From the Community

Community Servings’ Dinners4Dads Fundraiser Benefits Fathers in Need

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Community Servings, a Jamaica Plain nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition services and a leader in “food is medicine” research, advocacy and policy, has launched its annual Father’s Day fundraiser, Dinners4Dads, in partnership with Eastern Standard Provisions. Gift givers can send a special dad in their life a small box of eight gourmet Liège Belgian waffles with four topping flavors for $65 or a large box of 22 soft pretzels and four gourmet salts for $95. Each purchase is a donation that will support a local father living with critical or chronic illness with the nutritious food they need to maintain and improve their health. The gift includes a card designed by local artist Susy Pilgrim Waters inscribed with a personalized message. Supporters can also choose to send just a card for a $30 donation.

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From the Community

Community Servings Grows Food & Health Policy Program With Grant From Alletess Medical

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Community Servings, a Jamaica Plain-based nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition services and a leader in “food is medicine” research, advocacy and policy, today announced an expansion of its Food & Health Policy Program resulting from a grant from Alletess Medical Laboratory. The Rockland-based company recently contributed $75,000 in funding that has supported staff positions dedicated to policy work, coaching and technical assistance as part of the Food is Medicine Coalition’s Accelerator, and the advancement of research and policy initiatives at the state and federal levels. “Alletess Medical Laboratory is an important new partner to our organization and we are grateful for their generous contribution,” said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings. “Our Food & Health Policy team is hard at work on ways to expand access to medically tailored meals, not only in Massachusetts but nationwide, and to accelerate the adoption of this life-saving intervention more broadly in health care.”

Alletess Medical Laboratory has been a leader in the field of allergy and immunology testing since 1980. The company has also supported Community Servings by sending groups of volunteers to help the kitchen team prepare meals that are delivered to chronically and critically ill people throughout Massachusetts.

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From the Community

Community Servings’ Meals4Moms Fundraiser Benefits Mothers in Need

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Community Servings, a Jamaica Plain nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition services to individuals and families in Massachusetts experiencing critical and chronic illnesses, is holding its annual Mother’s Day fundraiser, Meals4Moms, in partnership with McCrea’s Candies of Boston. Gift givers can send mom a box of handcrafted caramels – available in two sizes, 40 pieces for $65 or 80 pieces for $95 – with a Lake Champlain chocolate heart nestled within the box. Each purchase is a donation that will support a local mom with the nutritious food they need to maintain and improve their health. The gift includes a card designed by local artist Susy Pilgrim Waters inscribed with a personalized message. Supporters can also choose to send just a card for a $30 donation.

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Neighborhood Life

Volunteers Needed: Help Centre Food Hub Fight Food Insecurity

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The Centre Food Hub needs volunteers for kitchen meal prep, grocery packing, delivering food, and hospitality. Before the pandemic, the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain's nonprofit The Centre for Faith, Art & Justice, offered two sit-down meals a week in the church, but once the pandemic hit, they could no longer offer provide onsite meals. And once the pandemic began, an increase in food insecurity was clearly evident. The two sit-down meals a week became hot meals and groceries being delivered to neighbors. The need grew, and soon enough more than 300 households were receiving food via delivery.

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From the Community

JP’s Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Adds to Leadership Team

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The Armenian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), a nonprofit health care organization dedicated to serving elders locally and internationally, and the sponsor organization of the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, recently announced an expanded senior leadership team. The Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is an 83-bed, Jamaica Plain nonprofit nursing center located at 431 Pond St., next to Larz Anderson Park, which offers long-term care. AWWA added two experienced administrators: Greg Messina, Chief Operating Officer, and Jessica Brigham, Executive Director. Messina will guide the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s strategic and planning initiatives, including the development of new services and programs, oversight of finances and collaboration with key health care partners. Brigham will lead the day-to-day operations, including the clinical care of patients and residents, management of staff, and communication with families.

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From the Community

JP Nonprofit Rehearsal for Life Presenting Musical ‘Banned in Boston’ Back to School Edition

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Rehearsal for Life, a non-profit leader in Boston-area’s creative youth development sector, will present its new Banned in Boston musical virtually on April 14. The 2022 performance will once again be written and scored by award-winning creative Faith Soloway, Interim Artistic Director of Rehearsal for Life and co-writer of Amazon’s award-winning show Transparent, with special guest performances by actors Jane Lynch of Glee and Tim Meadows of Saturday Night Live. To promote accessibility and inclusivity for all, individual tickets are available with a pay as you can or are able to option here. In keeping with the Banned in Boston tradition, more than two dozen politicians, celebrities, and business leaders will join the cast to support Urban Improv’s important work with Boston Public School students. This year’s musical-esque romp, ‘Back To School’, will be a dystopian comedy based on the exaggerated reality of returning to school during the pandemic, when in-person learning and gatherings remain challenging.

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Nonprofit

Buy A Refurbished Bike From Bikes Not Bombs

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Did you know that Bikes Not Bombs sells refurbished bicycles? Oh, they've got lots of refurbished bikes! Bikes Not Bombs' website explains what refurbished means to them:

"All of our bikes get overhauled from top to bottom. Each bike is stripped down to just the frame, washed, and rebuilt using a mixture of new and overhauled used parts. All of our bikes get brand new wheels, tires, tubes, brake pads, chains, freewheels or cassettes, bottom bracket, and cables & housing.

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Environment

Bikes Not Bombs Receives $130,000+ City Grant for Green and Mobility Jobs

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Bikes Not Bombs recently received a city grant to green jobs and mobility training.  The grant is for $138,232. “With the city of Boston’s funding, Bikes Not Bombs will give Boston youth the opportunity for apprenticeship, skill building, and career development. BNB uses the bicycle as a vehicle for social change – and this funding will open the door for Black and marginalized Boston residents to achieve economic mobility, build relationships, and work towards a healthier Boston,” said Elijah Evans, Executive Director of Bikes Not Bombs via press release. Mayor Michelle Wu announced the recipients of Boston’s Catalyst Grants for Green Job and Mobility Training on Jan.

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From the Community

Urgent Need for Kitchen Volunteers at JP’s Community Servings

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Kitchen volunteers are urgently needed at Community Servings to help the Jamaica Plain nonprofit’s professional kitchen staff prepare and package 18,000 medically tailored meals that are delivered weekly to critically and chronically ill individuals across the region. While Community Servings operates one of Boston’s largest volunteer programs, the current COVID-19 surge has pushed January volunteer numbers to low levels. Demand for the nonprofit’s nutritious, life-saving meals has increased by over 80% since the pandemic began. “Volunteers have been at the heart of our mission since we began, essential to ensuring that we can feed our neighbors in need and help maintain their health,” said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings. “Given the effects of this pandemic surge, we are making a plea for anyone with a few hours to lend a helping hand in our kitchen.”

Volunteers help peel and chop vegetables; portion soups, stews and salads; and pack weekly meal bags for clients living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and heart disease, among other illnesses.

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