Newton Launches First Community Service Week [Video]

What started as just one day of citywide community service has now morphed into a week-long event aimed at bringing together Newton's villages, residents and organizations. 

MMayor Setti Warren recently announced the city's first Service Week, a time when residents are encouraged to volunteer and "make a difference" in the Newton community. 

"We already have a lot of people who give their time and their energy [volunteering]...what we want to do as a community is communicate our values and ensure that people continue to do that and people that haven’t volunteered step up to do so," Warren said. 

The Service Week 2013 will kick off on Sun., April 28 with the annual NewtonSERVES citywide day of service. Then, throughout the week (April 28-May 4), residents are encouraged to volunteer or give back through local organizations, such as the Newton food pantries, blood drives, the Boys & Girls Club and the Newton Cultural Center.

Warren made the Service Week announcement at a brief press conference on April 3. The mayor was joined by a number of community members and department heads at the Birthday Wishes headquarters at Trinity Episcopal Church in Newton.

The non-profit Birthday Wishes, which works to provide birthday parties for homeless children, is one of many Newton organizations that could benefit from local volunteers, Warren noted.

"We really would like to see a strong showing from our community," Warren said.

Temple Shalom Rabbi Eric Gurvis, president of Newton's Interfaith Clergy Association, said the Newton Service Week folds perfectly into his own congregation's annual volunteer day, known as "Mitzvah Day."

Gurvis praised the Service Week idea, encouraging all residents to participate and use their own "blessings" to give back to the community.

"This is a great opportunity for us as a community, whether people are part of houses of faith or not," Gurvis said. "It's time for us to come together and I think it's a great idea."

Registration for NewtonSERVES volunteers is available online. Local organizations looking to register projects for NewtonSERVES can do so until April 19 (registration is also available online).

A list of other community volunteer opportunities is also available on the city's website.