Donors Line Up For City's Emergency Fund

Residents have contributed over $33,000 to the city's fund. Are you on our list of contributors?

Members of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School cheerleading team came to City Hall last week to present Mayor Rob Dolan with a donation to the Emergency Fund. The cheerleaders raised the money by selling scarves and refreshments at games. “I truly appreciate the effort these young women made to raise money for the Emergency Fund,” said Dolan. “Helping a stranger in need is the truest act of kindness, and our middle school cheerleaders have shown true holiday spirit in this festive season.” The cheerleaders’ donation helped bring the fund up to this week’s total of $33,694. Recent donors include Watch for the Emergency Fund holiday special, featuring Mayor Dolan and other City Hall staff, which will be running frequently throughout …

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Do You Have 'Charity Fatigue?'

From the ubiquitous red kettles to the option to round up to the nearest dollar at the register, there are many requests for consumers' charity this season.

It's rare to go through a checkout line without being asked for a donation. At PetSmart it's for animals; at Wendy's it's for adoption; at the Dollar Tree Store it's toys for military kids. And, let's not forget the jingle of the Salvation Army bell that sends many of us digging into our pockets. It's true, needs are increasing yearly. One viewpoint is that if you're out shopping anyway, parting with an extra dollar here and there likely has little affect on your wallet—and if others do the same, the sum of all the small donations can make a big difference.  But how do you decide when your donations are enough? Do you have to give each time to feel like you've helped? How do you walk through the cold past that kettle and the ringer of the …

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Melrose Emergency Fund Tops $10K

Donations to the Melrose Emergency Fund have already reached over $10,000 this holiday season, according to a city press statement.

Donations to the Melrose Emergency Fund have already reached over $10,000 this holiday season, according to a city press statement. “Every year I am amazed and touched by the generosity of our residents,” said Mayor Rob Dolan in the statement. “Even in these uncertain fiscal times, the people of Melrose are willing to reach out to help their neighbors. This is the true holiday spirit.” In the past three years, the fund has helped more than 400 Melrose families with everything from a supermarket gift card at the holidays to help them get back on their feet after a major event such as an illness or a house fire, according to the statement.  “We want to ensure that no one in Melrose goes cold or hungry this winter,” Dolan said in the …

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STUDY: Melrose Less Charitable Than State, Country

When it comes to philanthropy, Melrose residents give to charitable causes less than the state and country averages, according to a study conducted by "The Chronicle of Philanthropy."

When it comes to philanthropy, Melrose residents give to charity less than the state and country averages, according to a study released this week. "The Chronicle of Philanthropy" published their "How America Gives" study which reported that Melrose residents, with a median discretionary income of $63,540, gave a median contribution of $1,698 of their income to charity in 2008—the tax year when the data was gathered.  Meanwhile, the state and country's median contribution was 2.8 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, compared to Melrose's 2.7 percent. Melrosians contributed a total of $11.2 million, according to the study. Here's a complete breakdown of the data compiled during the study: Total Contributions  Detailed data is searchable …

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Elizabeth Christopher

10:43 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I agree with Veronica. The spirit of giving is alive and well in Melrose! There isn't one parent I know who doesn't contribute in some way to sports teams, PTOs, libraries, classrooms, food pantries, animal shelters, science teams - to the benefit of families beyond their own.   more ›

Patch Picks

Non-Profits That Need Donations This Holiday Season

For this week's Patch Picks, we asked you to share with your neighbors where they should bring canned food, coats or other goods.

Food banks across the country are struggling every day to gather enough food to feed the poor, according to NPR, and even more so during the holidays.  So for this week's Patch Picks, we asked which ones, along with soup kitchens and other non-profit organizations, need donations from the community. Here's what you told us: This Malden-based non-profit, which assists families in Melrose and Greater Boston, is holding a gift drive seeking toys and gift cards for homeless and at-risk families, according to Patty Kelly, community outreach coordinator for Housing Families. To learn more about Housing Families and how you may help with the drive, contact Kelly at 781-322-9119. Visit Housing Families website at www.housingfamilies.org. Christina…

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Which Non-Profits Need Donations This Holiday Season?

For next week's Patch Picks, we're asking you to share with your neighbors where they should bring canned food, coats or other goods.

Food banks across the country are struggling every day to gather enough food to feed the poor, according to NPR, and even more so during the holidays.  So we'd like to know which ones, along with soup kitchens and other non-profit organizations, need donations from the community.  Just leave your suggestions in the comments section, and we'll compile them into next Thursday's Patch Picks column. 

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Ron Sen

12:51 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lots of deserving but the Melrose Emergency Relief Fund (out of City Hall) has done good work.   more ›