Lunches for Common Cathedral

So far, we have volunteers signed up to make the following sandwiches:

  • PB&J: 50/50
  • Ham & Cheese: 30/50
  • Turkey (no cheese): 40/50

This year there is also an opportunity to serve lunch and attend Common Cathedral in Boston Common.

As Paula Ewenstein, Common Cathedral Lunch Coordinator says: “Hello, we are delighted and grateful that your congregation will be visiting common cathedral! First, thank you for your continued support of common cathedral. Your contribution is keeping people fed physically and spiritually throughout this global pandemic. For Summer 2022, we’ve made a few updates we’d like to share with you.

Click on the boxes below for more information:

Donating lunches: We are continuing to ask for pre-made lunches and are currently requesting the following supplies: 
  • 150 brown paper bag lunches
  • With sandwiches – We will prepare PB&J, turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, and tuna for some of our loyal sandwich makers          
  • 2-3 snacks inside (chips, fruit, cheese sticks, cookies) [Please put snacks in small zip locked bags if they aren’t already wrapped]

    “Adding a tomato, pickles, lettuce, anything extra makes it a meal, not just a sandwich.” –John, community member
Donating Supplies: If you are looking to support us in other ways, check out our Amazon Wish list:

Click Here! It is updated monthly with seasonal items needed as indicated by our community. For example, ankle socks for these hot summer days! 

Safely making sandwiches: Some people have expressed concern about making lunches during this COVID-time. Please *do* take extra precautions when making the food.

Have individuals make them at home and drop off with one central person who will be doing the delivery on Sunday. Remind lunch-makers to sanitize the surface on which they make the food, to wash hands often, and to wear gloves. The virus itself is *not* food-borne but rather the danger is in particles coming into contact with the food items being prepared. 

Important note: People are hungry right now, as many meal programs have closed or simplified their operations. It’s harder to get food if you are homeless or income-insecure. This is why we are requesting these items. 

Contact the church office if you have any questions at (781) 944-0205 or office@churchofreading.org

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School Kit Time Has Arrived!

Maybe you’re an early bird shopper. If so, the collection box is in place just inside the exterior office entry on Sanborn Street. You may bring your items to worship on Sunday, or drop them off Monday-Thursday between 10 am and 1 pm. The school bags have arrived so we are good to go!

If shopping is not your thing, or getting out to stores is a challenge, we will also need financial donations. We will need to send $2 for each kit we ship (this will cover CWS shipping costs to end recipients). The bags we purchased cost approximately $60. And because there are no drop off points in the greater New England area in the fall, we will be shipping the completed kits at a cost of somewhere between $75 and $100. That’s a total of about $200. Any amount you can donate will be a great help. Please note “CWS Kits” in the memo on your check. (Financial donations should be sent or dropped off in the office, not the box.)

We are already receiving a number of donations. At present, notebooks are our most needed item. We’ll keep you updated! By way of reminder, this is the full list of kit supplies:

  • One pair of blunt scissors (rounded tip, only)
  • Three 70-count bound notebooks or notebooks totaling 200-210 pages (no loose-leaf or filler paper)
  • One 12” ruler
  • One hand-held pencil sharpener
  • One large eraser (no pencil cap erasers)
  • Six new, unsharpened pencils with erasers
  • One box of 24 crayons (only 24)

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Our School Kit Collection Is Coming!

We will once again be collecting school items for CWS School Kits. These kits give children in impoverished schools, refugee camps, or other difficult settings some of the basic tools for learning.

While our “official” collection will be done in the month of August, it’s never too early to think about shopping. Watch sales at places like Staples, any of the dollar stores, Ocean State, or Walmart to name a few. And our disclaimer note…we have no affiliation with any of these merchants! Our goal this year is to again make 30 kits. However, we are ordering extra bags so if we have materials to make more, we will be able to. Thanks as always for your help.

This is the list of needed items (please note in particular, the italicized notes) 

  • One pair of blunt scissors (rounded tip, only)
  • Three 70-count bound notebooks or notebooks totaling 200-210 pages (no loose-leaf or filler paper)
  • One 12” ruler
  • One hand-held pencil sharpener
  • One large eraser (no pencil cap erasers)
  • Six new, unsharpened pencils with erasers
  • One box of 24 crayons (only 24)

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