The REAS Foundation is pleased to announce that Southbridge Credit Union has joined the REAS Foundation as a member of our Associate Board of Directors. Citing the “need to expand our capability, in order to provide additional energy assistance resources to seniors, Thomas J. Smalarz - President and Chief Executive Officer of Southbridge Credit Union – acknowledged that Daniel Matte, an SCU Board member “would serve as SBU’s representative”.

Demonstrating their commitment to be a part of the solution, Mr. Smalarz (far left in photo) and Dan Matte (far right in photo) presented REAS Board Chairman Scott Garieri, (2nd from right in photo) and Vice-Chairman Jim Malloy (2nd from left in photo) with a $1250.00 donation, on behalf of Southbridge Credit Union.

REAS Board Chairman Scott Garieri “welcomed the partnership between SCU and the REAS Foundation” and expressed his “gratitude on behalf of the organization for SCU’s willingness to play such a meaningful role in addressing the needs of our seniors”.

Vice-Chairman Jim Malloy, thanked SCU for its “generous commitment to our senior community and its willingness to maintain on ongoing role as a member of our Board. This strengthens our ability to provide meaningful assistance to Sturbridge seniors in need of energy assistance”, Mr. Malloy added.

“We are honored to be partnering with SCU, and are grateful for their commitment to this endeavor. They have expanded our ability to serve Sturbridge seniors in need, and have surely demonstrated their dedication to our community”, said Thomas R. Creamer - Executive Director of the REAS Foundation.

Mr. Matte expressed his “excitement to be a part of such a meaningful grassroots effort that is already providing very real solutions to the very real challenges faced by seniors. Mr. Matte went on to say that he “is proud to be representing SCU as part of the REAS team”.

The donation from Southbridge Credit Union pushes the REAS Foundation up to 118% of its fundraising goal for 2008.

BENEFIT BUFFET AND FUNDRAISER
DEBBIE (FORD) DAVIAU

DEBBIE HAS BEEN FIGHTING BREAST CANCER FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW. SHE, HER HUSBAND KEVIN AND FAMILY HAVE TRIED  SO HARD TO KEEP HER FIGHTING BUT THEY ARE NOW SEEKING YOUR HELP TO GET THEM THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME.

THIS BENEFIT IS TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO DEFRAY THE RISING COSTS OF HER NEEDING TO GET TO WORCESTER MANY TIMES A WEEK, PRESCRIPTION COPAYS, TIME OUT OF WORK AND GENERAL EXPENSES THAT SEEM TO KEEP BUILDING WHILE THEY SPEND MORE TIME AT DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND HOSPITALS.

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT THAN TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS SO IN NEED OF IT. SHE HAS LIVED, WORKED AND RAISED A FAMILY HERE, WE SHOULD TRY OUR BEST TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN AND SHE IS ONE OF US.

HER FUNDRAISER IS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1ST FROM 2 - 6 PM AT TJ O’BRIENS. WE HAVE TICKETS FOR SALE AT $20.00 PER PERSON FOR THE BUFFET. WE WILL HAVE A RAFFLE TABLE AND ARE HOPING THAT DEB WILL BE UP TO BEING THERE TO THANK THE MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE AND WILL HELP HER IN THIS COURAGEOUS BATTLE.

                TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TJ O’BRIENS, RTE. 20, or DICK FORD AT 508-320-5019 or TRISH BOURASSA AT 774-230-0174

Any Help would be greatly appreciated,

Regards Trish Bourassa

A second anonymous donor has stepped forward to issue yet another 1K Challenge. Citing the desire to “do as much as we can”, this new challenge will make it possible for the REAS Foundation (on your behalf), to help an additional five qualifying Sturbridge seniors with energy costs.

For every donation received (regardless of size), in direct response to this additional 1K Challenge, the sponsor of this challenge will match it dollar for dollar, up to a grand total of one thousand dollars. As was our practice with the previous 1K Challenge, the REAS Foundation will only count those donations specifically designated as 1K donations towards this new challenge. This enables us to maintain the spirit of the 1K Challenge. 

In response to this challenge, we will be implementing a new graph on the front page of our website, which will display a figure representing a senior for each $400 received in combined donations. This amount represents the mid-range grant award issued by the REAS Foundation on your behalf.

So, let the challenge begin and let’s see just how quickly we can get those figures up on our front page.

Thomas R. Creamer - Executive Director

There is much that could be said about the immense compassion Sturbridge residents have exhibited in support of its seniors. Great stories could be written about the amazing fellowship we’ve all been witness to here in Sturbridge. No doubt, one could easily exhaust a thesaurus, detailing the unparalleled generosity demonstrated these past months.

Yet nothing is as poignant, nor as telling, as the sentiments and words expressed by those you’ve helped. Nothing better conveys the overwhelming sense of desperation replaced now with hope, due solely to the compassion of Sturbridge residents helping their own. At the very moment you settle to read this, there is the quickened beat of grateful hearts that rumbles throughout Sturbridge. It is a sound that grows louder each day, as those seniors whose burden you’ve lightened, breathe a sigh of relief.

Though strangers we may be, it is indisputable that we are all neighbors within this wonderful community; as such we are intrinsically linked to one another. Each of you who has participated in this great endeavor should take pause to reflect upon the amazing act of compassion you are party to. For you, each and every one of YOU, are the only reason that hope has replaced despair for many Sturbridge seniors; evidenced in the words of those you’re helping. Some express their sentiments in the simplest of terms, others a are a bit more expressive; all are powerfully revealing. 

“What great news, this is fantastic, last year we went without hot water because it was cheaper, we won’t have to do that again, this is going to really help.”

“Oh, my…thank you! This is wonderful, wonderful news.”

“Thank you so very much. I’m not sure what we would have done. My God, thank you so very much.”

“This is so wonderful. I’ve done everything I can to pinch every penny. I make sure to count my meals and only buy what I absolutely have to. It was so hard to ask for help, but I’m at the end of my rope.”

“I want to thank you for what you’ve done. I’ve never had to ask for help before but I can’t watch my sweet wife struggle through another winter trying to stay warm. She’s made a darn good life for me and I can’t bear her suffering through the cold again. I just can’t. This will change so much for us.”

“I really have tried to cut back on everything. I’m extra careful to make sure I only use the two front rooms and I keep the thermostat at 64 degrees. I even use the stove sometimes to take the chill out of my bones along with a few bowls of soup or hot cereal a day. And I always make sure to bundle up with some sweaters I’ve collected. Then when the warm weather comes I get to eat a bit more since I don’t have to put so much aside for the oil man. I’m so thankful and I promise not to go wasting people’s money by turning my heat up. It’s really nice of people to do this and I wouldn’t want to insult anyone by wasting their money. Maybe they won’t mind so much if I squeeze in an extra meal during the week every now and again.” 

“One day last week after paying bills, I found I didn’t have enough money for food. So one night last week I ate only instant mashed potatoes for dinner. The next day I ate just cooked rice for dinner with no breakfast. I would like to thank all of you involved for your help.”

What an incredible honor it is for us at the REAS Foundation to be given the privilege of doing this work on your behalf. We are grateful that you have allowed us to be a part of this magnificent act of love, and fully understand the incredible responsibility we have to each of you as donors, to make sure we do this right.

Each of us at the REAS Foundation fully understand that the grants awarded to Sturbridge seniors are so awarded because of your kindness, your generosity, and your donations. We are distributing your money and you have graciously entrusted us with the honor of doing so. We thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share in the gratitude, expressed by those you’ve helped.

Thomas R. Creamer - Executive Director

REAS Foundation

6th Annual Giving Tree at Susan’s Secret Garden.

The Giving Tree at Susan’s Secret Garden is decorated and ready for customers to choose a “wish” from a child in our area and provide that item.  For the past 6 years Susan has worked with a social worker to find children in Sturbridge and surrounding towns who won’t have a visit from Santa without the help of the very generous people who visit Susan’s Secret Garden. 

Last year the Giving Tree project collected over 400 gifts of clothing, toys and gift cards for groceries.  The results were that 18 households were filled with squeals of joy on Christmas morning, 35 children didn’t wonder why Santa didn’t stop at their house, and 21 parents now see the world as a kinder place where strangers reach out and show compassion.

Since starting the Giving Tree project everyone at Susan’s Secret Garden has had a front row seat to watch miracles happen.  The people who come back year after year to help are so excited to be part of the project that they begin asking in August if the children’s wishes are ready.

Susan receives letters and cards from the families asking her to thank the “angels” and “elves” that helped their children.

This year the Giving Tree has 50 children counting on compassionate strangers to make the magic happen.  Susan is asking that angels and elves stop by when they have a minute and read some of the wishes on the tree.  Some requests are as simple as a doll, a truck or just a pair of mittens.

Gifts need to be returned to Susan’s Secret Garden by December 8th in order to have time to organize and deliver gifts to the families.

Boy Scout Troop 161
Sturbridge Mass.,
Sponsor: Sturbridge Firefighters Benefit Association
2008: Our 54th year of Scouting in Sturbridge

Press Release: Immediate
Boy Scout can drive to support REAS

Sturbridge: Boy Scout Troop 161, sponsored by the Sturbridge Firefighters Association will be holding a can drive during the month of November in support of the REAS Foundation. REAS is the Residential Energy Assistance for Seniors Foundation a nonprofit group established to assist Sturbridge Elderly with heating assistance this winter. All returnable bottles and cans collected by the Scouts during the month of November will be donated to the REAS foundation.

The Can drive will run the full month of November and residents can drop off their donations at the collection box at the Sturbridge Recycling Center or at the community wide can drive to be held on Saturday, November 22, 9 am to 1 pm at the Sturbridge Public Safety Complex on 346 Main Street.  Scouts as well as members of the Sturbridge Fire Department will be on hand to collect returnable bottles and cans.

Tom Chamberland firefighter and Chartering Organizational Representative to Boy Scout troop 161 said “I am proud the troop decided to participate in supporting REAS and the senior citizens of Sturbridge. The troop routinely collects cans to fund their trips and the boy scouting program in Sturbridge. Helping others is a key premise of the Boy Scouts of America, and this is a great lesson and community project for the scouts.”

Thomas Creamer, Executive Director of REAS, said of the Boy Scout involvement “The fact that the Boy Scouts wanted to pitch in and be part of this important community fund raising opportunity was no surprise to us. The selflessness with which they are approaching the project is what we all hope to see in all of our young people. We are gratified and encouraged by their participation.”

Tom Chamberland
25 Bennetts Rd
Sturbridge MA 01566

Opacum Land Trust will hold its 8th Perennial Plant Sale this coming Sunday, May 18th, at the rotary intersection of routes 131 and 169 (in front of the old AO building) from 8:00 am to noon, rain or shine. Arrive early for the best selection of native perennial wildflowers, shrubs and trees. Plants for sale include: flowering crabapple trees, downy serviceberry, butterfly bush, beauty bush, purple leaf sand cherry, shrubby cinquefoil, and winterberry holly. We will also have various columbine, beebalm, day lily, wild bleeding heart, hellebore, hosta, and wild onions. For more infomation please email: leslie@opacumlt.org or call 508-347-9144. All proceeds benefit Opacum Land Trust’s mission of conserving land for a better future. We look forward to seeing you there!

Kristie Pecci a local attorney for Southbridge, Sturbridge and Charlton residents has filed a motion that alleges Casella has been operating a processing facility without Southbridge Board of Health approval.  She has called for the suspension of any ongoing hearings with the Board of Health.

The motion was received Wednesday April 9th by hearing officer Nancy Kaplan.  Ms. Pecci asserts that the existing landfill site assignment area is about 53 acres.  Because the state DEP’s review will include documentation going back to 1979, a Department of Environment Protection spokesman said, a determination was likely to be made sometime next week.

Casella Renewable Group President James W. Bohlig said, “We have quite a few number of attorneys involved and everyone has their right to assemble their advocacy and make their pitch. I’m kind of surprised because our application has to do with the landfill. The Board of Health will have to decide where it sits and what (to) do with it.” telegram.com

Michael Scott, a lawyer for the Board of Health, suggested it was “not uncommon for there to be some ambiguities, irregularities in the site assignment process. I agree with (Ms. Kaplan’s) ruling that there should be a briefing on the issue so we can make an informed decision.”