With school doors closed next week for February vacation, parents may need some inspiration on how to minimize boredom and stress and engage multiple generations living under one roof in the dead of winter. Getting involved in your community and giving back is an excellent way to teach and model the impact of volunteering while creating fun new memories together.
Need some ideas? Teak’s clients are here to help. Here are three in-person and virtual opportunities for Massachusetts-based families to support local missions.
Sort essentials at Cradles to Crayon’s Giving Factory
Serving more than 200,000 youth a year, Cradles to Crayons, a national nonprofit with its founding headquarters in Boston, works to provide children from birth through age 12 with the everyday essentials they need to thrive — at home, at school, and at play. The nonprofit collects and distributes new and high-quality used children’s goods by engaging and connecting communities in clothing collections and distribution opportunities at one of the organization’s signature Giving Factories.
Looking for a hands-on activity? Volunteers, ages 5 and up, are always needed at the Newtonville-based Giving Factory where families can help to sort and size clothes and fill orders for individual children filled with clothing, books, backpacks, baby supplies and more. You need to pre-register 3-5 days ahead of time and all volunteers must be willing to wear a mask provided by the organization while on site. At the end of the experience, Cradles to Crayons tells volunteers exactly how many children and families they have helped that day.
For more information and to pre-register, visit www.cradlestocrayons.org.
Explore your own backyard and support local institutions
Looking to get out of the house? Venture to Boston’s North End neighborhood, to see Old North Church + Historic Site. Known for “One if by land, and two if by sea,” made famous in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” the city’s oldest surviving church is one of the most visited institutions along Boston’s famous Freedom Trail. Self-guided tours offer a more in-depth view of the building that once served wealthy merchants, government officials, and skilled tradesmen. Visitors can walk through box pews, admire the 17th-century angels flanking the church’s 1759 organ, and view the stairs of the famous steeple, which is known as a beacon of American independence. Proceeds from admissions support the Old North Foundation’s virtual and on-site programs, which inspire children and adults alike to consider the ways in which they can build a more just and equitable world.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www.oldnorth.com.
Dive into learning about the natural world
Another perfect family-friendly outing to consider is a trip to the New England Aquarium, the global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation, which is extending its hours to 9am-6pm during vacation week. Learn about the impact of climate change on ocean health, stop by the penguin habitat, and say hi to the famous Myrtle the Turtle in the Giant Ocean Tank. Visitors can also see the new movie Incredible Predators at New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre. Advanced filming techniques capture the planet’s top predators in the wild, putting the audience right beside them as they hunt—on land, under the sea, or in the air. The price of your admission funds critical care of the institution’s nearly 20,000 marine animals and provides virtual and online educational programming for all ages.
Visitors are encouraged to visit www.neaq.org for ticket information and to learn more about what to expect before arriving at Central Wharf.
Lace up and raise money to help neighbors in need for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger
Want to get your body moving? Join thousands of caring community members who will participate in the oldest pledge walk in the country – Project Bread’s 54th annual Walk for Hunger – which raises more than $1 million annually to support programs that work to solve hunger statewide. Vacation week is a good time to map out your family’s Walk route and start training together in your own neighborhood. And here are additional ways to jump start your Walk fundraising campaign. Set for Sunday, May 1, the one-day fundraising event, to be held for the second year virtually, shines a spotlight on hunger and supports Project Bread’s work to increase food access for people of all ages in Massachusetts.
