As we turn our attention to giving to local charities during the holiday season, the Press is happy to provide the following list of organizations recommended by townspeople and staff as charities that are doing good work in Harvard and nearby communities. Note that most charities in this list are organized as nonprofit, but questions about tax deductibility should be addressed to each organization.
HARVARD AND DEVENS ORGANIZATIONS
Ascentria Care Alliance, ascentria.org
11 Shattuck Street, Worcester, MA 01605 Attention: Development
This nonprofit organization helps to resettle refugees in the Worcester region, including resettling Afghan families in Harvard. According to resident Terry Symula, who is Harvard’s team leader for the Afghan effort, contributions will be used to further the families’ English language learning. To donate, go to https://secure.givelively.org/donate/ascentria-care-alliance/help-afghan-families/terry-symula.
Donations by check are also welcome. Checks should be made out to Ascentria Care Alliance with “Team Harvard” in the memo line.
Clear Path for Veterans – New England, clearpathne.org
84 Antietam Street, P.O. Box 2073, Devens 978-384-8800
This wellness-based community center helps veterans get the help they need to successfully reintegrate into their communities. There are multiple ways available on the website to donate, including sponsoring a service dog or giving through Amazon Smile.
Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Fund
13 Ayer Road, 978-456-4100 x318
This fund benefits older and disabled Harvard residents who are having difficulty meeting their property tax obligations. The goal is to raise $20,000 annually to help these residents. It is administered by the town’s Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Committee, which consists of town employees and residents. To donate online, go to www.harvard-ma.gov/elderly-disabled-taxation-aid-committee. Checks can also be made out to the fund and sent to Town Hall.
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Fivesparks, fivesparks.org
7 Fairbank Street, Harvard
Fivesparks serves Harvard by leading the sponsorship, coordination, and promotion of arts and culture in the community. Located in the old library, Fivesparks provides space for dance, movement, art, and other classes for all ages and for individuals or town groups to hold community events. Donations help expand programming and improve the interior of the old library building that houses the organization.
Friends of the Harvard Council on Aging, harvard.ma.us/council-aging/pages/friends-harvard-coa
P.O. Box 474, Harvard
The Friends of the COA is the nonprofit arm of Harvard’s Council on Aging. It raises funds to enhance the COA’s services, programs, and activities.
Fruitlands Museum (property of The Trustees of Reservations), fruitlands.org
102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, 978-456-3924
Fruitlands features the 1826 farmhouse to which Bronson Alcott brought his family, as well as the first Shaker museum in the world. It has a collection of North American Indian ethnographic materials and an art gallery that contains Hudson River School landscape paintings and 19th-century vernacular portraits. Mail donations directly to Fruitlands, to the attention of Michael Busack.
Harvard Public Library Friends, harvardpubliclibrary.org/about/friends-library
P.O. Box 506, Harvard
Donations to this nonprofit arm of the Harvard Public Library support programs, museum passes, performances organized by the Harvard Friends of the Arts, and book delivery for homebound residents. Donations make you a member, which will allow you early access to the library’s annual book sale.
Harvard Conservation Trust, harvardconservationtrust.org
P.O. Box 31, Harvard
The Conservation Trust is dedicated to preserving Harvard’s natural resources and its rural and agricultural character. The trust’s top priority is protecting open space for future generations. Since its founding in 1973, the trust has helped to protect more than 850 acres in Harvard.
Harvard Historical Society, harvardhistory.org
P.O. Box 542, Harvard
The Harvard Historical Society maintains an historical building in Still River and promotes interest in Harvard’s past by operating a small museum and presenting free programs of historical interest to the public.
Harvard Lions, https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/harvardma/
P.O. Box 268, Harvard
The Harvard Lions Club serves needs inside and outside the community. Local support includes scholarships and grants; community events such as Halloween and Fourth of July; and service projects, including renovating Bromfield House for Afghan refugees and helping to design and purchase a mobile hot food kitchen for area veterans. Global support focuses on serving those with visual or hearing impairments, and diabetes prevention and treatment. Since member dues cover club overhead costs, 100% of fundraising profits and donations received are distributed to its charitable causes. The Lions Club is currently accepting requests for grant funding; for an application and more information send email to harvardlionsclub@gmail.com.
Harvard Schools Trust, harvardschoolstrust.org
P.O. Box 450, Harvard
The Harvard Schools Trust raises funds and fulfills grant requests for curriculum enhancement, extracurricular experiences, special equipment, and staff development at Hildreth Elementary School and the Bromfield School, none of which would be possible within the regular school budget. Founded in 1989, the trust has funded hundreds of grants requested by teachers, parents, and students.
J.U.M.P., jumpinc.org
P.O. Box 604, Harvard
J.U.M.P. (Just Understand My Potential), founded by Harvard resident Bill Spacciapoli, introduces young people to the mountains of New England. Participants receive mountain-skills training, hiking and backpacking experiences, mentoring, and educational support, helping them to achieve and to expect more of themselves.
Sowa Goat Sanctuary, sowagoatsanctuary.com
184 Old Littleton Road, Harvard
This nonprofit sanctuary provides a lifelong home for abused, abandoned, or unwanted goats and is also home to rescue farm animals, including chickens, turkeys, pigs and sheep. In addition to funds, donations of time spent helping at the sanctuary are also welcome. In the coming months, Sowa will be fundraising to build a wheelchair-friendly facility to house its special needs goats and to accommodate the people with disabilities who help care for them. Watch the website for details on this effort.
Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, healinggardensupport.org
145 Bolton Road, Harvard, 978-456-3532
The Healing Garden is dedicated to providing a healing environment for those with cancer. Complementary therapies to standard medical care, psychosocial support, educational programs, and access to nature are available as part of the garden’s mission to help clients regain control of their health. Services are offered regardless of ability to pay.
BEYOND HARVARD
Many of these organizations accept not only monetary donations, but have other ways to give as well. Many shelters have wish lists, some linked to Amazon to make shopping and giving easy. Some charities are part of Amazon Smile, where .5% of your purchase amount will be donated to the charity. Others may also be looking for volunteers. With rising grocery prices, the need this year is significant.
— Food —
Community Harvest Project, community-harvest.org
37 Wheeler Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, 774-551-6544
The Community Harvest Project is a volunteer-based farming organization that grows crops for distribution to food banks, mainly the Worcester County Food Bank. It operates an apple and peach orchard on Prospect Hill Road in Harvard and grows vegetables and blueberries in Grafton. The Adopt-A-Tree campaign directs money to the orchards on Prospect Hill Road.
Greater Boston Food Bank, gbfb.org
70 South Bay Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, 617-427-5200
The Greater Boston Food Bank partners with more than 600 food pantries and community meal programs in eastern Massachusetts, including Acton, Hudson, Maynard, and Stow, as well as Harvard’s local food pantry, Loaves & Fishes in Devens.
Growing Places Garden Project, growingplaces.org
325 Lindell Avenue, Leominster, MA 01453, 978-598-3723
Harvard residents Cindy Buhner and Kate Deyst created this organization in 2001 with a mission to enhance food security for people with limited economic means in North Central Massachusetts towns. In addition to managing and partnering in community gardens across the area, GPGP also sponsors mobile markets and CSAs that accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) benefits and helps deliver fresh produce to SNAP and HIP clients in the towns it serves.
Loaves & Fishes, loavesfishespantry.org
P.O. Box 1, Ayer, MA 01432, 978-772-4627
Loaves & Fishes distributes food to people in need who live in Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley. Last year, over 539,000 pounds of food were distributed. The organization welcomes donations of food and personal care items as well as monetary donations. See the website for food dropoff times.
Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes Patty Stern stands next to a shelf of Carlson Orchards apple cider ready to be distributed to clients during the pandemic.(Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Merrimack Valley Food Bank, mvfb.org
735 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA 01854, 978-454-7272
The Merrimack Valley Food Bank provides nutritious food and personal care items to emergency feeding programs serving the low-income, homeless, and hungry. They are one of four food banks in Massachusetts that serve food pantries, shelters, and meal programs that, in turn, serve individuals and families.
Worcester County Food Bank, foodbank.org
474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, 508-842-3663
Worcester County Food Bank is the region’s leading anti-hunger organization. With its network of 115 local pantries, it distributed 6.1 million pounds of food to 75,000 residents of Worcester County last year. The organization accepts monetary donations as well as food; see the website for food dropoff information.
— Shelter —
Abby’s House, abbyshouse.org
52 High Street, Worcester, MA 01609, 508-756-5486
Abby’s House opened in 1976 as one of the first overnight emergency shelters for women in the U.S. It provides shelter, support services, and affordable housing to homeless, battered women and also women with low incomes, with or without children.
Habitat for Humanity—North Central Massachusetts, ncmhabitat.org
201 Great Rd, Suite #301, Acton, MA 01720
In 2024, Habitat NCM will build homes in Fitchburg and Leominster and complete more than 25 critical home repairs in the area. Home repairs allow our neighbors to stay safe and secure in their existing affordable homes, and new homes can break the cycle of poverty for hard-working families. Checks should be made payable to Habitat for Humanity NCM.
Lowell Transitional Living Center, ltlc.org
193 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA 01852, 978-458-9888
Lowell Transitional Living Center is a client-centered emergency shelter for homeless adults, providing shelter, showers, laundry, and meals, as well as case managers to help guests transition from homelessness to housing. In addition to monetary donations, the center has a wish list of items needed, including those urgently needed. See the website for dropoff information.
Transitions at Devens, mocinc.org
601 River Street, Fitchburg 01420, 978-345-7040
Transitions at Devens provides transitional housing shelters for families headed by single mothers. The facility provides meals, shelter, housing search assistance, and advocacy services. Transitions is operated by Making Opportunity Count (MOC), and monetary donations can be made there. Donations of items such as used clothing in good condition, diapers and wipes, new bath towels, shower curtains, hygiene products, and kid’s packaged snacks can be made by contacting Jennifer Cail at jcail@mocinc.org.
— Community —
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, lbgc.org
657 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA 01851, 978-458-4526
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell’s vision is to end generational poverty in Lowell by inspiring young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. To that end, the club provides youth members with academic help, sports and recreational programs, meals, and opportunities to volunteer in their communities.
Fresh Start Furniture Bank, freshstartfurniturebank.org
16 Brent Drive, Hudson, MA 01749, 508-485-2080
Fresh Start Furniture Bank is a volunteer-run charity that recycles donated furniture and housewares, for free, to individuals and families in transition who are trying to rebuild their lives. The furniture bank’s secondary goal is to keep these items out of the waste stream. Clients obtain a referral from a social service agency and then work with a personal shopper to select the items they need to furnish their households. Donations of funds, furniture, and home goods are accepted.
The Great Exchange, tgedevens.com
33 Andrews Parkway, Devens, 508-878-1728
Great Exchange accepts donations of office furniture and supplies. Anyone who wants to donate office resources or needs more information should contact Dona Neely at donaneely@tgedevens.com.
Household Goods Inc., householdgoods.org
530 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720, 978-635-1710
Household Goods provides household goods, free of charge, to people in need. It accepts monetary donations and donations of gently used household items that will help people make a home. The organization accepts donations of goods Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, without an appointment. It also accepts donations of money and volunteer time.
Salvation Army, easternusa.salvationarmy.org/massachusetts
25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021, 800-SAL-ARMY
The Salvation Army runs programs that feed hungry families, provide Christmas presents for needy children, and heat the homes of struggling seniors. It runs nearly 1,400 thrift stores, including stores in Fitchburg and Worcester. It operates in-residence adult rehabilitation centers across the country, runs youth camps, and provides disaster relief support. The website and address provided accept donations for the benefit of Massachusetts-based Salvation Army operations.
WHEAT Community Services, uwotc.org/wheat
P.O. Box 847, Clinton, MA 01510, 508-370-4943
Since 1982, WHEAT Community Services has served low-to-moderate income residents of Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster, and Sterling by providing critical services during times of need. Services include a food pantry, weekly homemade meals, school supplies and toys, and case management to help meet clients’ health and human service needs.
The Wish Project, thewishproject.org
P.O. Box 8693, Lowell, MA 01853, 866-947-4360
The Wish Project partners with agencies in Lowell and across the Merrimack Valley to help families in need establish long-term residency by providing furniture, household goods, and clothing. It also provides critical immediate assistance to homeless families and victims of fire or disaster. It accepts donations of furniture, clothes, and money.
— Pets —
Pat Brody Shelter for Cats, catsontheweb.org
499 Northfield Road, Lunenburg, MA 01462, 978-582-6116
The shelter is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, sheltering, and adoption of stray and abandoned cats. It accepts donations of money and goods as listed on the website’s wish list.
Buddy Dog Humane Society, buddydoghs.com
151 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, 978-443-6990
The goal of this nonprofit society is to find responsible, permanent homes for homeless dogs and cats. Besides monetary donations, Buddy Dog accepts donations of unexpired, unopened dog and cat food and other items on their wish list; drop items off during business hours.
Great Dog Rescue New England, info@gdrne.com
Woburn, MA
In addition to its primary goal of helping homeless dogs find homes, this nonprofit group supports clinics that spay and neuter pets to help solve overpopulation, helps local schools educate about animal rescue and responsible pet ownership, and sends dogs to agencies for training to assist the physically disabled and hearing impaired. Great Dog is a shelterless organization; dogs live in private foster homes until adopted. Photos and information about adoptable dogs as well as adoption applications are available on the website.
Sterling Animal Shelter, sterlingshelter.org
17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling, MA 01564, 978-422-8585
This no-kill shelter seeks to find homes for cats and dogs and provides medical care for stray, abused, and neglected animals. Adoptees are vet-checked, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. The shelter also offers low-cost spay, neuter, and vaccine clinics for animals in the community. Appointments are required during the week, but the shelter is open to potential adopters, without appointment, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
— Arts and Culture —
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, freedomsway.org
94 Jackson Road, Suite 311, Devens, MA 01434, 978-772-3654
The association works to preserve, promote, and protect our cultural, historical, and natural resources and the ideas of American freedom, democracy, conservation, and social justice.
Groton Hill Music Center, grotonhill.org
122 Old Ayer Road, Groton, MA 01450, 978-486-9524
Groton Hill Music Center encompasses performance halls, a music school, and outreach and education programs, providing opportunities for all ages to connect through music. Donations help support instrument lessons for over 1,000 students in Fitchburg, Clinton, Lowell, and Lawrence schools, scholarships for Groton Hill students experiencing financial hardship, and free daytime concerts for families and seniors.
Icon Museum and Study Center, www.iconmuseum.org/
203 Union Street, Clinton, MA 01510, 978-598-5000
Enhancing relations between Russia and the United States through art, the museum houses more than 1,000 Russian icons, artifacts, and paintings. It is the largest collection of its kind in North America.
— Environment —
Nashua River Watershed Association, nashuariverwatershed.org
592 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450, 978-448-0299
The Nashua River Watershed Association’s goals include restoring and protecting water quality for people, fish, and wildlife; conserving open spaces for water quality, wildlife habitat, farms, forests, and recreation; and encouraging careful land use with well-planned development.
Sudbury Valley Trustees, svtweb.org
18 Wolbach Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, 978-443-5588
Sudbury Valley Trustees works to protect natural areas and farmland in the 36 communities that surround the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers. Most recently, the Sudbury Valley Trustees partnered with the Harvard Conservation Trust and other groups in protecting the Community Harvest property on Prospect Hill as agricultural land.
