July 25th, 2018: Kim Stewart - Scituate Community Christmas
PRESENT: Bart, JD, Lois, Lambert, Walter, Sue, Dietrich, Lucille, Bernie, Bob, Sandi, Joe, Debbi, Nancy, Joan, Janet, and speaker, Kim Stewart from Community Christmas.
Congratulations! We covered our required 15 meals
thank you - and it was yummy!
Pledge, invocation, and four-way-test, lots of generosity via happy/sad bucks and Janet continues to remove cards from the deck to make the queen easier for someone else to find!
Signs (at Mike's) for Pancake Breakfast to go out this week. JD will follow-up on that.
Janet read from Alden Mitchell's “25 Years of Service Above Self” chapter 1973: “...and that was the year we decided to run a Pancake Breakfast. The club sent representatives to other clubs to find out how it was done and elected Charter member Harry Carter to pick up the ball and run with it... and run he did. Little did Harry know what he was starting, but even though we made very little that first year, we probably have made more than $60,000 from Pancake Breakfasts over the past 25 years.” This being then the 45th year of Pancake Breakfasts, I propose we have made at least an additional $60,000. All used for doing good in our community.
Community Christmas began 30 years ago by Susan Phippen who also “founded” the Animal Shelter and SANDS. Since her passing, Kim has overseen many changes, especially over the past year. They purchased the 3A Farm which is directly adjacent to the Animal Shelter. They are using the space to welcome all non-profits in Scituate to coordinate activities in the town, offer space for board meetings or storage of equipment. They are in the process of re-branding themselves.
Right now they are busy with a back-pack drive for returning students needing one (each school determines the number back-pack they need). For Christmas, elders left on their own will receive a gift and hopefully a card from a student.
The first no-profits meetings brought 15-20 representatives who shared “what we do” inn the town. In the fall they (CC) hope to run a FEMA readiness program. Their biggest fund raiser is the October calendar. Gift Cards are needed for gifts.
Kim read the Mission Statement of Community Christmas which was too lengthy to catch but it covers all good deeds for all peoples... Re-branding begins in September (looking for young techies). They will again participate in the Christmas Stroll and the North Scituate Christmas. Police Department will continue to be a collection point for presents. CC will work as a resource for FACTS where needs can be helped. They intend to work also with Scituate Education Trust.
JD reminded us that Kim was Citizen of the Year this past year. No wonder! I found her profoundly compassionate and articulate. Thank you Kim for taking the time to educate us.
WE WILL BE MEETING AT WALTER AND SUE'S HOME NEXT WEDNESDAY.
Stay tuned for directions and suggestions. For starters, usual time at 81 Country Way!
Respectfully submitted,
Janet
