Charities we support

Community Service Committees, Activity and Events

Below is a list of the activities sponsored by the Community Service Committee with a brief description of each activity. A contact person has been included should you need more information and/or would like to participate in one or more of these activities. Each activity has a written procedure which we can provide.

Angel Tree - Charitable Organization – Salvation Army/Hope House

In late November committee co-chairs contact Hope House for Angel Tree tags-a wish list of items requested by their clients. Newcomer groups and/or individuals are asked to fill these requests. Once completed the tags, with collected items, are returned to Hope House. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Debbie Wilson, debora0617@aol.com, 941-249-2672 or Ginny Gagliardi, ginjam1124@aol.com, 561-665-0772

ARC Nassau Bingo - Charitable Organization – ARC Nassau (Intellectually and developmentally disabled adults).

On the second Thursday in February, April, June, August, October and December From 12:45-1:45 the co-chairs coordinate a bingo session with the ARC staff. Prizes collected from our members are displayed and winners may select what they like. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Carolyn Escherich cjescherich@gmail.com, 203-253-9940 or Mona Stines, mona.stines@att.net, 404-936-8812

Bell Ringing - Charitable Organization: Salvation Army/Hope House

In mid/late September co-chairs contact Hope House for the link to the registration website where date/time/and place are reserved (usually 2 dates 9a-3p) for Newcomers. Members can select a date and time they prefer. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Joan Krull jkamelia@gmail.com or Rose Ann Schwartz, roseaschwartz@gmail.com

Adopt a Road/Keep Nassau Beautiful - Charitable Organization: Keep Nassau Beautiful

Chair schedules a cleanup of Citrona Rd to Jamine St a minimum of every 2 months, any Tuesday-Friday 9-10a. Four to eight volunteers meet in the back lot of the Post Office – half of start there, half are driven to Jasmine. All meet at a half-way point where equipment and trash bags are returned to the chair. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Jennifer Salisbury, jen.a.salisbury@gmail.com 505-235-4164.

Food Drive - Charitable Organization: Salvation Army/Hope House

One to two times annually, Chair and her team select the stores and meet with the managers to determine the date – usually two Publix locations from 10-3pm. List of most needed items is compiled by Hope House and delivered to store managers inadvance of the drive to assure items are in stock. Volunteers sign up for 1-2 hour sessions at the stores and to transport food to Hope House throughout the day. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Joan Krull, jkamelia@gmail.com

Give A Heart (GAH) - Charitable Organization: Charity that receives the most votes in our annual polling.

Co-chairs and their team solicit prizes from over 50 vendors and Newcomer members. Tickets are purchased online and in person by our membership. GAH is held every year at the February luncheon; but ticket sales begin in January. There are teams to organize the event and solicit and gather prizes (usually 120-130), to publicize, to promote ticket sales and event day tasks. Winners are drawn and prizes awarded at the luncheon. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Wendy Smith Fuss, wendy@healthpolicysolutions.net, 561-631-0677.

Gracie’s Kitchen - Charitable Organization: Gracie’s Kitchen Food Pantry – 6 Koen Lane, Yulee

Quarterly 12-13 Newcomer volunteers prepare an evening meal at Gracie’s Kitchen for 300 people. Most of the ingredients for the meal are available there. We do purchase a few items, usually costing no more than $20. We always make the same meal starting around 1pm and ending at 6:30pm. There are three teams –cooking, packaging and delivering meals to cars. All meals are take-away. Any meals not distributed are taken to the Set Free Mission By the Sea. If you would like to volunteer: Contact Carolyn Escherich cjescherich@gmail.com, 203-253-9940

Pet Drive - Charitable Organizations: Humane Society and Cats’ Angels

When a month has been decided upon, the chair works with stores to ascertain the location (usually Publix or Winn Dixie), date and hours for the drive. A list is compiled by the two organizations for items most needed is given to the store. The list is also made into flyers and handed out to customers entering the store. Members can sign up for staffing at store entrances and/or to deliver what is collected to the each of the organizations. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Jan Cote-Merow, jcotemerow@yahoo.com, 904-583-2870

Purple Elephant - Charitable Organization: Charity that ranks #2 in annual polling.

Event is held at the October luncheon. Co-chairs send out communication to all members announcing date and purpose of the event telling them to bring new and/or gently used items to the luncheon venue the day prior to the event or drop off at one of the organizer’s homes. All items are displayed by category with a purple box on each table. There are no prices on the items. Anyone purchasing an item merely puts their donation in one of the boxes. All proceeds go the charity. Any remaining items at the end of the sale go to a few charities. If you would like to volunteer: Contact: Jan Cote-Merow, jcotemerow@yahoo.com, 904-583-2870

Donations-in-Kind - Charitable Organization: – several charities are currently receiving donated items that are needed for their clientele.

Various CSC members reach out to the charity for a list of these items which range from food and clothing to paper products and bed linens. These lists are included in each monthly CSC agendas which are distributed via email to all Newcomer members who have indicated an interest in community service. Donations may be delivered to our monthly meeting (usually the first Friday of the month) or to the monthly luncheon.

Barnabas School Meal Packing - Charitable Organization: Barnabas benefiting Nassau County

School children. The CSC will be pack a bag that goes home to school children of Nassau County Schools that are on the breakfast and lunch program. We meet at the main office of Barnabas on the third Friday of the month to pack approximately 200 bags that include two days over the weekend of breakfast and lunch of children. All items are provided by Barnabas, we simply supply the labor for one of our easiest volunteer jobs we do. We need no more than eight members to do this project during the months of the school year. Contact: Dottie Fortwengler, Dottie@afieldofdreamstravel.com, 703-626-7006 or Judy Johnson, judyjohnsonri@gmail.com , 401-829-1024.