January 15, 2024 newsletter

 

Good morning friends. On this beautiful day dedicated to the memory of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and social justice, I have so much good stuff to share with you all, but unfortunately I have to start out on a sad note. We lost a dear member of our beloved community last week, one whose story you are already familiar with. Steve, a sweet and gentle soul, who rebuilt bicycles for people in need of transportation, has gone home. Steve was responsible for dozens upon dozens of bikes getting into the hands of people who needed them most, at no cost to them. I shared a story with you a while back about a young homeless man in the Fitchburg area who received one of Steve's bikes and was then able to get a job and move out of his tent and into a shelter, with plans to move on from there as soon as he was able. Steve will be missed by all of us, especially at our Friday evening dinners. His generosity has created a local legacy that we will not soon forget.


I have a lot of other things to share with you, so I'm going to list off everything that's been happening and that's coming up so that you can add anything of interest to your calendars:

A dedicated crew from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church took over the potluck on Friday! They came with delicious meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, and more desserts than anyone has a right to expect. Some new friends were made, and we look forward to having them join us anytime. You all know that you're invited too, right? There are no restrictions on who can come on Friday night! (Just contact me if you plan to bring any food, and know that no one is required to bring anything.)

Debbie E led a fun Craft Gathering on Saturday morning. Rain and wind? Who cares! It was warm and dry inside. They worked on cards and table decorations for our dinners :-) There's a picture attached.

Our First Aid Workshop is this Thursday, January 18, from 4:30 to 5:30. The Nashoba Nurses are teaming up with the Ayer Fire Department to offer this special event, and all are welcome. There is no cost (of course!), and it will be appropriate for all ages. This is information that everyone needs to know, and there is plenty of room. No, you will NOT be taking a spot from someone else! The flyer is attached.

The Town of Ayer has a Rental Assistance Program that is open for enrollment, applications due by February 15. Please share this info with anyone you know who lives in or is moving to Ayer, that might benefit from it. I wish it was open to more than just Ayer, but there are similar programs in some other towns. If your town has one, please feel free to send me the info and I'll link it here: https://www.ayer.ma.us/RentalAssist

If you can shop for us this week, our stock of several items is low. We are especially in need of the following items: small boxes of instant potatoes, canned tuna, low-sodium soups, canned beans (any variety except for green), canned pasta like spaghettios, low-sugar baked beans, and canned chicken. We'll be at the pantry on Wednesday from 10 to noon, Friday from 4 to 5:30, and Saturday from 9 to noon for drop-offs. And the bin is always available at Shop n' Save if those times don't suit. Please leave a note in the bag with your name so we know whom to thank!

Thank you for all of your help, and I hope to see many of you on Thursday!