Homeless for the Holidays

EASE

Economic Assistance & Social Empowerment Center, Inc.

Christmas Day2010

Donations this year exceeded all of our

expectations.

Photo courtesy of Art Illman

Coats and sweaters passed along to those who need them from so many people who care.

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Photo courtesy of Art Illman

Chapsticks, skin creams, gift cards.

Socks, gloves, hats

Photo courtesy of Art Illman

Photo courtesy of Art Illman

Dave Levinson involved his daughters in making these notes and writing these messages of kindness.

Dave Harrison had the great idea of encouraging his children to embrace caring for homeless people as their scout project.

By doing this they are teaching future generations to care.

Office of Court Interpreter Services staff bring warmth, color and joy.

Shoes

Photo courtesy of Art Illman

Among the many things donated by Framingham Police Detective Macaudde was this blanket knit by her nana specifically for the homeless.

One sock at a time, so many people behind them

Gift cards purchased with your contributions and donated by loyal friends.

These are not just cards, they give the dignity of being able to walk into a store and buy your own food.

Loyal friends like Brigit Gassner, Dave Levinson and Heather Pelletier, among others, continue to make this happen.

One of Lisa Spaddy’s many trips bringing donations from Framingham Juvenile Court.

Lisa with her own donated bags of goods

We continue bribing Lisa with cake because without her we would be lost.

Taking stock of what we have.

So many people to thank.

Elaine Leverone from the

Framingham clerk’s office bringing more

donations

From four years ago until today, we have grown a lot.

Working day and night to pull things together

Donations from Judges Garringer and Stoddard, Lydia, Bert, Belle, the Harrises, Marie and her church, Toni and her church and so many others.

Belle Solloway

brought 75 sandwiches

that she and her children

made.

Y Each one individually labeled

The last of the donations come in with Alcione’s soup.

Exhausted, but happy that we can make it one

more time, thanks to you.

Photo courtesy of Art Illman

We begin to assemble the “care packages.”

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Volunteers become a family affair.

We receive help from Belinda’s mother and sister, who also collected donations from their friends.

Our two new angels for the team

Adding final touches

Each bag contains sandwiches, cheese, beef jerky, crackers, cookies…

…lip balm for broken lips, a treasure from Ann, Vietnamese

interpreter …

…hand and foot warmers to survive, holiday cakes to warm the heart…

And a message

We boiled water for soup, oatmeal and hot cocoa.

things And loaded the van with all the items people donated.

It took all afternoon. When we finished, the van was so full…

we barely fit inside ourselves.

Ready to go

Then we headed to Boston

Christmas lights were shining brightly in downtown Boston,

But the streets were deserted.

But if you look a little more closely

Where only a flashlight can reach

Behind the designer stores…

Living among the trash and the rats…

you’ll find another world out there.

We had to make sure people were prepared for the blizzard that was coming in a few hours.

Getting stopped by so many,desperate for hot soup and food.

The importance of taking a few moments to talk, to laugh, to celebrate the holidays.

Not far from the glow of the City’s Christmas trees…

Men lay asleep out on the open sidewalk, yet invisible to the world.

Many had no idea that a blizzard was coming. They were completely unprepared.

Your donations likely saved the lives of many

this Christmas.

Other people knew what was coming but felt they had no other option.

We tried to make sure they were as safe as possible.

This Christmas, thanks to your support, we found 51 people living on the streets.

According to the City of Boston, there are 168 more we did not meet.

Trying on her new shoes

People were grateful for the blankets, clothing and gift cards they received.

They settled in for the night a little bit warmer and a little less hungry.

If you ever wonder if things you do make a difference…

…know that on this night, on these streets, for these men and women…

You have made a genuine difference.

A dream project that started four years ago has become a non-profit called EASE.

This is just the beginning of so much more to come, as long as you stand by us.

A dream project that started four years ago has become a non-profit called EASE.

This is just the beginning of so much more to come, as long as you stand by us.

A dream project that started four years ago has become a non-profit called EASE.

This is just the beginning of so much more to come, as long as you stand by us.

So many people contributed blankets, coats, clothing, food, gift cards and money to this effort .

Without each and every one of you, this would not have been possible.

So many people contributed blankets, coats, clothing, food, gift cards and money to this effort .

Without each and every one of you, this would not have been possible one more year.

So many people contributed blankets, coats, clothing, food, gift cards and money to this effort .

Without each and every one of you, this would not have been possible one more year.

A lot of you have told us that you chose to give to this effort because you feel like you are part of the project and you know exactly where your donations go.

And that your contributions make a difference.

A lot of you have told us that you chose to give to this effort because you feel like you are part of the project and you know exactly where your donations go.

And that your contributions make a difference.

A lot of you have told us that you chose to give to this effort because you feel like you are part of the project and you know exactly where your donations go.

And that your contributions make a difference.

We started this non profit because we wanted to be a hands-on organization with direct contact, and we have managed to do that, thanks to you.

So you can always know that whatever you contribute is going to where you want it to go. That is very important to us.

We started this non profit because we wanted to be a hands-on organization with direct contact, and we have managed to do that, thanks to you.

So you can always know that whatever you contribute is going to go where you want it to go. That is very important to us.

We started this non profit because we wanted to be a hands-on organization with direct contact, and we have managed to do that, thanks to you.

So you can always know that whatever you contribute is going to go where you want it to go. That is very important to us.

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

All of the wonderful, generous people from every single department at Framingham District Court, Framingham Juvenile Court, Natick District Court, Waltham District Court and Marlborough District Court

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

All of the attorneys, interpreters and their friends and families.

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Office of Court Interpreter ServicesAdvocates, Inc.Forsythe InstituteNew Generation Christ ChurchPfizer

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Art Illman and Julie Spitz of the MetroWest Daily News.

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

Thanks again to all who contributed to this year’s Homeless for the Holidays project:

And all of our friends, neighbors and family.

Song:

“Stand By Me”Playing for Change

Our hope is that EASE will continue to grow and expand.

Without you this will not be possible…

EASEEconomic Assistance & Social Empowerment Center,

Inc.

Our hope is that EASE will continue to

EASEEconomic Assistance & Social Empowerment

Center, Inc.

Thank you. Gracias. शु�क्री�या�. Toda. Grazie. Obrigado. Merci. Cám ơn. Asante.

Благодаря. Dziękuję. Go raibh maith agat. Danke. سالم

Agradisiyki.

info@EASECenter.org

EASEEconomic Assistance & Social Empowerment Center,

Inc.