Senior Notes

Catherine Bradfield

Giving in the Season

Despite our best efforts to stretch the last drop out of summer, temperatures are dropping, days are getting shorter and leaves are turning. Time has come to pack away our summer clothes and start to dig out our fall wares.

Such a transition provides us with ability to reevaluate our possessions and simplify our wardrobes. Before you return your fall/winter clothing into circulation and pack away all of you summer items for another year, consider using this time as an opportunity to remove items that just no longer get used.

Many local charities provide door or curbside pickup services that can be scheduled at a time and date of your choosing. Individual charities will have specific criteria for which items they will accept. Your donation may be tax deductible. The following are some examples:

Vietnam Veterans of America is a national veterans’ service organization primarily serving the needs of veterans of the Vietnam War era throughout the nation and elsewhere. VVA is funded primarily by various fund-raising activities and its membership. As VVA is a veterans service organization it does not own retail outlets that sell the donations, instead has chosen to sell the donations through a bidding process to qualified retailers. To schedule your pick up please call 800 775 8387.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: have been providing mentoring services to Boston-area children for more than fifty years. Each little brother or sister is paired with an adult mentor — an invaluable opportunity for a one-to-one friendship. Local BBBS programs serve more than 5,000 children and their families. To schedule your pick up please call 800 483 5503.

Other Options to consider:

Clothing drop off boxes can also be located in your local supermarket, library or school. Most will have an 800 number that you can call to request a tax receipt.

Clothing resale stores have become more and more popular. Check your local listings for consignment stores in your area. Stores such as Goodwill or Boomerangs will also accept donations at their locations.

Good luck!

And a word of Thanks goes to…

Dr. Bill & Rita O’Connell who gave a wonderful presentation on the Deer Island Irish Memorial at the Quincy Coffee morning, if you would like more information please contact them directly at rvoconnell@comcast.net – and also to Mike Shields who graciously organized a very successful trip to Mohegan Sun this week with some proceeds coming to the Centre – all your help is greatly appreciated.

Coming up this week at the Irish Pastoral Center:

Monday, Oct, 5^th – CARA Club in Brighton at the Veronica Smith Senior Center

Wednesday, Oct 7^th – Quincy coffee morning – Pat Foley, “It’s everyone’s business”

Don’t forget Monday October 12^th is Columbus Day and there will be no activities at the CARA Club