A significant component of the Community Leadership Institute program is learning about leadership, teamwork and collaboration through a community service project. Community Projects are meant to assist participants to develop their leadership skills and provide assistance to a community non-profit. Community Projects are an integral part of the curriculum of the six-month long program.
The projects provide opportunities for people to learn together, utilize their leadership skills, and create networks that support the development of community capacity and social capital. The term social capital refers to far more than just warm feelings about community and good works; it emphasizes a wide variety of specific benefits that flow from the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation associated with social networks. Social capital creates value for the people who are connected, and benefits others. These benefits include things like increased volunteerism, increased philanthropy, better directed and implanted corporate social responsibility programs, increased social participation, and better citizenship.
30 Guys in 30 Days
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands (BBBSCCI) works to match children who could benefit from a caring, additional, adult mentor. Early in 2018, BBBSCCI had 68 boys waiting for a Male Mentor. For our CLI project, our group helped support BBBSCCI during their “30 Guys in 30 days” campaign, which focused on attracting more male volunteers. Through our CLI Group efforts which include such outreach as tabling, social media marketing, print ads and email blasts we estimate we reach over 3,000 individuals helping to spread awareness of the BBBSCCI Program and their need for male mentors. Not only did BBBSCCI receive over 30 Male inquires in 30 days, the campaign was extended in order to meet 30 Matches in 30 days, an all-time agency record.
Feeding Falmouth’s Furry Friends
Our group partnered with the Falmouth Service Center (FSC), a non-profit organization that works with the community to educate, support and improve the quality of life for Upper Cape residents in need. A major component of the program is an extensive food pantry that clients may visit once every two weeks as needed. Our group approached FSC for volunteer opportunities and they proposed that we assist them with a targeted need. The FSC Executive Director, Brenda Swain explained that a large portion of the food pantry’s clients have pets that they are unable to adequately provide proper food for. We partnered with the service center, developed marketing materials, and scheduled and coordinated a two-day pet food drive at the Falmouth Stop & Shop. The pet food-drive not only generated a large amount of pet food to be sorted and donated to FSC clients, but also raised money through community member donations and helped to promote awareness of client’s needs.
The Clean Team
Our project was designed to assist the Family Pantry located within Cape Cod Community College, which is an extension of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod in Harwich. The mission of our project was first to raise awareness of the pantry and second to complete a toiletry drive to stock the pantry. The team set up various drop off locations to collect toiletry items as well as used our personal and professional networks to spread the word about the drive. The pantry will pass out the toiletry items to their clients when they come down to get their groceries for the week. The Clean Team volunteered during an informational fair held in the campus cafeteria promoting the different services available to students. We displayed some of the items raised during the drive and passed out flyers to students and faculty to inform them of what the pantry had to offer. Due to the amount of items collected the pantry put in additional industrial shelving to store the items for the next school year!
Youth Count Ambassadors
The Youth Count Ambassadors assisted the nonprofit organization Homeless Prevention Council of Cape Cod to expand the reach of their 2nd annual Youth Count. We met with Executive Director Hadley Luddy on several occasions to brainstorm outreach ideas to increase participation to Upper Cape, Mid Cape, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. Ultimately, we contacted 34 youth-serving organizations across Cape and Islands where we dropped off and picked up paper surveys and flyers. We also partnered with Cape Cod Community College where we staffed tables equipped with laptops, engaging the students to take real time online surveys on three different days. The data collected will be used to better understand the needs of at-risk youth and, more importantly, increase funding and services available to this underserved population.
Partners for a Healthier Tomorrow
Our mission is to educate and aid our community on sun safety and the importance of sun protection and early detection. To achieve this goal, we partnered with The Glenna Kohl Fund to install two sunscreen dispensers along the bike path. Funds for the dispensers were donated by local businesses.
Everyone LOVES Babies
Our project was designed to assist A Baby Center with a 2-pronged method. We used our social networks and various marketing methods to organize and execute a donation drive to create layette packages for new moms. A Baby Center will use these layette items to add to the new Baby Boxes given to new moms to provide a safe sleep space for babies. Additionally, we volunteered on-site to assist the center with organizing and sorting their various clothing donations. This helped the center in switching their inventory from winter to summer.
Master Gardeners
The Master Gardeners provided Community Connections Inc. a Yarmouth-based non-profit with a landscaped welcome area flanking the main entrance of their new location. Since 1985, Community Connections has been providing life-enriching services that promote optimal independence for people with disabilities. After a few meetings and emails in between Community Connections and their new landlord, we designed the space and reached out to potential donors. Agway of Cape Cod provided the team with a bench, pots, ornamental grasses, annuals, junipers and hollies to furnish the garden. Covell Brothers Landscaping generously donated mulch for the site. On installation day, the Master Gardeners braved wind and rain to completely transform the welcome area. Lots of calories were burned by all!
The Red Bellied Cooters
The Red Bellied Cooters organized a day of service of painting and interior rehabilitation at the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) in Buzzards Bay. We aided the NMLC by helping to fast-track the goal of improving the Animal Discovery Center before April school vacation week, one of the busiest weeks of the year for the Center. The Center provides an educational experience about helping sea life on Cape Cod and features numerous educational displays, specimens, and information about marine animals, strandings, rehabilitation, marine science and ocean conservation. We helped give the Discovery Center a much-needed face-lift by painting the walls and interior building structures of the Center as well as painting educational displays: two very large needs of the NMLC.
RUK Reinforcers
RUK Reinforcers provided social media coverage and food stations at the RUK4HIT Cape Cod Relay Race, a 220+mile, team-based endurance relay event, through all 15 towns on the Cape. RUK4HIT raises awareness and funds for Heroes in Transition, Inc. and its Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) programs. We organized locations for food stations, set them up, staffed them and broke them down. Our group also facilitated social media the days of the race, organizing and training volunteers eager to help with posting to raise awareness about the event.
Think Yarmouth!
Working with the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce and Town of Yarmouth, our team helped to build awareness for and encourage group participation in Yarmouth’s Annual Spring Cleanup Day. We obtained prizes from local vendors that were awarded to volunteers for Best Team Spirit, Youth Leadership and Most Unique Item Collected. In addition, we worked with the Yarmouth Chamber on beautification of the first of several vacant storefronts that were filled with local artwork. The intent is to improve the town’s aesthetics and build pride in the community.
CLI Rocks!
CLI Rocks! based our community project on The Kindness Rocks Project, a grass roots movement to promote random acts of kindness and inspiration to unsuspecting recipients through artfully decorated rocks with uplifting messages. Normally, the rocks are placed randomly throughout the Cape at beaches, boardwalks, and nature trails. We partnered with various organizations to help us decorate the rocks, including the Mashpee Senior Center and the Cape Cod Mall, and then distributed them through Meals On Wheels to one of the segments of our population most in need of an uplifting, inspiring, and encouraging message – our homebound seniors. Our hope is that these rocks will brighten the days of the recipients and encourage them to pass along their own messages of kindness.
Friends of the Cove
Our group helped Children’s Cove landscape an unused area to create a tranquility garden where children, staff, and visitors can enjoy nature and find peace from some of the challenges they face. To achieve that goal, we built a bench, cleaned up the yard, applied mulch, and planted indigenous perennials and wildflower seeds that will continue to grow in the years to come. We engaged local businesses by soliciting donations of wood, mulch, plants and money. And even better, we promoted the idea of children helping children here on the Cape by engaging a team of enthusiastic Boy Scouts who worked side by side with us, planting and cleaning up.
Helping Hands
Our group decided to help the Wellfleet Council on Aging maintain their community gardens. The community gardens offer the seniors an opportunity to garden and socialize with others. They have difficulty keeping up with the public areas of the garden and the town cannot afford to help with the costs. By assisting with the clean up of these areas, we helped to recreate a well-groomed, inviting space of which the members can be proud.
Ingredients for Success
It was more than a meal for the homeless women and children of Carriage House in North Falmouth. Ten young moms learned about all that goes into preparing a healthy dinner on a budget. Then they prepared it with our team under the guidance of a professional chef. The moms enjoyed a satisfying meal with their toddlers and hopefully came away with some ingredients for living a successful life beyond the shelter.
Mary’s Closeted Green Thumbs
Mary’s Closet, a thrift shop associated with Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, was in need of some “greening” of their property. They are a highly utilized thrift shop, re-selling clothing and home decor for many needy people and families across the Upper Cape. The Green Thumbs spent a Saturday morning doing an outside spring cleaning and planting to spruce up the thrift shop for their spring and summer seasons. All plantings and other materials were donated by Scenic Roots in Sandwich, Punkhorn Farm in Brewster and Jackie DeRuyter.
The Community Connectors
The Community Connectors assisted the nonprofit organization Cape Cod Volunteers to bring the first-ever Volunteer Fair to the Falmouth area. We met with Lisa McNeill, the president of CCV, on several occasions to brainstorm ideas for the fair and to work out logistics. In addition, one of our group members designed the flyer that we distributed to local businesses in the Mid and Upper Cape areas, and we secured a gift certificate to raffle off at the fair. On the day of the fair, we assisted with set up, break down, manned a booth for the Million Hour Challenge, took pictures of attendees, and helped with the YMCA hands-on project to assemble vacation meal bags for underserved children in Mashpee.
Digging Out, Digging In and Pulling Muscles
We dug out the old plantings and overgrown brush at the entryway at Barnstable Intermediate School and replanted and refurbished with new perennials and annuals, as well as mulch. Over two different workdays (and a few pulled muscles, broken nails and lost shovels), our group worked with school officials and local Boy Scouts to give the school a more welcoming and inviting first impression. It’s right on Route 28 … go take a look.
The Herring Heroes
The Herring Heroes worked together to create a public service announcement (PSA) video to help spread awareness about the decline of river herring on Cape Cod. Two experts were interviewed to identify the issues affecting the river herring population and what people can do to help. The team worked at the Cape Cod Community Media Center to edit the footage and create a PSA video to be distributed through various media channels to educate the public (Town of Barnstable, Community Media Centre and social media). The intent of the video is to increase public awareness and engage people to get involved in volunteer counts and herring restoration projects.
The High Rollers
Our project was to raise money to purchase life jackets for the Nauset Youth Alliance’s summer program. The Orleans Bowling Center generously donated a few hours of their time so we could hold our fundraiser, bowling with friends and families. In addition, we held a raffle, offering a 50/50 prize and gift certificates donated by local businesses, including Sunrise Bait & Tackle, Centerville Yoga and Always Beautiful Salon, as well as a beautiful hand-painted silk chiffon scarf from Mijiza Images. With the proceeds, Nauset Youth Alliance was able to purchase nine life jackets in various sizes.
Plant a Seed
The Plant a Seed team organized a day of service in the garden at the Family Pantry in Harwich. The garden allows the pantry to offer more fresh produce to their clients. During the service day, team members helped set up a picnic area for garden volunteers. In addition, the team helped with weeding and general work around the garden to prepare it for the season. This included planting lettuce , beans and sunflower seeds, as well as establishing a pumpkin patch that will provide pumpkins to the clients at Halloween.
The Diaper Bash Team
The Diaper Bash team worked with A Baby Center in Hyannis on two separate events. With the help of three volunteers from Cape Associates, the team cleaned and painted two waiting rooms at ABC, transforming them into bright and cheery spaces. Then the Diaper Bash fundraiser was held – an evening of fun, food and games. Those attending won raffle prizes galore! ABC serves about 500 babies every month, and the donations of nearly $700 and a vanload of diapers were greatly appreciated.
The Globe Trotters
Our project was to help Cape Abilities with their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Cape Abilities 5K. We helped to unload the vans, setup the banners, and distribute goodies to runners. At the end of the race we helped to break everything down and load the vans back up, and clean up the site. Despite the rain, the race went off without a hitch, and raised over $70,000. We were glad help Cape Abilities with such a great event!
The Happy Campers
Team Happy Campers connected with Dream Day on Cape Cod, a non-profit serving families with children that have life-threatening illnesses. Dream Day runs Camp Nan-Ke-Rafe in Brewster, providing a summer respite for these families. The Happy Campers had the privilege of assisting Dream Day with two separate plumbing work days for the camp in March and May. In addition to supporting the construction crews in building private bathroom facilities for each cabin, the team participated in campsite cleanup and created more awareness of the organization through personal networks and social media.
The Sting Operation
The Sting Operation was chosen by our group so that we could engage in establishing an outdoor program that would benefit both the youth of Cape Cod and the environment. Honey bees have sustained farming practices for over 4,000 years and are an essential component, directly or indirectly, in the production of between 50 and 80 percent of the world’s food supply. By volunteering our time and energy to the 4H Camp Farley, we were able to assist in the development of bee hives that will not only produce delicious honey, but also provide young people with important knowledge about essential ecosystems.
The Trailblazers
Trailblazers organized a Community Service Day at The Cape Cod Children’s Museum. This volunteer day had a primary goal of making their nature trail ready for children to have interactive story telling sessions in a natural setting. Landscaping was also performed to the front of the building to help make it more accessible and improve curb side appeal. The team secured additional volunteers for the event and got support from local businesses in the form of food and beverages.
PROMises For All
PROMises for All partnered with the Latham Centers, a national leader in special needs education, located in Brewster, to provide glamorous outfits and accessories for the students to wear at prom. The team collected gently used prom dresses and suits and secured donations on tuxedo rentals from the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Puritan Clothing.
Cleaner Choice
Cleaner Choice partnered with Calmer Choice, a small nonprofit that helps teach mindfulness to children on the Cape. The group teamed up with AutoBath Car Wash in Hyannis and held a car wash to raise awareness and funds for the organization.
Shades of Blue
Shades of Blue worked with the Veterans Outreach Grace Center in Mashpee. The team, along with approximately 40 other volunteers from Comcast and the Mashpee Rotary Club, spent a day landscaping the property and secured donations of mulch, a dumpster for debris, and food for the day’s volunteers. They also connected the Center with Maffei Landscaping, who donated time to assist the Grace Center and began a fundraising effort to replace the rotted wooden flagpole outside the center with a new fiberglass pole.
Five 4 Foundations
Five 4 Foundations partnered with Habitat for Humanity’s Cape Cod chapter and participated in the dedication ceremony for a newly constructed home in Mashpee. The team organized a celebratory dinner for the more than 40 volunteers who built this home for a young family in need. The team solicited food and beverage donations from local businesses (including a custom-made cake from a specialty baker) and sourced donated photography services for the event and a special thank-you gift for a key volunteer who retired after the build.
Team Step Up and Spruce Up
As an effort to support the arts community and to exemplify stewardship and volunteerism for local non-profits, the group supported the “Spruce Up the Center Day” at the Cotuit Center for the Arts. Two or three times a year the Center gathers their supporters, friends, and volunteers for this opportunity to contribute, socialize and get some much-needed spring cleaning done.
Team Donate Health
The team ran a public awareness and donation day event for the Cape Cod Hunger Network and The Family Pantry entitled “Healthy Food on Pantry Shelves” asking the public to bring healthy food or monetary donation to the Family Pantry on Sunday, May 20th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The Shore Things
The Shore Things organized a beach cleanup at the Mass. Audubon Society’s Long Pasture Sanctuary in Barnstable village. About 20 guests attended and collected almost 30 pounds of trash, including balloons, fireworks remnants and a teapot. The day also included a talk about oysters by shell fishing expert Tamar Haspel and a talk about shoreline critters by Ian Ives of Mass. Audubon.
Cape Cod COFY (Cape Cod Creating Opportunities for Youth)
Cape Cod COFY joined forces with the Barnstable County Council for Children Youth and Families (BCCCYF) and assisted them in the development, marketing, solicitations, execution and evaluation of the 2012 Youth Summit with the theme: Build Your Life on Cape Cod. Along with organizational development support, the team also developed and facilitated a Passion Mapping Class which was the kick off to a coaching and mentor program under development.
Team Luv (Leaders with Upward Vision)
The group worked with Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod to help market the organization within their ReStore, a recycling/retail store selling reusable and surplus building materials, appliances, furniture and home accessories to the public. The project goal was to ensure all visitors understand the mission and envision the positive change Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod imparts to the local community. The team sold 2 x 4 foot ads that were used as ceiling panels in ReStore. The revenue generated through these ads and sponsorships underwrote the design, production and installation other tiles featuring pictures, facts and mission statements, creating a highly visual and unique marketing display.
The Ones and Only
We collaborated with several local businesses to coordinate a major fundraising campaign and fun family event which was held on May 14, 2011. Proceeds from the event, called “Come Together – Fun Fair and Raffle”, support the Lower Cape Outreach Council in their continuation of providing essential aid to needy families across the lower Cape areas. MAD (Making a Difference) We chose to develop a resource library for mothers and children at the domestic violence shelter, Safe Harbor, run by CACCI in Hyannis. Working with staff at the shelter, we identified books on surviving trauma and abuse, parenting, adjusting to single-parent situations in new areas, and general books for young children. Books and donations were solicited from bookstores, civic and religious groups and individuals across Cape Cod, and a bookshelf was built to house the library. We also are working with the Shelter to facilitate the use of other resources in the creation of a computer and internet capability for mothers looking for housing and employment, and for children’s use in schoolwork.
Field of Dreams
Our project focused on the creation of a Facebook page to help promote community involvement in a new program of the Family Pantry, as well as in its existing programs. The new program, a huge garden planted this spring, will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the clients of the Cape’s largest food pantry.
CLI Trailblazers
The Big Buddy Mentoring Program will be used to provide individualized attention and academic help to students of Barnstable, grades 3 through 7. The goal of the program is to provide children, regardless of their economic status/background, with access to a mentor program and its many benefits without any financial cost. The program also gives students in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to mentor a child in their own town. CLI Trailblazers was instrumental in coordinating and assisting in the program’s kickoff event Tuesday May 17th.
The Mighty Media-Rites
As a group, we chose to focus on a project that would benefit the youth of Cape Cod. We worked with Harwich Junior Theater (HJT) and Cape & Islands Gay & Straight Youth Alliance (CIGSYA) to strengthen their brands and improve each organization’s media presence. We helped each organization to spread the word about its mission by connecting them to the Cape Cod Community Media Center. For HJT, this led to a television spot and interview. For CIGSYA, this led to an editing class for volunteer students to compile and edit digital media to create a commercial. Additionally, we partnered with the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to promote their family outreach programs and created a Facebook presence for the organization.
Gathering to Give
Gathering to Give is a self-perpetuating program that aims to connect people with their local community services and charitable organizations. The main goal is to empower people to become active in their communities while simultaneously fulfilling the specific or general donation needs of local charities.
Te@m Text
We hosted a forum at Sturgis Charter Public School for sophomores and juniors on the dangers of driving while texting. The forum included a diverse panel of speakers, results from student and parent surveys on their phone and driving habits, and an art contest to create a logo on the dangers of texting and driving. The materials from the forum as well as a DVD of the forum itself will be distributed to all high schools on Cape Cod to serve as a prototype for further forums.
Noah Needs Network
A project focused on increasing both human and material resources for NOAH center in Hyannis. The group established the NOAH Needs Network – a distribution list of community members with interest in supporting NOAH – and collectied from individuals and businesses items consistently needed by NOAH clients.
Elephants on Skates
With a nudge from the Barnstable High School principal and a shove from a teacher/advisor, Team Elephants on Skates decided to take on the student-run Barnstable Pro Shop as their CLI project. With a minimal student/staff experience, the shop was focused on raising $40,000 a year to cover the cost of ice time for BHS teams. The students needed help in understanding how they might accomplish this assistance in developing an action plan. Team Elephants on Skates saw this as an opportunity to share their business and marketing skills in this unique project that combines in-school learning with actual on-site business applications.
T-Rex
We conducted research on behalf of CapeAbilities to produce a feasibility study for building a learning center at their historic Olde Homestead property in the village of Marstons Mills. The proposed learning center would offer work/study programs specifically for special needs individuals.
Pilot House 6
The Pilot House 6 provided much-needed outdoor improvements requested by the residents of the Pilot House, a shelter on Yarmouth Road, Hyannis, for chronically homeless adults working toward regaining health, sobriety, and stability. Our improvements included safe storage for bicycles and tools, newer outdoor furniture, and redesigned landscaping. Our aim was to give the residents what they most needed to help them enjoy their outdoor space.
Friends of Cape Cod Children’s Place
Our project is a three-pronged marketing effort for the Cape Cod Children’s Place. We have created a marketing/fundraising action-plan, a brochure, and a video for the center.
The Leading Ladies
We focused on connecting teens to local volunteer opportunities. We worked with the Barnstable High School, Alternative Learning Program (ALP) and introduced them to several local non-profit agencies including: Barnstable COA, Habilitation Assistance Corp., Cape Cod Child Development, AmeriCorps, and Cape Cod Maritime Museum. Our goal is to create a lasting relationship between Barnstable High School and the local agencies.
We Can
WE CAN Corporation supports Cape Cod women in life transitions, sponsoring the popular “Pathfinders” mentoring program and mentor outreach with “The Bridge” program. Our group produced a Facebook page for the mentor program and promoted the page within appropriate local Facebook communities. We approached large Cape employers and professional women’s organizations to promote the mentor program, recruit women to attend an info session, and created a list/database of interested employers and organizations. We hosted an info event and reception at the Cape Cod Community Media Center in April.
Food-Fun-Connect
We worked hard to bring together two intergenerational groups (the Mashpee Senior Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod) that share a driveway, but little else. Participants from both organizations worked together to create pizza with Ralph Binder of the Mad Platter, cupcakes with the staff of Cupcake Charlie’s, and cookies-and-tea with The Tea Shoppe owner Jeni Hennessey. As it was titled in the Cape Cod Times – Sharing a Common Dish.
Group 3
We organized an annual clean-up day for the Johnny A. Kelley Recreation Area in Dennis. CLI members and volunteers spread mulch around play sets and swings; CLI members and the women’s softball league players edged and weeded baselines and the pitcher’s mound; members of local Girl Scout troops cleaned up the memorial garden. We created a blueprint to aide next year’s organizers and ensure an ongoing annual effort.
The Music Makers
We designed a music enrichment program for the children of the Cape Cod Boys and Girls Club. Over three Thursday afternoons in May, we brought a rock and roll band, a string quartet, and a jazz band to the Club in Mashpee. Each group performed for the children and spent some time introducing to and teaching them about many different types of music and instruments.
Project Group 1
We organized and hosted a drum circle for traumatic brain injury survivors. Craig Bautz of CAPEable Adventures facilitated the event on May 9, 2008, at Camp Wingate*Kirkland in Yarmouth Port. For 90 minutes, the participants enjoyed creating their own rhythm and laughter. Participants varied from the able-bodied to those requiring a wide range of assistive devices; from three years of age to those with considerable years of life experience. We all then enjoyed a meal together, socializing and learning more about one another.
Paul’s Group
We organized and ran a family fair at Cape Cod Community College on June 7, 2008, for the families of Children’s Cove, the Cape and Islands Child Advocacy Center. For many years, an avenue has been sought by which these parents and families might obtain needed resources, as well as financial, tax, legal, and school advice. We used a Family Fair to provide a way for the families to gather resources, ask questions, and even participate in active presentations on topics such as self-defense, bullying, safety, and disaster preparedness.
SPHND
We improved the dreary and dated appearance of the waiting area and two exam rooms at the Sandwich Public Health Nursing Department (SPHND). We painted, hung shelving and selected original artwork, and provided more professional bulletin boards. We acquired through donation a new HDTV/DVD/VHS system so patients can view public health education programs, as well as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs needed by the staff. We emptied, cleaned, and organized the equipment storage shed and everything it contained. We sought and received approval for SPHND’s two staff nurses to attend all continuing educational opportunities at RHCI.
Women Helping Women
We focused our efforts in working on the marketing/sponsorship segment of WE CAN’S major annual fundraiser, an author’s luncheon entitled “A Women’s Day of Words, Whimsy, and Wisdom”. We helped secure funds and in-kind donations for the event. In addition, we educated people in several areas on the Cape about WE CAN, its purpose, and its many success stories.
Bottles & Cans
We gathered information about recycling programs on Cape Cod into one document to be distributed electronically as a downloadable PDF. Included are text about why recycling works and a link to charitable organizations on Cape Cod that run recycling fund-raising programs. We will distribute it to every town hall and chamber of commerce on Cape Cod, as well as various realty and rental agencies.
Cape Cares for the Elderly
We held a volunteer fair for Cape organizations specializing in elder care on May 12, at Cape Cod Community College. We invited more than 40 organizations to the fair and had eight organizations attend. Pairpoint Glass provided free sun catchers to every participant.
Cape Entrepreneurs
Cape Entrepreneurs is an educational tool for teachers on Cape Cod to create a “bridge” between future leaders of tomorrow with business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of today. The tool is a web-based application known as “Speaker Bureau”, in which teachers and students can choose a qualified speaker to visit their class from a certain region and industry, to speak on a certain subject.
Secret Gardeners
We worked with the YMCA to clear an area and plant a Welcome Garden at the entrance to Camp Lyndon in Sandwich, as the YMCA did not have resources available to beautify the entranceway.
Fab Four
We redesigned and refurbished the landscaping at “Little Homesteads”, a group of low-income Housing rental units on Route 28 in Harwich. We aimed to provide the residents with an attractive yard, as well as the inspiration to initiate their own landscaping and home-improvement projects.
CAPE (Children’s Art Protecting the Environment)
CAPE used artwork provided by Waldorf School of Cape Cod children to create a 16-month calendar illustrating our ocean environment. All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will benefit the Cape Cod Stranding Network and their efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and release stranded marine mammals.
Not2Busy
We revitalized the Clipper Lane Town Landing in Dennisport and installed a new bench.
Unseen
We worked to raise awareness of the homeless population on Cape Cod. We arranged for volunteer participants to be photographed by Andrew Miller. On May 26, we opened a photo exhibit at the Cotuit Center for the Arts so all can see the people in our community who too often remain unseen.
Calamity Communication
We created a public service campaign about the Cape Cod Emergency Preparedness Handbook. With the Red Cross, Cape and Islands EMS System, Cape Cod Commission, Community Media Center and the Orleans Fire Department, we made a 30-minute program and PSA to air on local access cable.
The Red Sox
Assessed the next steps in volunteer recruitment and management for CapeCorps, a program of the Cape Cod Center for Sustainability.
What’s So Special About Cape Cod?
Created a children’s activity booklet to connect children to what is going on in nature right around here.
Art Pantry
Organized an intergenerational art project, bringing together elementary and middle school students with established art professionals in Provincetown to create works along the theme “A Journey of Healing”. Pieces were unveiled at the public opening of the RCHI for Children Eileen M. Ward Rehabilitation Center.
For the Birds
Planned and organized a bird walk and presentation for seniors in the Town of Bourne, in conjunction with the Bourne Council on Aging and the Cape Cod Bird Club.Donated a bird feeder, birdseed, bird books and picnic tables to the Bourne Senior Center.