October 28, 2022 | Volunteering
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Greetings, Volunteers!
We have been a bit inconsistent sending out our monthly newsletter and for that we apologize - our volunteer program will continue to be an option, and we've got several great opportunities coming up next week!
We are actively seeking new volunteer partners --- are you or anyone you know involved with an organization that would be interested in hosting GTG participants to volunteer in exchange for free composting service? Let us know!
To sign up for an event this month and receive a month of free Garbage to Garden service, RSVP by email and we will help answer any questions you may have. Then simply send confirmation of your volunteer hours to volunteer@garbagetogarden.org to receive credit.
Happy Composting,
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Medford Pumpkin Smash
Saturday November 5th, 10:30am-12:30pm
West Medford Community Center
111 Arlington St, Medford (accessible from Mystic River Road)
Join us to break down pumpkins to become compost! Every Halloween, millions of pumpkins and gourds are set on doorsteps across America and then hauled away to landfills where they decompose and release methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere. Help bring Halloween to a sustainable conclusion by turning pumpkins into healthy soil!
Don’t have a pumpkin? Extras will be available for everyone to join in the fun. Can’t stay but want to compost your pumpkins? Drop them off with us! Please remove paint, candles, and decorations.
Organized by the Mothers Out Front- Healthy Soil Livable Future Action Group and Medford members. Co-hosted by the West Medford Community Center and supported by Garbage to Garden.
Volunteer opportunities include helping with pumpkin smashing and/or compost education activities day of, or sign making week prior.
Please email us here to sign up!
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Somerville Winter Farmers Market
The Center for the Arts at the Armory is excited to announce that the Somerville Winter Farmers Market is coming back for its 13th season! This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and chocolate.
This season, the market will continue with indoor and live in-person shopping. There will be live music provided by local musicians, along with a cozy seating area in our ROOTED cafe. We are looking for five volunteers each week to help foster a welcoming market environment and ensure all the details run smoothly. We are especially looking for volunteers to bring donated produce to the Somerville Community Fridges!
The market will take place:
Saturdays, November 5 - April 8
9:30am-1:30pm
*There will be no market on November 26, December 24, or 31st.*
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Mass Audubon
At Mass Audubon, they believe that every person can make a positive impact on protecting the nature of Massachusetts. Projects are generally related to invasive plant removal, trail monitoring, wildlife monitoring, and seasonal property clean ups.
25th Annual HIP Fall Trails Day at Mass Audubon Habitat
November 6th, 12-2pm
Give back this fall by volunteering to help maintain Habitat's healthy ecosystem. Work alongside Habitat staff and leaders from our Habitat Intergenerational Program (HIP) to update trails, clean-up the community garden, remove invasive plants, and more.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate. 14 and under with an adult. Please bring work gloves if you have them. No registration required. Parking is limited so carpooling or drop off is encouraged: 10 Juniper Road, Belmont MA 02478
Mass Audubon hosts volunteers for ongoing opportunities in Belmont weekly on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays: 10am - 12pm
Please email in advance to confirm availability.
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Mystic River Watershed Association
Invasive Plant Removal: Riverbend Park Cleanup
November 12th, 9am-11am
Focusing on Medford's Riverbend Park, this land-based stewardship activity tackles bittersweet, an invasive vine that can kill trees, impairs habitat value, and degrades park aesthetics. Gloves and clippers will be provided.
*Pre-registration required - sign up here.
Visual Trash Assessments
Help us get a big picture of the trash problem in our watershed by performing a visual assessment of litter on the street! Currently, we are doing visual trash assessments in Everett. Have one-hour?
Register for a route here.
Self-Guided Trash Cleanup
Conduct a self-guided trash cleanup with MyRWA's help! For self-guided cleanup guidelines and suggested locations around the watershed, see the links under "River and Park Cleanups" here.
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Food Link
Food Link is a food rescue organization in Arlington, MA and is looking for people who want to make a difference in the community by reducing food waste and helping to provide healthy food to people in need. Volunteers help with the collection and distribution of donated food. We work in groups to collect food from grocery stores, sort and pack it for delivery to social services agencies in the area. We also have shifts that involve picking up and delivering food to various locations and shifts at our building in Arlington.
Food Link operates seven days a week and there are several shifts available in the morning, afternoon, and evening depending on the day. Click here to learn more!
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Rescuing Leftover Cuisine
Volunteer Food Rescuers help transport food from food donor partners to local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other human service agencies in our communities. Each rescue averages 40 pounds of food, provides 32 meals and takes 45 minutes of time! Food rescues may be completed by public transport, by personal vehicle, on foot and even by bicycle. Whether it’s once-a-month, once-a-week, or once-a day volunteers are needed to provide a reliable food rescue service by fostering community connections to reduce food waste and food insecurity! Click here to sign up.
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Second Chances
Second Chances serves clients who are sheltered or homeless in the Somerville and Cambridge areas by providing free, empowering clothing. They thrive with the help of motivated, dependable volunteers and those committed to helping those in need.
-Picking up clothes for donations
-Hosting a clothing drive
-Various virtual opportunities
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Mystic Community Market (Mystic Valley YMCA)
The Mystic Community Market in Medford is looking for volunteers to help with pre-packing grocery bags, stocking shelves, unloading deliveries, and distributing food outdoors to Market (food pantry) participants. There is some lifting required for any volunteer position in this program - delivery support on Thursdays and Fridays would require more lifting than others. This is a great opportunity to help feed people in need in our community in a hands-on way in a fast-paced, positive environment.
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Help us spread the word!
We have the following opportunities to spread the word about our curbside composting service in exchange for free service:
Door hanging: Hit the streets with your mask and your favorite podcast to help distribute ~50 GTG door hangers (# varies based on street assignment)
for 1 month of free service.
Write your local paper! Write a letter to the local paper (in Medford, Somerville, Arlington, or Belmont) encouraging residents of your community to compost.
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