Category Archives: Seasonal Initiatives

News from the Service Commission’s Seasonal Initiatives program

“Coats for Kids” Collection Continues this Weekend – November 14-15

Each year in November, St. John’s participates in the Coats for Kids drive by Anton’s Cleaners, a Boston-wide coat collection campaign for children, teens, adults and babies. Anton’s cleans all the donated coats and coordinates their distribution to those in need.  Please bring gently used, warm, winter coats to the Rectory garage after Mass on the weekends of November 7-8 and 14-15.

Coats for Kids Saint John Poster_2015

Thanksgiving Dinner at Bristol Lodge

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving is just around the corner, and with it comes our commitment to serve Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 100 guests at Bristol Lodge in Waltham. Please consider helping with this important outreach program. Volunteers are needed to provide cooked turkeys and vegetable dishescranberry saucerolls, and beverages. (The turkeys and other side dishes may be cooked as early as the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving.)
The food is dropped off between 12:00pm and 2:00pm on Wednesday, November 25 in the St. John parking lot. Volunteers are also welcome to help serve the meal on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, starting at 4:00pm.  For more details and to sign-up to prepare food and/or help serve, please visit our SignUp page:

“Coats for Kids” Collection – Weekends of November 7-8 and 14-15

Each year in November, St. John’s participates in the Coats for Kids drive by Anton’s Cleaners, a Boston-wide coat collection campaign for children, teens, adults and babies. Anton’s cleans all the donated coats and coordinates their distribution to those in need.  Please bring gently used, warm, winter coats to the Rectory garage after Mass on the weekends of November 7-8 and 14-15.

Coats for Kids Saint John Poster_2015

This Weekend (October 17 & 18): St. Francis House Men’s Clothing Drive

stfrancishouse_largeReminder: This weekend is our new  Winter Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis HouseWe will be collecting men’s gently-used everyday clothing such as jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, coats, hats, and gloves as well as *new* socks for their Foot Clinic, which provides foot care and new socks to homeless clients.  Donations may be dropped off over the weekend of October 17 & 18 in the garage (behind the church) any time during the day (until 5pm.)

The items in highest demand for winter include:
• Footwear (men’s sneakers or winter boots)
• Men’s pants (especially jeans – given out on a daily basis)
• Sweaters & Sweatshirts
• Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves (Men’s coats most needed during winter)
• T-shirts (extremely important – given out on a daily basis)
New (unused and still packaged) socks & undergarments (men’s)
• Backpacks/duffel bags

They DO NOT accept children’s items or used under garments or discolored items. If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags, and label it with the general contents, it would be a great help with sorting.  Thank you for your generosity!

Questions? Please email Shilan Yeung or call 781-707-8290.

Coming October 17 & 18: St. Francis House Men’s Clothing Drive

stfrancishouse_largeThis year, we are adding a Winter Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House, the largest day shelter in New England serving over 800 men and women on a daily basis. St. Francis House is the largest distributor of clothing to the poor and homeless in Greater Boston, distributing more than 750 changes of clothing every month.  To help meet this ongoing need, we hope you will take the time for a quick closet downsizing and bring the items to our parish garage on the weekend of October 17 & 18. We will be collecting men’s gently-used everyday clothing such as jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, coats, hats, and gloves as well as *new* socks for their Foot Clinic, which provides foot care and new socks to homeless clients.  Donations may be dropped off over the weekend of October 17 & 18 in the garage (behind the church) any time during the day (until 5pm.)

The items in highest demand for winter include:
• Footwear (men’s sneakers or winter boots)
• Men’s pants (especially jeans – given out on a daily basis)
• Sweaters & Sweatshirts
• Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves (Men’s coats most needed during winter)
• T-shirts (extremely important – given out on a daily basis)
New (unused and still packaged) socks & undergarments (men’s)
• Backpacks/duffel bags

They DO NOT accept children’s items or used under garments or discolored items. If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags, and label it with the general contents, it would be a great help with sorting.  Thank you for your generosity!

 

Questions? Please email Shilan Yeung or call 781-707-8290.

This Weekend: Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House, June 6-7

stfrancishouse_largeThis weekend is our annual Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House. We are collecting men’s gently-used, everyday clothing, as well as new socks for their Foot Clinic, which provides foot care and socks to homeless clients.

The highest needed items include:

  • Men’s pants (especially jeans – given out on a daily basis)
  • T-shirts (extremely important – given out on a daily basis)
  • Footwear (extremely important)
  • “New” Socks
  • Sweaters & Sweatshirts
  • Backpacks/duffel bags
  • Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves (larger sizes in extreme needed)

Please do not send in children’s clothing, used socks, or any discolored items. If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags, and label it with the general
contents, it would be a great help with sorting. Thank you for your generosity!

If you have any questions please contact Shilan Yeung, either email shilanhappy@gmail.com or text/call at 508-801-7072.

Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House Coming June 6-7

stfrancishouse_largeHappy Spring! Every year in June, St. John’s parish conducts a men’s clothing drive for St. Francis House, the largest day shelter in New England, serving over 800 men and women on a daily basis.  St. Francis House distributes clothing to the homeless in Greater Boston, averaging 250 sets of clothing per week.  To help meet this ongoing need, we are collecting men’s gently-used, everyday clothing such as jeansT-shirts, sweatshirts, hats  and footwear, as well as new socks for their Foot Clinic, which provides foot care and socks to homeless clients.

We hope you will take the time for a quick spring cleaning, and remember to bring the items to our church garage on the weekend of June 6-7.

Right now, the highest needed items include:

  • Men’s pants (especially jeans – given out on a daily basis)
  • T-shirts (extremely important – given out on a daily basis)
  • Footwear (extremely important)
  • “New” Socks
  • Sweaters & Sweatshirts
  • Backpacks/duffel bags
  • Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves (larger sizes in extreme needed)

Please do not send in children’s clothing, used socks, or any discolored items. If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags, and label it with the general
contents, it would be a great help with sorting. Thank you for your generosity!

If you need to drop items off sooner due to travel schedules, etc. or have any questions please contact Shilan Yeung, either email shilanhappy@gmail.com or text/call at 508-801-7072.

Thanksgiving Thank You!

Thank YouA special thanks to all the parishioners who cooked, baked or served at the Thanksgiving feast at Bristol Lodge last Thursday.  The soup kitchen in Waltham hosted over 80 guests at their annual Thanksgiving feast. This could only happen thanks to the generosity of the St. John’s community.

“Coats for Kids” Drive Continues This Weekend

Coats for Kids Saint John Poster_2014_SMALLSt. John’s is participating in the 20th Annual Coats for Kids drive by Anton’s Cleaners. All you have to do is drop off the coats on the weekends of November 8-9 and 15-16, and we will take care of the rest.
What Type of Coats? Warm coats of all sizes for babies, children, teens, and adults in good quality with no rips, tears, broken zippers or permanent stains – coats you would give to a friend.
When/Where Do We Drop Off Coats? After all Masses on the weekends of November 8-9 and November 15-16 in the Rectory garage (behind the church.)
Questions? Please contact Shilan Yeung (781-237-2612) or Deirdre Heilbron (617-894-4416)

Thanksgiving Dinner at Bristol Lodge

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving is just around the corner, and with it comes our commitment to serve Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 100 guests at Bristol Lodge in Waltham. Please consider helping with this important outreach program. Volunteers are needed to provide cooked turkeys and vegetable dishescranberry saucerolls, and beverages. (The turkeys and other side dishes may be cooked as early as the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving.)
The food is dropped off between 12:00pm and 2:00pm on Wednesday, November 26 in the St. John parking lot. Volunteers are also welcome to help serve the meal on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, starting at 4:00pm.  For more details and to sign-up to prepare food and/or help serve, please visit our SignUp page: