Community Involvement:

2019 Marked an Active Year Serving Our Communities

The 168 Halloween costumes we were able to donate to the Amherst Survival Center through our Halloween Costume Drive during the month of October was just one of the many ways UMassFive actively helped our communities during 2019.

• In January 2019, our annual Cold Weather Coat & Clothing Drive amassed nearly 1,000 cold weather clothing items. From blankets and coats, to hats, snow pants, and boots—all items benefited the Amherst Survival Center, as well as Friends of the Homeless in Springfield. We look forward to delivering another successful donation drive this year.

• In April, our second year supporting the A Bed For Every Child initiative raised $2,325—enough to fund, build, and furnish nine twin-sized beds for children in need in Massachusetts. We also helped collect children’s books at our branches in partnership with The River 93.9. The books collected directly benefited Reader to Reader—a nonprofit based in Amherst, MA that helps increase literacy by bringing books to underfunded schools, libraries in low-income communities, and Native American reservations.

• Throughout the month of May, UMassFive continued to witness the generosity of our membership as our Northampton and Hadley Branches collected nearly 300 lbs of personal care items during our annual effort in support of the Northampton and Amherst Survival Centers. Items collected ranged from toothbrushes and soap, to diapers and feminine care products.

In September, volunteers from UMassFive participated in the Source to Sea Green River Cleanup in South Hadley, where they helped remove trash and debris from the banks of the Connecticut River.

For our biggest community fundraising effort of the year, Team UMassFive raised over $31,900 for the UMass Medical School Cancer Walk & Run in Worcester.

This past year, fundraising efforts pushed Team UMassFive to a lifetime contribution of over $130,000 to the cause, earning the $100,000 lifetime giving award trophy. The money was raised by employees— both through individual efforts, and through reaching out to our members in each branch.

Efforts this year included food sales; jewelry, craft, and art sales via our third Annual Crafting for a Cure Boutique in Hadley; and raffles including a special handmade train toy box that was donated to us by the husband of a cancer survivor.

Funds raised through the UMass Cancer Walk & Run benefit the UMass Cancer Center and help support cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care in Central Massachusetts. Team UMassFive has consistently been in the top two fundraising teams in recent years, meaning the money we raise represents a significant portion of the funds contributed overall through this important event.

We would like to thank our membership for its continued support in helping our community and world become a better place.

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