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Community Corner

Holiday gift ideas to help children in need

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is pleased to announce the launch of its new online Gift Shop - just in time for the holiday season. Visit: http://www.mahomeless.org/

All proceeds support the Coalition’s initiative A Bed for Every Child. By shopping at the Gift Shop, you can find gifts for family, friends, and colleagues – all while supporting local children in need.

A Bed for Every Child is an initiative that started two years ago after the Coalition learned from public school social workers about the number of children from low-income families falling asleep at school because they were sleeping on floors or doubled up in bed with family members at night.

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In response to this need, the Coalition launched A Bed for Every Child. The initiative provides a new mattress, box spring, frame and linens to children in need. For every $250 raised, A Bed for Every Child provides a child with a new bed set. In just two years, the Coalition has provided 1,314 children with new beds.

The good news is that all proceeds from the Coalition Gift Shop benefit A Bed for Every Child. The Gift Shop has something for everyone on your holiday list - baked goods, jewelry, T-shirts, candles, a teddy bear and gift cards. With items starting at $5, there are options for all gift givers. One popular item is the Life Saver necklace from the Joan Hornig Philanthropy is Beautiful Collection. It comes in black onyx or crystal for $35 each and 100% of the profit benefits A Bed for Every Child.

Find out what's happening in Sharonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Coalition also has its Home for the Holidays greeting card available this year. Local artist Mary Newell DePalma created a beautiful card to bring attention to the needs of homeless families during the holiday season. To shop, visit www.mahomeless.org or call the Coalition Development Office at 781-595-7570 extension 22.

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is a leader in developing innovative advocacy and programming on homelessness prevention, affordable housing and meeting basic needs. As one of the first furniture banks in the nation, the Coalition assists in furnishing the future for thousands of households who are transitioning out of homelessness into permanent housing each year.  These efforts result in measureable outcomes and community impact. Created in 1981, the Coalition embraces a collaborative approach to unify people and mobilize resources to support its mission to end homelessness in the Commonwealth.

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