After mentioning his intention to kickstart a collection of community initiatives to help ring in his new administration, Mayor-elect Marty Walsh has finalized an inaugural program aimed at bettering Boston’s neighborhoods while bolstering the theme of public service.
From his transition office in Dorchester Monday, Walsh stated that he and volunteers from his transition team would hit Boston’s streets to undertake a series of community service projects spanning all of Boston’s numerous neighborhoods. He will also be hosting a book drive to benefit Children’s Hospital with numerous drop-off locations situated around the Back Bay and Beacon Hill.
He was joined by John J. Drew, President & CEO, Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), and Suzanne Battit, Vice President of External Affairs and Advancement, Greater Boston Food Bank.
This is about civic engagement and about giving back to our community,” said Mayor-Elect Walsh in a statement. “Poverty touches every issue we discuss – education, jobs, housing. This is an opportunity for us to make an impact on one of the toughest issues our City faces.”
The community service activities will take place on Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4. Set times have yet to be determined by the Walsh camp but the event listings and neighborhoods will be as follows:
- Painting and building clean up at Mission Hill Senior Center, St. Monica’s (South Boston), St. Peter’s (Dorchester), St. Mary’s (Dorchester), Mattahunt Community Center (Mattapan), Bird Street Community Center (Roxbury), Riverside Theater (Hyde Park), Holy Family (Mattapan), the Italian Home for Children (Jamaica Plain), and Boys and Girls Club (Dorchester)
- Preparing and serving lunch at the Kit Clark Senior Center (Dorchester), Rosie’s Place (Roxbury), Pine Street Inn (South End)
- Building with Habitat for Humanity (Roslindale)
- Preparing office space and paperwork for Generation Citizen (Jamaica Plain)
- Assisting artists at the Boston Center for the Arts (Back Bay)
- Providing general office help for Generation Citizen (Jamaica Plain), Cradles to Crayons (Brighton), Voice of Tabernacle (Mattapan)
- Assisting Villa Victoria (South End) with their Three Kings Day event
- Organizing a Family Fun Day at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club (East Boston)
Similarly, book drop-offs for the book drive will be at these locations:
- Trident Booksellers & Café (338 Newbury Street, Back Bay)
- Boston Barber Co. (124 Bowdoin Street, Beacon Hill)
- Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill (46 Charles Street)
- Sault New England (577 Tremont Street, South End)
- Barbershop Deluxe (288 Columbus Ave, Back Bay)
Naturally, everyone is encouraged to participate in some capacity but for those unable to, the Mayor-elect is urging supporters to at least donate a canned good “and/or make a modest contribution to the ABCD Energy and Fuel Services program.”
Stay tuned to BostInno for confirmed times for each community service activity as well as other events planned for Chinatown, the North End, and Charlestown.
