As people turn their 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 the community. Many of them originate in Harvard; a number of them also serve a wider area that includes Harvard. Some are organized as not-for-profit, some as nonprofit. Questions about tax deductibility should be addressed to each organization.
Buddy Dog Humane Society, Inc.
151 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
978-443-6990
www.buddydoghs.com
Founded in 1961, Buddy Dog is a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to finding new homes for dogs and cats. The goal of Buddy Dog is to find responsible and permanent homes for all the animals in its care. For a list of animals awaiting adoption or for more information, visit the website.
Cleghorn Neighborhood Center
2-18 Fairmount St., Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-342-2069
The vision of the center is to build strong neighborhoods in Fitchburg, with an emphasis on the Cleghorn neighborhood, and to strengthen the Latino and Latino immigrant community in Fitchburg. The center accomplishes its mission through youth development programs, free continuing education for adults, family services, youth and adult leadership training, and civic engagement initiatives, such as voter registration, community cleanups, and more.
Dharma Harvest
204 Bolton Road, Harvard, MA 01451
978-502-8290
www.dharmaharvest.org
Dharma Harvest, a nonprofit, works to empower youth and communities to work together in attaining a healthier lifestyle and to achieve social change. Among its offerings are: educational gardens for self-guided exploration, learning gardens with hands-on cultivation, farm tours highlighting interconnected systems, classes, conferences, workshops, and more. For more information contact Sarah Tracey at 978-502-8290 or stracey@dharmaharvest.org.
The Food Project
10 Lewis St., Lincoln, MA 01773
781-259-8621
www.thefoodproject.org
The Food Project, a nonprofit, is a launching pad for new ideas about youth and adults who are collaborating to create social change through sustainable agriculture. The goal of the organization is sustainable, local food systems that bridge race, class, age, and more, to ensure food security for all.
For Art’s Sake
P.O. Box 116, Still River, MA 01467
www.forartssake-harvard.org
For Art’s Sake is a nonprofit community art association dedicated to encouraging imaginative and creative thinking in children and adults, while involving people in the process and appreciation of the visual, literary, and performing arts. The For Art’s Sake Community Association offers exhibitions, workshops, readings, performances, and a directory connecting artists with residents to explore artistic expression. For more information send e-mail to pccochrane@gmail.com, besshaire@charter.net or melissayahia@gmail.com.
Friends of the Council on Aging
P.O. Box 474, Harvard 01451
The Friends of the COA has a mission to support senior services in Harvard. Funds from the Friends help cover some hours for the Council on Aging’s outreach coordinator and support special refurbishment projects at Hildreth House. The Friends also pays for the printing and mailing of the COA newsletter.
Friends of the Harvard Public Library
P.O. Box 506, Harvard, MA 01451
The purpose of this organization is to stimulate community interest in the services and needs of the Harvard Public Library, to provide a program of assistance through volunteer help, and to sponsor programs that enable the library to keep pace with the growth of Harvard.
Fruitlands Museum
102 Prospect Hill Road
Harvard, MA 01451
978-456-3924
www.fruitlands.org
This nonprofit museum features the first Shaker museum in the world and has the largest archive of Harvard Shaker documents in the world. It also features a small collection of North American Indian ethnographic materials, and an art gallery that contains 100 Hudson River School landscape paintings and more than 230 19th-century vernacular portraits. For information about sponsorships, making a pledge or gift, or making a donation, contact Chief Executive Officer Tim Firment at 978-456-3924, ext. 237.
Great Dog Rescue New England
www.gdrne.com
GDRNE is a nonprofit, shelterless, all-breed animal rescue group. Its dogs live in private foster homes until adopted; volunteers work from their homes. The organization also donates money to spay and neuter clinics in the South to help solve the problem of pet overpopulation; engages in community outreach activities with local schools to help educate about animal rescue, responsible pet ownership, and proper pet care; adopts dogs to agencies that train them to assist physically disabled and hearing-impaired people.
Growing Places Garden Project, Inc.
P. O. Box 17, Clinton, MA 01510
978-598-3723
www.growingplaces.org
Harvard residents Cindy Buhner and Kate Deyst created the Growing Places Garden Project in 2001 with a mission to enhance food security for people with limited economic means. For the past six years GPGP has donated raised vegetable gardens to clients and helped them grow, harvest, use, and store their fresh produce. The GPGP serves several towns in the area, including Harvard.
Harvard Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 31, Harvard, MA 01451
www.harvardtrust.org
The Conservation Trust is dedicated to the preservation of Harvard’s unique character and valuable resources, and seeks to preserve Harvard’s rural and agricultural character. The Trust’s top priority is protecting town land from unwanted development so that open space can be preserved for future generations.
Harvard Farmers’ Market
P.O. Box 307 Harvard, MA 01451
www.harvardfarmersmarket.org
The Harvard Farmers’ Market is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2007 to provide locally grown and produced foods to the Harvard community. Its mission is to educate consumers about their food and who grows it, and to bring the community together in a celebration of farmers and food. The season runs from mid-August to the end of October. All donations go to promoting and expanding the market.
The Harvard Schools Trust
P.O. Box 450, Harvard, 01451
www.harvardschoolstrust.org
The Harvard Schools Trust raises funds and fulfills grant requests for curriculum enhancement, extra-curricular experiences, special equipment, and staff development, none of which would be possible within the regular school budget. Since its formation in 1989, the Trust has awarded over $450,000 to the elementary school and Bromfield. The Trust is governed by a 15-member board of directors made up of parents and community leaders. The Trust’s website includes a list of funded grants.
Loaves & Fishes
P.O. Box 1, Ayer, MA 01432
978-772-4627
www.devenspantry.org
Loaves & Fishes serves residnets of Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley by providing food, emergency shelter, resource referral, other temporary services, and by advocating for changes by its clients that will promote independence and self-reliance.
The Museum of Russian Icons
203 Union St., Clinton, MA 01510
978-598-5000
www.museumofrussianicons.org
The museum is a nonprofit educational museum featuring a collection of more than 300 icons from the 15th to the late 20th century. The museum supports education through a noncirculating research library, which includes written materials as well as audio and video resources (available by appointment). It can meet many student curriculum standards through its alignment with the Massachusetts visual arts, history and social science, and English language arts curriculum frameworks.
Nashua River Watershed Association
592 Main St., Groton, MA 01450
978-448-0299
www.nashuariverwatershed.org
Founded in 1969, the Nashua River Watershed Association’s mission is to work for a healthy ecosystem with clean water and open spaces for human and wildlife communities. In addition, 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.
Our Father’s House
P.O. Box 7251, Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-345-3050
Our Father’s House provides emergency and transitional housing to homeless men and women in three shelters in Fitchburg. Incorporated in 1983, the shelters provide meals, shelter, housing search, and advocacy services. Rooted in Judeo-Christian values emphasizing the dignity of the individual, its programs encourage and assist each guest to become self-sufficient.
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden
P.O. Box 145, Harvard, 01451
978-456-3532
www.healinggarden.net
Incorporated in 2000, the Healing Garden is an educational nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a healing environment for women with breast cancer. Complementary therapies to standard medical care, psychosocial support, educational programs, and access to nature are provided as part of the Garden’s mission to offer women a way to regain control of their health. Services are offered regardless of a woman’s ability to pay.
Volunteer Humane Society
505 Center Bridge Road, Lancaster, MA 01523
978-365-9470
www.volunteerhumanesoc.org
This is a 32-year-old, no-kill, cat-only shelter. The shelter can accommodate 30 to 40 cats at any time; all are vet checked and vaccinated. The shelter is open to the public three days a week, but is staffed every day. Its mission is to find responsible and permanent homes for all the animals in its care, and to promote the spaying and neutering of cats.
Wild Apples, Inc.
P.O. Box 171, Harvard, MA 01451
www.wildapples.org
Wild Apples, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose primary activity is the publication of Wild Apples: a journal of nature, art, and inquiry. The journal brings together the works of artists, writers, and photographers who demonstrate a commitment to the arts and the way they shape our world. The organization also engages in outreach activities, such as art and poetry workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, prisons, and museums.
Is there an organization that should be listed here next year? Send a write-up of no more than 90 words to editor@harvardpress.com.