Hello!

With the glorious Masquerade Ball now in the rear view mirror, we are looking ahead to all kinds of fun coming up in the next few weeks and months, as well as ways you can volunteer your time and help others.

You already know that the Farmers Markethas moved indoors to Gilmor Glass, and will run weekly through December and bi-monthly after that. (Specific dates for Jan-April on the website!)  Also upcoming:  A Soul Dance Party on Thanksgiving Weekend, just when you need to get out of the house and burn off some turkey. The Grand Opening of our newly renovated building on December 3. And I think a some of you might be as excited as I am that singer Suzzy Roche will be here on February 11, performing and reading from her new novel!

                                                                  -- Jenny Hansell, Executive Director

Please bring any clean coats, any size (but we always particularly need children's coats and boots), to NECC between now and next Thursday, November 10. (For weekenders, we'll be open tomorrow, Saturday morning, from 8am - noon or you can drop them at the Farmers Market up until about 1:30pm. If you need to find another time, just let us know.)  Anyone in need of a coat can stop by NECC

on Friday November 11 between 2 and 6pm.  This year the Coat Drive is being run both by NECC's Teen Team and the Webutuck 7th Grade community service club - help them get the satisfaction of helping their neighbors in need.

Midnight Run - for the fifth year, a group of NECC teens will head down to New York City to bring hot chili and coffee, blankets and toiletries, and coats and sweatshirts to homeless men living on the streets. We work closely with the Midnight Run organization to make sure the items get to those who need them most. It's a transforming experience for the young people who see urban poverty up close for the first time.  Some of the items we need are: dark-colored sweatshirts and coats in extra-large sizes. New unopened underwear, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, and packages snacks are all useful too, as well as a gift card to a local grocery store to help cover the cost of the food ingredients. Call, email or stop by to see Sara for more information and to make a donation.

Soul Dance Party, Saturday November 26, from 8pm - Midnight at the American Legion Post 178.  Dance to the greatest soul music from the 1960's and 1970s - James Brown, the Commodores, Aretha, Sam and Dave, and much more. $15 admission, prizes for best bell bottoms, best dance moves, and more. Boogie on!
  

Pay it Forward - Volunteers needed! Your time, whether it’s 2 hours a month or much more, can make a difference. 

Care Car drivers may be the only friendly face some of our elderly neighbors see in a week. Living alone, our seniors can become lonely, even depressed, and they may have nobody to look in on them on a regular basis. By driving them to the doctor or grocery store, you not only are helping them get the vital care they need, you are a companion, a friend, a lifeline. Many of our drivers have told us that they like to drive now because they hope someone will be there for them in their time of need.

Save the Date: Open House to celebrate NECC's Grand Reopening: Saturday, December 3, 3pm - 6pm. Free and open to all to stop in and take a look around at all the beautiful changes we've made. More information to come soon.

Save the Date: February 11 - Suzzy Roche of The Roches. One of the best-know singer-songwriter folk acts to emerge from the Greenwich Village scene in the late 1970s, the Roches' soaring harmonies, smart and whimsical lyrics and great sense of humor have staying power.  Suzzy, the youngest of the three sisters, has just published a novel, Wayward Saints, which is getting high praise. She'll be singing, reading from the novel, and signing books and CDs, here at NECC. 

 Tax preparation volunteers provide another crucial service. So often we’ve met families who haven’t filed taxes because they were afraid they’d owe money – they had no idea they were actually due refunds thanks to programs like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. The money that comes back to them often helps them pay for food and clothing for their children, an pay off crippling medical bills so they can get back on their feet again.  You can be the person who gives them the good news!   You’ll go through six days of IRS-sponsored training, or study online on your own time – you choose.  Then sign up to do taxes once a week or more, from late January through April.

To volunteer for these crucial projects, just give us a call and ask for Jennie P or shoot her an email at info [at] neccmillerton.org.

Thank you!