Make a Difference This Holiday Season!

At a time when we celebrate abundance, family, love, and hope, it is more important than ever that we remember the people in our community who need our support.

Learn more about these opportunities to give back this holiday season!

  • Renewal House Shelter Supply Drive
  • IINE Grocery Gift Card Donation Drive
  • Canned Food Drive for Weston Council on Aging
  • our annual Mitten Tree to support local families in need
  • Community Drive – Toys for Tots Collection Sites in Weston
  • List of local non-profits and charities recommended by the leaders & board of the Weston CARES Fund.

In addition to our service projects and charitable giving, First Parish is quite busy over the holiday season — visit our Christmas at First Parish webpage for more information about our worship services and other festive programs.

Renewal House Shelter Supply Drive

During the month of November, the Outreach Committee will be running a drive to collect supplies for Renewal House Shelter, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM) that provides safe, confidential shelter and healing services to those fleeing domestic violence.

Let’s help bring comfort to families as they navigate a challenging time by donating items in two categories:

  • NEW and UNUSED twin comforters and sheet sets
  • Personal hygiene products — toothpaste/toothbrushes, soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant and menstrual products

Please drop off items in the marked bins in the Breezeway or the vestibule outside the church offices. Gift cards can be deposited in the “Renewal House Shelter Drive” box in the vestibule or delivered to the church office. Drive ends Sunday, November 30.

IINE Grocery Gift Card Drive

Our friends at IINE (the International Institute of New England) have an urgent request for grocery gift cards. With the government shutdown and defunding of SNAP food stamp benefits, many of their clients are at risk of food insecurity.

IINE is specifically requesting Market Basket gift cards in increments of $25 so they can be distributed as needed. Gift cards can be dropped off at the First Parish office.

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Canned Food Drive for the Weston Council on Aging

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As we get ready to count our blessings this Thanksgiving, it’s very important to do what we can to help those in need. This year we continue our tradition of collecting non-perishable goods for the Council on Aging Food Pantry. Collection boxes will be in the Breezeway for contributions of non-perishable food and other needed supplies that will be delivered the week of Thanksgiving. In particular, the COA is asking for:

  • Canned chick peas
  • Canned corn
  • Canned chicken
  • Crackers (any kind)
  • Individual Snack bags (cookies, nuts, etc…)
  • Soy, Almond, and Oat Milk
  • Shelf stable regular milk
  • Boil-in-Bag rice
  • Dish soap
  • Bars of soap

Please, NO JUMBO SIZES OF ANYTHING! (Costco sizes are too big for many older adults.)

Deliver to the Blue Shelf in the Church Breezeway or marked bin in the Church Street Vestibule by Monday, December 1st.

Mitten Tree — Boys & Girls Club & Second Step

The Mitten Tree is back! Starting Sunday, November 23, our tree will be decorated with wish-list items for families supported by the Waltham Boys & Girls Club, as well as gift card requests for The Second Step shelter. We encourage you to visit the tree in the main Breezeway and take a look at the mittens. Each mitten provides information about the recipient, including their name and age. Once you select a mitten, please fill out the sign-up sheet located next to the tree so we can track all the wishes.

We ask that all mittens and gifts be returned to the church on/before Sunday, December 14th to ensure they are delivered in time for the holiday season. Robert Jones is overseeing the collection of wishes and is available to answer any questions. You can reach him at 781-893-7798, ext. 103, or by email. Let’s come together to brighten the holidays for those in our community who need it most. Thank you for your kindness and support!

Community Donation Drive –
Toys for Tots Collection Sites throughout Weston

The Weston Police Department will be collecting NEW, UNWRAPPED toys for the United States Marine Corps Reserve “Toys For Tots” program from now until December 14th.

Donations may be dropped off at the Weston Police Department (180 Boston Post Road Bypass), Weston Fire Department (394 Boston Post Road), Weston Public Library (87 School Street), Weston Community Center (20 Alphabet Lane), and Weston Town Hall (11 Townhouse Road).

for those in our community who need it most. Thank you for your kindness and support!

Weston CARES Legacy Suggestions of Local Charities

The Weston CARES Fund was launched during the most acute phase of the COVID-19 crisis, and we are proud to say that the Fund raised over $200,000 and awarded grants to 37 non-profits and 94 local families who have received financial support to pay medical bills, rent, or just put food on the table. To stay true to its founding purpose and original mission as an Emergency Relief Fund, Weston CARES is no longer accepting donations. The original leaders and partners are considering other philanthropic programs for the future, but we know there is an ongoing and immediate need in our local Weston and Waltham communities.

To offer your immediate support, the Weston CARES Fund encourages you to support some of these local non-profits that are still in need of support: