by the staff of the Harvard Press ·
Friday, November 29, 2024
GivingTuesday is just around the corner, Dec. 3. 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.
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HARVARD AND DEVENS ORGANIZATIONS
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. Donations through the Clear Path website support several of the group’s efforts on behalf of veterans and their families, including sponsoring a service dog.
Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Fund
13 Ayer Road, Harvard, 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. Checks can be made out to the fund and sent to EDTA, Town of Harvard, 13 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA 01451.
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 on the Common, Fivesparks provides space for dance, movement, art, and other classes for all ages and for individuals or town groups to hold community events. It sponsors regional art exhibitions and talks by local authors. Donations help expand programming and improve the interior of the old library building that houses the organization. Donations can be made through the website.
Friends of the Harvard Council on Aging, fhcoa.wordpress.com/fund-raising
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 (The Trustees of Reservations), fruitlands.org
102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, 978-456-3924
Fruitlands Museum was founded by Clara Endicott Sears and houses her extensive collections. It 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 features rotating exhibits. It has a variety of walking trails. Mail donations directly to Fruitlands Museum, to the attention of Michael Busack, director.
Friends of the Harvard Public Library, 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. Anyone making a donation becomes a member and will have 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 1,200 acres in Harvard.
Harvard Historical Society, harvardhistory.org
P.O. Box 542, Harvard; harvardhistory.org
The Harvard Historical Society maintains a historical building at 215 Sill River Road and promotes interest in Harvard’s past by operating a small museum and presenting free programs of historical interest to the public.
Harvard Lions Club, 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, Fourth of July, and Fall Fest; and service projects, including renovating Bromfield House for Afghan refugees. 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 most recently participated in collecting and transporting needed supplies to Hurricane Helen-ravaged areas of North Carolina.
Harvard Schools Trust, harvardschoolstrust.org
P.O. Box 450, Harvard; harvardschoolstrust.org
The Harvard Schools Trust provides educational enrichment and supplemental support to the Harvard Public Schools, beyond what is possible through the regular school budget. An independent membership organization working in cooperation with the schools, the trust funds grants that promote curriculum enhancement, provide extracurricular experiences, purchase special equipment, and further staff development. Founded in 1989, the trust has funded hundreds of grants requested by teachers, parents, and students.
Sowa Goat Sanctuary, sowagoatsanctuary.com
184 Old Littleton Road, Harvard
This nonprofit sanctuary provides a lifelong home for abused, abandoned, and unwanted goats and is also home to rescued farm animals, including chickens, turkeys, pigs, and sheep. In addition to funds, donations of time spent helping at the sanctuary are also welcome. Monthly donations are especially appreciated, in any amount, and are most easily received through Patreon, DonorBox, or PayPal; see the website for details.
The 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. The Healing Garden saw a 132% increase in clients for fiscal year 2024, and 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 easier. 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 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.
Growing Places Garden Project, growingplaces.org
325 Lindell Avenue, Leominster 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 farmers markets 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 01432, 978-772-4627
Loaves & Fishes distributes food to people in need who live in Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley. Since the summer of 2023, the organization has seen a 35% increase in clients. It welcomes donations of food and personal care items as well as monetary donations. See the website for food drop-off times.
Worcester County Food Bank, foodbank.org
474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury 01545, 508-842-3663
Worcester County Food Bank is the region’s leading anti-hunger organization. With the help of 108 partner agencies, it distributed 9 million pounds of food to 138,000 residents of Worcester County last year. The organization accepts monetary donations as well as food; see the website for food drop-off information.
—— Shelter ——
Abby’s House, abbyshouse.org
52 High Street, Worcester 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. The shelter accepts monetary donations as well as donations of items from an online needs list with Amazon links.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, ncmhabitat.org
3 Park St., Suite #203, Leominster 01453
Habitat NCM serves 30 towns, building homes and making critical repairs. Home repairs allow people to stay safe and secure in their existing affordable homes, and new homes can break the cycle of poverty for hard-working families. Habitat NCM is currently accepting applications for homes it is building in Ayer. Checks should be made payable to Habitat for Humanity NCM.
Making Opportunity Count: 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 on the MOC website.
—— Community ——
Fresh Start Furniture Bank, freshstartfurniturebank.org
16 Brent Drive, Hudson 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.
Household Goods, Inc., householdgoods.org
530 Main Street, Acton 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. (See their website for guidelines.) 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.
The Great Exchange, tgedevens.com
33 Andrews Parkway, Devens, 508-878-1728
The 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.
—— Pets ——
Buddy Dog Humane Society, buddydoghs.com
151 Boston Post Road, Sudbury 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 website wish list; to drop off items, ring the bell between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Great Dog Rescue New England, gdrne.com
Woburn, MA; info@gdrne.com
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 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. 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 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 01450
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, iconmuseum.org
203 Union Street, Clinton 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 with galleries spanning three floors.
—— Environment ——
Nashua River Watershed Association, nashuariverwatershed.org
592 Main Street, Groton 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 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 Eastern Greenway-North as part of the High Ridge Initiative.