Bikes Not Bombs (https://bikesnotbombs.org/) is doing four different bike rides to fund raise this coming Sunday, June 7, one of which goes through Medfield.

Today we dropped off at the Bikes Not Bombs bike drive at the Legion the 17 bikes we collected from the swap last summer and over wintered in case any kids from Medfield families in need, as identified by Medfield Youth Outreach worker Dawn Alcott, wanted them as Christmas presents (there were no takers).

Our bike collection adventure began last summer when we retrieved a really nice Specialized bike from the Swap and asked Dawn if she knew anyone who might like it, and the girl identified by Dawn was reportedly so unbelievably delighted to get that bike, that we all thought there might be others who would follow.  Instead, now, those 17 bikes will get shipped by BNB to Central America or the Caribbean, where there are even more families in need, so a great result.  BTW, it looked to me that BNB collected upwards of 75 bikes.

Former Warrant Committee member, David Fischer, was helping BNB to reduce the size of the bikes by loosening and twisting the handle bars and reversing the pedals, along with at least one other Medfield student, judging by the young man’s Warriors T-shirt.

Hello Massachusetts friends!  This is Abby Marble.

I am starting a collection for the displaced homeless that are now inundating Boston. If you are following the story, it started with the condemnation of the bridge connecting Boston to it’s largest homeless and rehab facility in Boston on Long Island, an island in Boston Harbor.  These folks were evacuated with no warning and now Boston is trying to figure out how to handle the additional 700 person demand on its current services. I’ve been in touch with the journalist who wrote the most recent article about the crisis. ( see below)   The most critically needed items are listed below.  I am hoping to make a large collection over the next few weeks and then bring them to the South End facility asap and as frequently as my storage fills up. Please consider helping by donating. You can either drop it off at my house (16 Pheasant Rd, Medfield) on the front porch or I can come and pick the item(s) up.  Please consider helping out.

thank you!  abby

remember:  “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/21/stress-mounts-city-copes-with-displaced-homeless-from-long-island/sXpZnRDzPJratjADhI8NCJ/story.html

Wish List of Critically Needed Items

All item​s should be for adults.

The following items may be new or gently used:

• Tee-shirts & Thermal wear
• Sneakers& Boots
• Jeans & Pants
• Sweatshirts & Sweaters
• Winter Coats & Raincoats
• Hats, Gloves & Scarves
• Suits & Dress Shirts
• Dresses & Skirts
• Raincoats & Umbrellas
• Duffel Bags & Backpacks
• Belts & Wallets
• Shoelaces
• Board games & Decks of Cards
• Eyeglasses & Sunglasses
• Books, Journals, & Note cards

The following items must be new:​

• Underwear
• Socks
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Sunscreen & Lotion
• Hairbrushes & Combs
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• sleeping bags
• pillows

From Susan Maritan –

The Medfield Food Cupboard is in Serious Need of Donations.

“Summer is always a difficult time for the Food Cupboard,” said Martha Sherman, a volunteer with the Medfield Food Cupboard. “It’s sort of a perfect storm resulting in bare shelves: our clients’ children are home from school, so families’ food needs are higher. Likewise, Medfield residents are out of town, so food donations are way down. Food drives are not happening as they do the rest of the year, and also, unfortunately, our food collection bin is no longer residing at Shaw’s. As a result, the food on the shelves at the UCC Food Cupboard are the lowest I’ve seen them in a many, many years.”

The Food Cupboard is in need of any and all items, but if you’d like some guidance, the following supplies are always needed:

• Cereal
• Juice
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Pasta
• Pasta sauces
• Tunafish (water-packed)
• Canned chicken
• Canned fruits
• Canned Vegetables
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels

Food donations to the Medfield Food Cupboard can be dropped off in the lobby of the the United Church of Christ (496 Main Street, Medfield) or at other local churches. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation may send a check to the Medfield Food Cupboard, PO Box 172, Medfield, MA  02052.