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Natick Family Promise welcomed the community to tour its new family shelter: We took them up on it

January 24, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Maybe you’ve noticed the red house with the funky windows in the downtown Natick area and wondered what its signage—Family Promise Metrowest (FPM)— means, exactly.

Hope and safety are what FPM means to families who are experiencing homelessness, yet do not qualify for emergency state shelter. Maybe they’re “over income” by state standards but still fell behind on rent, and were evicted. Maybe they’ve been doubling up with family or friends, and thus aren’t technically considered homeless, so do not qualify for state aid. Whatever the reason, when families are experiencing a housing crisis an FPM program might be the right fit for them.

The signature red building, which made the seismic change last summer from a day center to a shelter that can now house up to three families at a time, could be these families’ temporary place to land.

Family Promise, Natick

Between the completion of the building’s major renovations and the hiring of a new executive director, Danielle Conti, the staff of FMP decided a celebration was in order. So the charitable organization hosted an Open House last week, a rare opportunity for community members to tour the facility and meet staff and volunteers. The resident families had recently achieved their goals of transitioning to permanent housing, so neither their privacy nor peace were compromised by the event.

Here are some pics of the renovated space:

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

Families have access to a large, shared kitchen. At dinner, all gather in a spacious multi-purpose room where volunteers provide the main meal as well as companionship. Family Promise Metrowest has been a presence in Natick since 2008. The non-profit partners with religious and spiritual congregations and for over 10 years used a rotation model to house families among 19 area organizations. Families would live for one week at one congregation, typically in large basement rooms, one per family, plus one room for overnight volunteers. At the end of the week, families would move on to the next host.

The Shelter Program’s congregation rotation model no longer worked once COVID hit, and FPM had to place families into hotels. It was a short-term solution at odds with the community-driven mission of FPM, and one that forced a reckoning about how core operations should run going forward. During the pandemic, “We weighed all the options, talked to the families, talked to the congregations,” Amanda Elkin said. Those conversations led to a decision to make big changes. The red house would transition from a day center model and become a shelter.

Back when Family Promise started in Natick in 2009, “we needed the congregations and the space they could give us to get Family Promise off the ground. Without tons of very committed volunteers, making food and all of that, we wouldn’t have been able to get the organization started. But COVID shut that down,” Elkin said.

In a 2021 video address, then executive director Sue Crossley said, “We came to the realization that having a shelter site where families live rather than rotating to the different congregations really made the most sense for everyone.”

Congregations are still involved and volunteering. But now instead of volunteers helping out at congregations, they go to the shelter to play with the kids, help with meal prep, and provide dinnertime companionship.

In addition to the Shelter program, FPM offers a SAIL Program that supports families as they transition from the shelter back into permanent housing; and a LIFE Program, which helps  families facing eviction remain in safe housing. Between the three programs, FPM last year served 64 families, including 101 children.

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

There are a couple hundred Family Promises throughout the country. Many of them run as “static sites,” which is the model FPM decided that they were now in a financial position to become. In 2009, the organization worked with a budget of $250k. After almost 15 years of courting donor partners from big local corporations to kids who donate their lemonade stand money, they’re now operating on a $1.2 million annual budget, money that has bought them the freedom to evolve how they provide services.

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

 

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick

Families often describe the Shelter program as a lifeline. They do not describe the program as easy. Expectations are high. Families must be open to and accept long-term, intensive coaching that helps identify the root causes of their housing crisis as they set goals and work hard with a vision for their future. Coaches help with everything from applications for rental assistance, to bringing in specialists to help families improve life skills, to accessing employment opportunities.

The average number of days in the Shelter program is 146. During that time families focus on personal savings goals, repairing credit scores, and securing safe and affordable daycare of after-school care for their kids.

The ultimate goal of all three programs (Shelter, SAIL, and LIFE) is for families to move on to permanent, independent housing. 89% of families in 2021 achieved that goal, while 7% moved into a shared housing arrangement and 4% moved into transitional housing.

Staff members and volunteers agree that much is given, much is received, and there is much to be thankful for. Families concur, but it’s the small things that can bring them to tears. A Thanksgiving dinner basket. A gift card for a child who needs winter boots. A few words of encouragement on a downer of a day. The basket means their kids get a festive holiday, just like their classmates. The boots mean feet stay dry. Kindness gets paid forward, and a later squabble quickly de-escalates from intense to resolved.

Such is the power of community care.

Save the date—April 30: Walk to End Homelessness

Join FPM on Sunday, April 30, at 1pm for its first in-person Walk to End Homelessness since 2019. Food, friends, and fun for all ages. The walk will take place at Natick High School, and registration opens February 15. Check back here for more details soon.

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Filed Under: Charity/Fundraising, Community, Volunteering



Friends of Natick Trails seeking volunteers for New Year’s Eve event

December 2, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Friends of Natick Trails and the Town of Natick are looking for volunteers to help put on a second successful Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve event on Saturday, Dec. 31, 4-8pm.

natick rail trail new year's eve

This family-friendly, free stroll on the CRT is an opportunity to meet and greet neighbors, and enjoy this wonderful community asset.

Volunteer to host a fire pit

Cochituate Rail Trail on New Years Eve 2022 will include 21 fire pit locations from about mile 1.2 to mile 2.2 (between Bacon Street and Chrysler Road), and host volunteers are needed.

What’s involved? About every hundred feet, local organizations or groups will set up at a fire pit to socialize, provide entertainment, and talk about their organization or neighborhood, or anything at all. Last year’s hosts included AMVETS Post 79, Natick Runners, and Friends of Natick Trails. Fire pit hosts generally serve hot cider, hot chocolate, s’mores or other treats, and serve as community ambassadors to celebrate the New Year at this family-friendly, alcohol- and drug-free event.

Hosts are encouraged to sign up by Friday, Dec. 9. Or volunteer in other ways. Lots of help is needed to pull off this great celebration.

Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve, 2021

We joined the crowd of over 1,000 along the trail last year, and the event far exceeded our expectations. We ran into friends, chatted with community groups, and enjoyed the friendly vibes of the evening. It was a great way to close out 2021. After the event ended at 8pm, we were even inspired to make it all the way to midnight at other venues.

If you’d like to help support Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve with a donation, please visit. friendsofnaticktrails.org/donate.

natick rail trail new year's eve

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Filed Under: Charity/Fundraising, Community, Holidays, Volunteering



Natick’s Robert Dunn recognized with Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for volunteer efforts

June 22, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick’s Robert Dunn was among 26 honorees of the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for outstanding volunteerism, and was presented with a $10,000 donation for Care Dimensions, the hospice program to which he devotes so much time. The awards ceremony was held at Gillette Stadium earlier this month.

According to Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation, Dunn earned his recognition for the many hours he spends visiting patients each week in a veterans-to-veterans program.

“I served as a petty officer second class in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972. I decided I wanted to devote my hospice volunteering time to other veterans,” Dunn said in a statement. “Whatever service you were in, it’s like a brotherhood. When I first meet a patient, I say I’m a Navy vet and visit vets wherever they live. I ask them about their family first, then their service. I focus the discussion on what they like so I can learn how to support them.”

Dunn’s wife spent her final days in hospice care before passing away in 1998 at the age of 52. Dunn determined then to dedicate his free time to the hospice program, having seen the important of support for grieving people.

Care Dimensions services 100 communities across the state.

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received more than 250 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their volunteers.

kraft award dunn

 


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Filed Under: Volunteering

Tour de Natick was a fun Father’s Day ride, not an intense race

June 20, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

As over 250 cyclists readied themselves for the Natick Rotary Club-organized Tour de Natick at the starting point between the post office and the Common Street Spiritual Center, a police officer shouted out a friendly directive: “Remember, this is a ride, not a race.”

The goal: have fun and keep the action on the 6-mile Tour de Natick course as unlike the Tour de France as possible—no crazy speeds, no glaring at the upstart about to pass you, no hyper-competitive peloton groupings. The annual Father’s Day tradition (except for two bye years due to that pesky pandemic) went off without a hitch, and raised nearly $10,000 to fund college scholarships for Natick students through race entrance fees and the event’s  20+ generous sponsors.

Tour de Natick

 

Tour de Natick

Rotary Club president Mark Canegallo said, “We’re super thankful to our sponsors. Middlesex Savings Bank has been with us every single year for 19 years. TJX stepped up as a new corporate sponsor for us, and Bernardi Auto is a major sponsor as well. Coach & Carriage Auto Body has always been a sponsor.” In addition, Wegman’s donated the food for the post-race bar-b-que.

 

Natick Rotary Club, Tour de Natick

In addition to the scholarship program, the Club gives a dictionary to each of Natick’s approximately 300 third graders. Over the past 15 years over 8,000 dictionaries, each one personalized with the receiving student’s name, have been donated.


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Filed Under: Charity/Fundraising, Community, Entertainment, Outdoors, Sports, Volunteering

Save your bottles and cans for Natick Boy Scout Troop 1775

June 2, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Bring your empty and refundable bottles and cans to to the Natick VFW, 113 W. Central Street, Natick, on Saturday, June 11, 9am-noon to benefit Natick Boy Scouts of America Troop 1775. The troop is holding the drive to help them fund community service work such as local trails maintenance, as well as camping trips and Eagle Scout projects.

Natick Scouts, can drive

 

Interested in joining the Boy Scouts?

Boy Scouting is for boys who are 11, or are at least 10 years old and have completed the fifth grade or have earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award, through 17 years old.

If you would like to join Troop 1775 please attend a troop meeting.

Meetings are held every Monday when Natick public schools are in session from 7pm-8:30pm, at the Lilja School Gym, 41 Bacon Street, Natick. For more information, contact membership@naticktroop1775.org

Filed Under: Charity/Fundraising, Volunteering

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