; three hours minimum on Tuesdays between 9:30 and 5. Contact: Joel Weddig, Director; jands1971@gmail.com; 339-215-9559.

Waltham Fields Community Farm at 240 Beaver St. cultivates sustainable and equitable relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows. Help bring in the harvest and put the farm to bed for the season. Be prepared to work outdoors the whole time. Learn about their volunteer opportunities. Contact: Marla Rhodes at volunteer@communityfarms.org; 781-899-2403.

Waltham Community Foundation distributes grants to nonprofits that benefit the citizens of Waltham. Become a board member, attending two evening meetings per year, meeting twice per year in the evenings, to manage an endowment and decide how to donate investment income. Contact: James M. Baron, jbaron@lawbaron.com; 781-209-1166.

The Waltham Times produces an independent, nonprofit news publication serving everyone in Waltham. It is currently seeking a volunteer board member with development and fundraising experience. Volunteers with backgrounds in journalism and AP Style will be considered for reporting, writing and copy–editing. The Times also welcomes volunteers for posting stories (WordPress), help with legal matters, bookkeeping and accounting, marketing, multilingual community outreach, business strategy, advertising sales and event planning.

Please help the Waltham Times keep this list up to date. Send your nonprofit organization’s requests for volunteers by email to NonprofitNews@walthamtimes.org

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Author

Betty Barrer retired as a senior editor after almost two decades at the Massachusetts Medical Society, focusing on the NEJM Journal Watch newsletter series. Previously, she was a freelance editor and writer, which included a stint at the Massachusetts Municipal Association. A Waltham resident since 2010, she enjoys the city’s lively and diverse community.