Tag: Sarah Grow

THE OPEN DOOR CELEBRATING 40 YEARS WITH A BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN BREAKFAST

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

The Open Door’s annual Autumn Breakfast, hosted by Cruiseport Gloucester, was especially beautiful and meaningful this year as it is the organization’s 40th year serving the Cape Ann community. The maxim of the Open Door is ‘feeding people and changing lives,’ and the heart rending testimonial given by guest speaker Colleen Moceri spoke to just that as she shared her story of how her life has been deeply affected by the assistance she has received from executive director Julie LaFontaine and her kind hearted staff.

Sheree Zizak received a huge round of applause and standing ovation for her tremendous generosity and was presented the Unsung Hero Award. The Helen Muise Community Service Awards were given to Jeffrey and Nancy McKeen, Janice Nolte, and Chris Pitman. The Charlotte Pope Award was presented to Ben Steele, and the Outstanding Partner Award was given to Addison Gilbert Hospital.

If you would like to make a donation to this most worthy of organizations visit the FOODPANTRY.org

The Open Door’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive is Saturday, November 17th, from 9am to 3pm. Items most needed are peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken, healthy snack items, 100 percent juice and juice boxes, breakfast cereal, hearty soups, and caned fruits and veggies. Your food donations will be collected at Stop and Shop Gloucester,  Market Basket in Gloucester and Rowley, and Shaw’s on Eastern Avenue and in Ipswich.

OUTSTANDING OPEN DOOR AUTUMN BREAKFAST AT CRUISEPORT

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

open-door-autumn-breakfast-22-copyright-kim-smithSarah Grow and Julie LaFontaine

open-door-autumn-breakfast-26-copyright-kim-smith

State Senator Bruce Tarr, Amy-Beth Healey, and Mayor Romeo Theken

open-door-autumn-breakfast-25-copyright-kim-smithAmy-Beth, Michelle, Lara, Bea, and Meg

open-door-autumn-breakfast-27-copyright-kim-smith

Thursday morning the Open Door Autumn Breakfast event kicked off the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive season. Cruiseport was packed with supporters, accolades and speeches given, and the free breakfast, delicious. David Sudbay, the Open Door’s President of the Board of Directors, gave the welcome speech. Julie LaFontaine, the organization’s Executive Director, spoke with the community about connecting, engaging, and advocating.

The Helen Muise Community Service Awards were presented to Donte Cone, Nancy Days, Lauren Johnson, Giselle Rein, and Susan Otis. The Unsung Heroes Award was given to Applied Materials Food Drive Team. Backyard Growers and Cape Ann Savings Bank were recognized as Outstanding Community Partners.

Amy-Beth Healey, the guest speaker, gave a poignant and heartrending speech, giving high praise and thanks for the steady assistance provided by the Open Door during her family’s time of need. One in six people in Gloucester requires food assistance. Amy-Beth’s life story spoke to the fact that so many amongst us are living pay check to pay check. Her story could easily become your story.

If you’d like to help feed the hungry on Cape Ann, you can:

Items most needed for the Thanksgiving Food Drive: Canned tuna, canned veggies and fruit, breakfast cereals, pasta, grains, 100 percent juice and juice boxes, peanut butter, and spaghetti sauce. Collecting food donations are Stop and Shop in Gloucester, Market Basket in Gloucester and Rowley, and Shaw’s in Ipswich and Eastern Avenue, Gloucester.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMEY7cWD0yA/

In case you missed the post earlier today, Julie and Mayor Sefatia announce the winner of the Market Basket shopping spree.

2015 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

2015 Rocky Neck PlungeSarah Grow for the Open Door Food Pantry

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge ©Kim Smith 2015With below average temperature and wicked wind, the 2015 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge Open Door Food Pantry Fundraiser was a plunge to remember. Dru, pictured above and below, reports that it wasn’t too bad running towards, or even diving in. The worst was running back to the beach against the bitter biting blast that had picked up during the event, and the fact that he couldn’t feel his feet!

Hats Off and Congratulations to All You Brave Polar-Plunging Souls!

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Dru Anne Malveaux©Kim Smith 2015

Dru and Anne Malvaux

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge -3©Kim Smith 2015

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge -2 ©Kim Smith 2015

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Emma Duckworht ©Kim Smith 2015Emma Duckworth

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Meadow Michelle Anderson ©Kim Smith 2015Michelle and Meadow Getting Ready to Plunge

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Emma Nicole Jude Duckworth ©Kim Smith 2015Emma, Nicole, and Jude

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Michelle, Chris, Atticus, Meadow ©Kim Smith 2015Michelle, Chris, Atticus, and Meadow

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Donna Ardizonni Pete Lovasco ©Kim Smith 2015Donna and Pete

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Nicole Jude Emma Ben ©Kim Smith 2015Emma, Nicole, Ben, Jude, and David Calvo

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Nicole aand Jude©Kim Smith 2015Nicole and Jude

2015 Rocky Neck Plunge Catherine Paul McGeary Karen Ristuben©Kim Smith 2015Karen Ristuben and Catherine and Paul McGeary back at the Cultural Center for hot cocoa and cookies.

Now Accepting Nominations For Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Now Accepting Nominations for

Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Child-of-the-Year, Parent-of-the-Year or Family-Supporter of the Year!

Do you know a child, parent or community member who has made a difference or added to the community in a special way?

Consider nominating them as a “Child-of-the-Year”, “Parent-of-the-Year” or “Family-Supporter-of-the-Year!”

Wellspring Cape Ann Families is now accepting nominations for the 14th Annual Community Appreciation Awards and will recognize those children, parents and family supporters who have made a difference and contributed to their families or the community in a special way. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, April 25th at 3:00pm at Cruiseport, Gloucester.

Nominations are being accepted in three distinct award categories: Child of the Year (with three age categories), Parent of the Year, and Family Supporter of the Year.

These awards are named in memory of Howard Blackburn, (1859-1932), a local fisherman who invested in the community of Gloucester and recognized the need for interdependence to sustain a thriving community- A hero who strengthened family life on Cape Ann.

Anyone is eligible to nominate. Past winners have included teachers, school nurses, day-care providers, along with children and adults from Cape Ann and the North Shore.

Nomination forms are due by April 5, 2010. For more information, or to request a nomination form please call Courtney Karcher at (978) 281-7856 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (978) 281-7856 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 3, or e-mail ckarcher@wellspringhouse.org or go to www.wellspringhouse.org to download.

Thank you to Sarah Grow for sending this along.

Now Accepting Nominations For Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Now Accepting Nominations for

Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Child-of-the-Year, Parent-of-the-Year or  Family-Supporter of the Year!

Do you know a child, parent or community member who has made a difference or added to the community in a special way?

Consider nominating them as a “Child-of-the-Year”, “Parent-of-the-Year” or “Family-Supporter-of-the-Year!”

Wellspring Cape Ann Families is now accepting nominations for the 14th Annual Community Appreciation Awards and will recognize those children, parents and family supporters who have made a difference and contributed to their families or the community in a special way.  The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, April 25th at 3:00pm at Cruiseport, Gloucester.

Nominations are being accepted in three distinct award categories: Child of the Year (with three age categories), Parent of the Year, and Family Supporter of the Year.

These awards are named in memory of Howard Blackburn, (1859-1932), a local fisherman who invested in the community of Gloucester and recognized the need for interdependence to sustain a thriving community- A hero who strengthened family life on Cape Ann.

Anyone is eligible to nominate. Past winners have included teachers, school nurses, day-care providers, along with children and adults from Cape Ann and the North Shore.

Nomination forms are due by April 5, 2010. For more information, or to request a nomination form please call Courtney Karcher at (978) 281-7856 ext. 3, or e-mail ckarcher@wellspringhouse.org or go to www.wellspringhouse.org to download.

Thank you to Sarah Grow for sending this along.