Category Archives: News from GiftsToGive

Rising Tide Students Reflect a Bright and Shining Light!

  News from GiftsToGive, Youth Philanthropy

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When people ask us why we do the work we do. We talk about the children we meet every day.

Today we met teens from the Rising Tide School in Plymouth. They sorted through a ton of children’s clothes and enabled us to help dozens of  local children who don’t have warm clothing.

Rather than us talking, we wanted you to hear what student Anna Smith had to say:

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Inspiration from a ten year-old! (Really)

  Community, News from GiftsToGive, Youth Philanthropy

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We could tell the story, but it is much better coming from a Mom!

“Leah volunteered in December at the GiftsToGive Philanthropy Factory. While we were there, she learned that they were in need of new soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, children’s under garments and children’s toothbrushes. When Leah heard this she knew she wanted to help.

It hit close to her heart since her family is very involved in sports. Sports equipment is all over her house, she wanted every kid to be able to have a ball.

Leah turned 10 on February 18th and for her sleepover, she asked that everyone bring items for GiftsToGive in lieu of gifts. She was very excited to see the amount of balls that everyone donated!”

 

 

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• Stories – Youth Philanthropy

  • The power of one multiplied by three!

    We talk a lot, about the power of one. Today we are talking about the power of three; Alexia, Kelvin and Victoria.

    On the first Saturday in April, it was blustery, rainy and promised snow! Saturdays are a busy day for us, there are usually over one-hundred student volunteers at the factory helping us inspect, process and organize tons of donations. In the middle of what we like to think of as controlled chaos, in come Alexia, Kelvin and Victoria with a ton of their own donations. They had collected all this wonderful stuff for local children in-need as a part of their SKILLS USA competition at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School.

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  • Grace and Maxwell Help 11 Kids!

    

    Grace and Max

    Grace attends the Betsy B. Winslow Elementary School.  She cleaned out her closets, attic and garage and encouraged her brother Max to do the same.  

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  • Birthday Boys: Brothers and Bright and Shining Lights!

    In walk four year-old Tobias and six year-old Galen, with dozens of brand new toys and books to donate. They told us a remarkable story, that their parents  had helped them celebrate their respective birthdays; Tobias with a swim party and Galen with a football party. They asked their friends to bring an unwrapped present for GiftsToGive to help local children who were not as fortunate and would not get a birthday present!

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  • Student Nathan Turner – Outstanding Volunteer Acknowledgement

    

    Nathan Turner receives the Gold Presidential Service Award

    Nathan Turner is not your average young man. Nathan was acknowledged by President Obama for the President’s, Gold Volunteer Service Award.

    Nathan has completed over 3,000 hours of volunteer community service. We’re so proud of Nathan. Nathan is a Junior at New Bedford High School and has been volunteering with us since he was in the 6th grade at the Roosevelt Middle School.

    Jim Stevens, CEO and Founder of GiftsToGive said “ Nathan inspires us to do more and to be better. He is truly a bright and shining light and a most perfect example of giving and service. When we talk about young people making a difference, we talk about Nathan Turner!”

    The New Bedford City Council honored Nathan on January 22 (See video below)

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  • Dartmouth Middle School Students Blow the Roof Off Book Donations

    

    Librarian Laura Gardner and the Young Philanthropists

    Dartmouth Middle School thought they’d collected a lot of books for GiftsToGive in 2010 when they collected over 3,200 gently used books for kids and teens in one week. 

    Then they smashed that record in 2011 by collecting over 6,000 gently used books.

    Now DMS students have smashed that record once again by donating 7,154 books! 

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  • 10 Year-Old Birthday Star Elizabeth

    

    Elizabeth and her friends helped girls they did not know have happier Birthdays!

    When we talk about special children, we talk about Elizabeth!

    Ten year-old Elizabeth celebrated her birthday in a most amazing way!

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  • Student Intern SHOOTS FOR THE MOON!

    

    Student Intern, Molly

    * UPDATE
    

    Molly’s quest to collect 1,000 gently used sports balls has hit snag after snag, then last week something positive happened.

    The back story – Initially Molly went to the Bruins and asked for help in the form of a player coming to New Bedford and she and her hockey team would host a skating event. The Bruins could not send a player but did offer some of their surplus equipment – so that is working itself through. Then Molly went to the Celtics for help and they also could not send a player down to New Bedford. (You can see Molly’s letters to them below).

    The positive thing that happened last week came in the form of Boston University and FYSOP! Sixty-eight incoming BU freshmen spent two days at the mill helping us process clothes (we were at the critical process place of swapping out summer clothes for winter clothes and getting ready for back to school.) See that story here.

    Last week we received an email from Anthony Moccia asking to be connected to Molly. Who is Anthony Moccia you ask? Anthony is a senior at BU and was one of the chaperones for the the visiting BU freshmen. Here is Antony’s email –

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  • Listening to Hunter

    We just spent two days with students from the Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

    It’s become an annual two day field trip and what’s the best for us is that we get to see students grow – not only in size and maturity but in their coming of age and increased connectiveness to giving and service. Photos from their service days are here.

    Rather than explain more – we’d like to share what student Hunter Corbett had to say – ” Our annual Rocky Hill sophomore trip to GiftsToGive is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year. The upperclassmen fondly remember their excursion, and this year’s trip did not fail to live up to our high expectations. I think everyone in my class left with a desire to do more to help people. I know I am definitely going back to GiftsToGive to volunteer again in my free time.

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  • Bishop Stang Fresmen Class – Connecting to Giving and Service

    One of our annual traditions, is meeting the entire Bishop Stang Freshmen class at the factory.

    Photo archive HERE. (This year’s photos are a gift from students; Amelia Bailey and Emily Iovanna)

    We could talk all day, about what is right about young people, but we prefer they talk for themselves.

    Thank you to student Veronica Bernier for the following essay:

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  • DeMello Elementary School – Student Council – A Force for Good!

    

    Joesph DeMello Elementary School
    4th and 5th grade Student Council

    On Monday, 70 members of Dartmouth’s Joseph DeMello School’s Student Council performed an afternoon of service..

    The group of 4th and 5th graders, who have held donation drives to benefit some of the 35,000 local children living in poverty, volunteered their time inspecting, sorting and processing a zillion pounds of donated clothing and toys. They also experienced the power of giving and service in the most tangible ways!

    When asked about her time at Gifts to Give, 5th grader Mia Paynton said – “I really enjoyed helping out today. I want to bring my sister and mom back to volunteer this summer. It is so important to help others.”

    Photos from our day are here.

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  • Logan sets a most perfect example for all of us!

    CEO Blog
    Acushnet, Massachusetts

    In the middle of a very hectic day, in walks Logan. Logan is 5 years-old. He was on a mission and needed to talk to someone in charge.

    Luckily (for me), I was on duty and I received a huge dose of inspiration!

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  • Never ever, under-estimate the power of Brownies!

    

    Brownie Power!

    During their community service visit, Brownie Troop 80172 was upset when they heard how about how many local kids did not have basic essentials!

    They made a plan to raise money and purchase new items. Brownies from Freetown and Lakeville raised enough money to purchase new socks, underwear and art supplies to help over 123 local kids in-need.

    How absolutely amazing is this?

    When people talk to us about the problem with kids today, we smile, shake our heads and tell them about the 80172 Troopers. Talk about bright and shining lights!

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• News from GiftsToGive

  • We are in awe of the generosity of our neighbors!

    UPDATE: September 3, 2015 Unbelievable! Seriously unbelievable! Actually amazing! We filled an extra 1,127 backpacks with school supplies specifically because of the generosity of some wonderful Read More »

  • Our new street sign is operational

    May 8, 2018 Read More »

  • We’re moving and we need your financial help now!

    Our lease is up!  When our building was sold two years ago, our rent was tripled! Now it gets even better – we learn from the Read More »