Donations will be accepted November 1 – November 21 at Bask

Bask, Inc. (“Bask”), a locally owned cannabis dispensary in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, has announced plans for their 4th annual Food Drive for Veterans.
Donations will be collected at Bask’s adult-use and medical dispensary between Monday, November 1st, 2021 through Sunday, November 21st, at 2 Pequod Road in Fairhaven, MA.

Bask, which is Veteran owned and operated, continues its commitment to the community with
donations going directly to the Veterans Association of Bristol County (VABC). The VABC provides
resources including a food pantry, counseling services, and support to the area’s Veteran population.
“This will be our fourth donation drive for Veterans since opening Bask in 2018 and we hope it will be
our biggest yet,” explains Bask CEO and Veteran, Chapman Dickerson. “Our goal is to collect enough
food to help Veterans enjoy a nice meal on Thanksgiving.”
“As a company, we are committed to helping those in our community. For those who have served our
country, it’s our turn to give back,” says Dickerson.

Bask will be collecting non-perishable food, hygiene products, and grocery store gift cards at the
dispensary located at 2 Pequod Road in Fairhaven. Donations can be dropped off at either entrance
during regular business hours. The medical entrance is open from 9am to 7pm and the adult use
entrance is open from 9am to 9pm daily.

Bask has been serving registered medical patients at the Fairhaven dispensary since 2018. The multi-
award-winning cannabis dispensary, cultivator, and manufacturer was named Best Dispensary in 2019
by south coast residents and recently expanded its cannabis retail operations in Fairhaven with the
addition of recreational sales to adults 21 and older in February of 2021.

About Bask, Inc.
The founders of Bask are experienced medical cannabis cultivators, educators, and advocates. The team
came together over a shared vision to create an environment where patients could learn and have safe
access to quality products. Bask opened its doors to medical patients in February of 2018 as the first
cannabis dispensary on the South Coast of Massachusetts. In February of 2020, the company moved its
cultivation and processing operation to a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Freetown, MA in
partnership with AmeriCann, Inc.

Child & Family Services would like to invite you to join them for an evening of wine tasting, dining from an array of local fare, dancing, raffles and silent auctions. Participating food vendors: Merrill’s on the Waterfront, * Joe’s Original * Morton’s Fork Catering * Wok Magic *Top Shelf Bar & Grill * Cuban Way! * KC’s Classic Burger Bar * Turk’s Seafood * RW Catering * On The Go Catering * Cakes By Jenn!

The event is happening on Thursday November 18th, 6pm to 9:30pm at White’s of Westport, get your tickets here: https://child-familyservices.org/upcoming-events/ or scan the QR code. For more info, please call Susan Remy at (508) 742-1032 or email sremy@cfservices.org

About the organization:
Child & Family Services is a private, nonprofit, human service agency that provides adoption services, mental health counseling, psychiatry and specialized support programs to people of all ages living in New Bedford, Fall River and Cape Cod.

Mattel launched action figures representing nurses, doctors, EMT’s and delivery drivers with the net proceeds going to “providing essential supplies, equipment, and resources for protecting frontline healthcare workers and their families.”

From Mattel:

“Here’s how it works. Beginning April 29, 2020 through May 31, 2020, when you purchase one or more of #ThankYouHeroes collection items online, the net proceeds from the sale of each item you purchase will be donated to #FirstRespondersFirst, a fund dedicated to providing essential supplies, equipment and resources for protecting frontline healthcare workers and their families. Click here for additional terms.”

Full details here.

The Friends of Jack Foundation has proudly partnered with Hasbro Children’s Hospital to bring the Foundation’s Superhero Program to Providence, R.I.

Jill Fearons, Executive Director of the Friends of Jack, expressed her excitement to begin a relationship with Hasbro. “Since the moment we began working with representatives of Hasbro, we knew that this was the next place that we wanted to bring our Superhero Program. Hasbro is the hub of pediatric healthcare for the entire state of Rhode Island, and is truly revolutionizing the way that children are treated in a clinical setting. We couldn’t think of a better partner with whom to establish our first program outside of Massachusetts.”

The Superhero Program was created by the Foundation to help children in various stressful settings by providing comfort with stuffed animals and empowerment with a superhero cape and mask.

The Superhero Program is currently offered by Saint Anne’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital’s North Dartmouth satellite, Southcoast Health’s three hospitals – St. Luke’s, Charlton Memorial and Tobey, Child and Family Services, the Women’s Center, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections, and a number of local police, fire and EMS departments, including the Massachusetts State Police.

The Friends of Jack Foundation provides overlooked programs and services that enhance the physical, mental and emotion health and well-being of children on the SouthCoast. The Superhero Program is a primary service that is organized and funded entirely by the Friends of Jack Foundation, and implemented in partnership with groups within the local community.

For more information on the Friends of Jack Foundation and to get involved, visit www.friendsofjack.org or contact Jill Fearons at Jill@friendsofjack.org. Also, follow the Friends of Jack Foundation on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

On October 29, nearly 80 volunteers from 15 local credit unions joined forces and built 40 beds for local children in need. As part of the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s (CCUA) Southern Massachusetts Chapter, St. Anne’s Credit Union was overjoyed to host the SouthCoast’s very first bed-building event to benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless’ (Coalition) A Bed for Every Child initiative. The Coalition specifically works to bridge the gap in children’s lives and collaborates across the state to provide free and newly-crafted beds (and a place to dream) for children with limited access to necessities. Volunteers spent the afternoon assembling, sanding and staining new beds that Catholic Social Services will distribute locally in Fall River.

A special thanks to the all participating credit unions who volunteered to make this event a success: Goldmark Federal Credit Union, New Bedford Credit Union, PCT Federal Credit Union, Santo Christo Federal Credit Union, Southern Mass Credit Union, St. Anne’s Credit Union, St. Anthony of Padua Federal Credit Union and Taunton Federal Credit Union.

About the Cooperative Credit Union Association: The Cooperative Credit Union Association is a regional trade organization serving as the voice for nearly 200-member credit unions located primarily throughout Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. CCUA members hold combined assets in excess of $45 billion and serve a collective membership base of more than 2.3 million consumers. It’s on behalf of these member credit unions that CCUA advocates before Congress and state legislatures, regulatory bodies and the general public through its Better Values—Better Banking consumer awareness campaign. In addition to advocacy, CCUA also engages its members with an array of industry resources, from compliance assets and marketing support to vetted products and service providers; an array of educational workshops and conferences; and a variety of communication channels that include a daily e-newsletter, live and recorded video programs, and a quarterly magazine focused on CCUA’s advocacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.CCUA.org.

About Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: The mission of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is to eradicate homelessness from the commonwealth of Massachusetts. It aims to meet this mission through advocacy, developing and maintaining membership and support, public education, and creation of programs and initiatives to empower all people in Massachusetts to have a place to call home. Learn more at mahomeless.org.

About A Bed for Every Child: A Bed for Every Child is an initiative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless that distributes new twin beds to children living in poverty throughout Massachusetts. Since its inception, the program has delivered more than 7,000 beds. Learn more at www.abedforeverychild.org.

The Friends of Jack Foundation, Fun 107 and 1420 WBSM will hold its final Food for Tots fundraiser event of 2019 on Thursday, October 17, at locations across the SouthCoast.

This month’s event, titled “Sweet Finale,” features several bakeries and ice cream shops, including Acushnet Creamery, Honey Dew Donuts, Artisan Kitchen, Friendly’s (Dartmouth), and Dairy Maid. It also includes a match donation of $2,500 from Coastal Financial.

Food for Tots is an opportunity for the community to dine out at some of the area’s best restaurants on the third Thursday of each month from April to October with all proceeds going directly to the Friends of Jack Foundation with the goal to elevate children’s access to world-class healthcare on the SouthCoast.

For more information on the Friends of Jack Foundation and to get involved, visit www.friendsofjack.org or contact Jill Fearons at Jill@friendsofjack.org. Also, follow the Friends of Jack Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Friends of Jack Foundation

The Friends of Jack Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2019 by Jill Fearons. It is named in honor of her son, Jack, who is living with Chiari Malformation, a rare condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal. The Friends of Jack Foundation provides overlooked programs and services that improve the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of children on the SouthCoast. Fearons discovered the importance of small but impactful gestures while navigating many emergency and high-risk medical procedures with Jack. Funds to support the Friends of Jack Foundation are raised through efforts that include Food for Tots, a partnership with Fun107 and WBSM1420, and the Friends of Jack Foundation Annual Celebration.

New Bedford RiseFest 2019, a collection of local musical acts of all genres helping to raise money for New Bedford’s homeless, is scheduled for September 1st from 12 pm to 12 am at The Vault Music Hall & Pub at Greasy Luck at 791 Purchase St in New Bedford. This one-day, multi-media awareness telethon event will bring awareness, aid, and support to the New Bedford homeless population and the services that provide for and supplement them, primarily Rise Up For Homes.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-bedford-risefest-2019-tickets-65440106119

Rise Up For Homes supplements the overage that the City of New Bedford does not and without them, people would die in the sub-zero degree conditions we’ve come to know and expect. They are an invaluable resource that most of us have no idea exists, but desperately need in our society. All of the monies raised will go directly to help supplement the overflow shelters that our city government cannot.

New Bedford RiseFest 2019 will be simulcast via New Bedford Guides’ live feed on Facebook enabling viewers to also watch from the comfort of their own homes. Viewers will be able to either text directly to the Rise Up Form Homes “50155” number, or call in to speak to one of our guest celebrity operators in the Green Room upstairs. In this room, there will be 4-6 phones fully functioning and taking bids on the raffle items, while also providing information for people calling in with any homeless concerns—we can have homeless service providers on half of those lines to assist with their questions while still raising awareness.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-bedford-risefest-2019-tickets-65440106119

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/342686036645218/

On Friday, August 23rd through Wednesday, August 27th the Southern New England Brotherhood Ride will be departing on a 6-day 500-mile bicycle ride through over 50 communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut to honor 20 first responders who paid the ultimate sacrifice to the communities in which they served and protected.

This year’s ride will begin in Hyannis, Massachusetts and will travel through several Cape Cod communities before heading north through Marshfield up to Weymouth, Everett, Boston and out to Worcester. From Worcester, they will continue through Western MA and down into Rhode Island and Connecticut before returning back into RI and ending on the 6th day in Newport, RI. They will travel through more than 50 different communities over the course of the 6 days and the ride will encompass over 15,000 feet of elevation.

The Brotherhood Ride takes place 1 year after the death of a first responder in MA, RI or CT to show the communities where they served, their department and their family that their acts of bravery will never be forgotten.

SNEBHR is a nonprofit organization established in 2018 as a chapter of the Brotherhood Ride of Florida. They are a team of active and retired firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians who ride bicycles to honor the memories of, fallen first responders who suffered a line of duty death from the previous year. The SNEBR is entirely made up of volunteers. No one collects a paycheck or compensation for their time. Everyone who participates does so on either their own personal time or vacation time. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Other than the cost of the ride itself, all of the proceeds and monies raised, from fundraising and donations will go directly back to the families of the fallen.

It is not a race, it is not a competition, we do not ride for us, we ride to remember our fallen
heroes, our brothers and sisters, we ride in their memory and to let their families know that we
truly will “never forget” they paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“So stand down my brother, you have completed your shift. Let our legs carry your memory and remind all who will listen that you gave your life to save a total stranger,” said Jeff Morse Founder Brotherhood Ride Florida

Here are the honorees who we are riding in honor of this year.

You can also or visit our website at www.SNEBrotherhoodRide.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/snebhr for more information about our organization, our mission and our ride. Email us at SNEBHR@gmail.com.

Our brrrrravest supports fundraise to jump into icy cold waters in the middle of winter to show their support for over 12,000 athletes. In partnership with the New Bedford Police Union, we are excited to hold the LETR Polar Plunge on East Beach on March 23rd. Are you ready to be part of an #InclusionRevolution and also, #FreezinForAReason???

Event Details
Where: East Beach
1000A S. Rodney French Blvd.
New Bedford, MA

Contact Stephanie Esposito
Phone: 508-485-0986
Email Address: PolarPlunge@specialolympicsma.org

Registration/Check-in: 9:00am-10:45am
Safety Briefing: 10:45am
PLUNGE! : 11:00am
Post-Plunge Party: 11:15am – 1:00pm

Registration Cutoff: 03/22/2019 @ 11:45 PM
Donation Cutoff: 04/30/2019 @ 11:45 PM

Want to know how a Polar Plunge works?
1. Each Plunger should register in advance of the event. This helps make the on-site registration process run much more smoothly. However, walk-on plungers are also welcome as long as they have collected their pledges before the start of the event.

2. Once registered, Plungers raise money (a minimum of $100), through the collection of donations from friends, family, co-workers, fundraising event, etc. Each registered Plunger is given a free Polar Plunge fundraising website. Plungers can accept donations right on their web page, and use it to spread the news about how cool their friends and family can feel about participating in the Plunge – as donors or other Plungers!

3. On the day of the Plunge, all Plungers will check in. At that time, they will turn in any checks or cash they have collected to met the $100 fundraising minimum.

4. Then, it’s into the water! Volunteers will be on hand to direct Plungers and assist as needed as everyone takes a quick mid-winter dip!

5. Immediately after the Plunge all Plungers will be directed to the locker rooms or tents to change into some warm clothes. You know you’ll want them!

6. After the plunging is done, awards will promptly begin.

Register here.

Southcoast Health presented a check for $25,000 to the Sgt. Sean M. Gannon Playground Committee, on Saturday, September 8, during the committee’s “An Evening Under the Stars” fundraising event, held at the Madeira Feast grounds in New Bedford.

“The news of Sgt. Gannon’s tragic death struck the employees of Southcoast Health to the core,” said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “When I learned of this effort to construct a world-class playground at the Campbell Elementary School, in New Bedford, and dedicate it to Sgt. Gannon, I immediately knew it was an endeavor Southcoast should support.”

Working collaboratively with the Playground Committee, Southcoast Health designed and printed special-edition T-shirts that would raise awareness – and financial support – for the initiative, while including a simple message that embodies Sean’s personality: Love, Laugh, Play. Net proceeds from sales of the T-shirts were donated to the effort along with an additional donation from Southcoast Health.

“On behalf of the Playground Committee, I want to thank Southcoast Health for the extremely generous donation that was presented to us this past Saturday,” said Carla Mourao, Chairperson of the Sgt. Sean M. Gannon Playground Committee. “The support we have received from Southcoast Health employees, as well as everyone else who purchased a T-shirt, is greatly appreciated and will make a lasting difference to our Campbell School students and the community. This donation provided our project with a huge jump start in reaching our goal, and we can’t wait to hear the sound of kids playing on our new playground.”

A member of the K-9 unit of the Yarmouth Police Department, Sgt. Sean M. Gannon, whose parents both work for Southcoast, was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 12. His dog, Nero, was also shot but survived his injuries.

The playground will be built at Campbell Elementary School, 145 Essex St., New Bedford. Sgt. Gannon grew up in the city and often played on the Campbell Schools grounds.

The Sgt. Gannon Memorial Playground Committee is made up of parents, teachers and community members.

T-shirts in limited sizes continue to be available for purchase at the Southcoast More Store (www.southcoast.org/morestore) and sell for $25; shipping is included. They come in male, female and youth styles and sizes.