Tewksbury 100+ People Who Care To Host Catie’s Closet, Community Pantry, Strongwater Farm

At their Tuesday, Sept. 20 meeting, members and guests of the 100+ People Who Care Tewksbury giving circle will hear presentations from three local nonprofits, along with a return visit from Plummer Youth Promise, which received the group’s Q2 $10,000+ Impact Award.

Fresh Looks Salon and Kyoto are sponsoring the Q3 event, which will be hosted by Wamesit Lanes.

“In addition to raising funds that make a big local impact, our goal is to connect our members and the wider community to the mission and leadership of amazing nonprofits serving the Merrimack Valley,” says Nonprofit Liaison Beth McFadyen. “We warmly encourage our members to nominate exceptional organizations and shine a spotlight on their important work.”

The three nonprofits chosen to present in September are:

Catie’s Closet improves school attendance and graduation rates, as well as the mental, emotional and physical health of students facing poverty, homelessness and other crises by providing free, in-school access to clothing and basic necessities and uniting with community partners to meet students’ other immediate needs.

To do this, Catie’s Closet transforms unused areas inside schools into safe, welcoming spaces where students in grades pre K-12 can discreetly shop, free of charge, for clothing, toiletries and other necessities. By arming students with the power of choice, Catie’s Closet fuels their confidence, encourages them to stay in school and unlocks opportunities to break the cycle of poverty.

The Tewksbury Community Pantry was established in January 1995 in response to the desire of community leaders to address the hunger issue in Tewksbury. The Pantry’s mission is to provide assistance to Tewksbury residents in need. The Pantry offers help in other ways when possible, informing clients of available resources through links on its website, information at the pantry, monthly newsletters, flyers and posters.

The primary goal of the organization is to provide a resource for those in need and to offer food and fellowship, as well as to act whenever and however possible as advocates for the disadvantaged. The Pantry’s key achievements consist of providing a safe, well-kept, clean and comfortable environment where clients can come for food, food preparation suggestions and support from volunteers.

Strongwater Farm has improved the quality of life and health for thousands of children and adults in the greater Boston area by providing professionally supervised, equine-assisted activities and services. Its mission is to enhance and enrich lives by providing education, physical activity, social opportunities and emotional support to clients through equine-assisted activities and services while honoring core values of integrity, compassion, healing and safety.

Situated on 12 acres of land leased from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Strongwater has a stable for twelve horses, an indoor program area, an outdoor riding ring, a sensory trail and numerous paddocks on the property. It has also been granted the right to utilize 450 acres of adjacent conservation land containing miles of trails and an event venue. Strongwater offers therapeutic programs to a wide range of individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges.

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“This is an amazing lineup of nonprofits at an amazing, welcoming venue,” said Giving Event Chair Krissy Polimeno. “We so appreciate the generous support of Wamesit Lanes and the Tewksbury Country Club for our 2022 meetings. December will be one of the last events at the TCC as we know it before it transforms into Tree House Brewing, which will be a sponsor. Old and new Tewksbury coming together!”

100+ People Who Care Tewksbury is open to any Tewksbury resident and expects to pass the $70,000 giving mark at its sixth meeting. The group launched in June 2021 and is part of the nationwide 100 Who Care Alliance.

Members agree to donate a minimum of $100 to the nonprofit selected by the group. Many also choose to give to the two nonprofits not selected, which receive $250 from event sponsors. Each quarter, members may nominate a nonprofit for selection.

Previous awardees include Alternative House, Hidden Battles, Into Action Recovery, Lazarus House and Plummer Youth Promise. 

Interested residents are invited to drop in to the Giving Event on June 22, with no obligation to donate. Applications will be accepted before and after the business meeting. New members may also join by filling out the membership form on the group’s website, by contacting Membership Chair Mary Aylward at 100PeopleTewksbury@gmail.com attn. Membership or by messaging on the 100+ People Facebook page.

Space is still available for one sponsor for the December 13 event to be held at Tewksbury Country Club. Interested businesses and organizations should contact Sponsorship Chair Shana Abbott at 100PeopleTewksbury@gmail.com, attn. Sponsorship.

New for members this quarter is the option to join the group’s Grapevine, which will allow members to easily donate by credit card. Learn more.

Top photo: At its last event at Wamesit Lanes, Friends of the Tewksbury Open Space Committee Karyn Sliva, Paige Impink and Bruce Shick presented $250 to Kevin Morrissey of the Greater Lowell YMCA.

About the Alliance: The 100 People movement started in 2006 in Michigan as the brainchild of a warm-hearted woman who was presented with an emergency request to raise $10,000 to purchase portable cribs for new mothers living in an underserved community. With such a compelling local need, she wondered what the result might be if she were to ask 100 of her friends to each make a $100 donation. She started to make calls, organized a group of like-minded women, and — in a one-hour meeting — raised $12,800. 

Over the years, nearly 1,000 Care chapters have been established under the “100 Who Care Alliance” banner. Tewksbury’s chapter launched in June 2021 and has grown steadily thanks to the generosity of this community.