Make a Difference Day/Pumpkin Festival

Make a donation and receive a free pumpkin compliments of Harvard Pilgrim Health.

On Saturday, October 27th from 9 to 1, rain or shine, the Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, invites everyone to the 4th Annual Make a Difference Day/Pumpkin Festival. This national day of giving facilitates neighbors helping neighbors. Please bring your quality used items to the Braintree Town Hall Cahill Auditorium, 1 JFK Memorial Dr., Braintree, to donate for this special day. Now more than ever, people in need would gratefully appreciate items that you may no longer need or products that are especially sought after. Our friends from Project Have Hope will also be joining us with their handmade beads made from recycled paper from the women of the Acholi Quarter of Uganda which makes a difference in their lives. In exchange for donated articles pick up a free pumpkin, while quantities last. Pumpkins are sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation's 9/11 Community Spirit Mini-Grant. Music will be provided by Karen Woodhall and Tom Glenn.

We're asking our customers to start putting aside quality used items to donate. Items that are being collected are: Fall and winter children's clothing, infant to high school sizes, for the Kid's Closet. Adult clothing, including interview and work attire, and household items, especially dishes and small appliances, for Interfaith Social Services' career closet and thrift shop. Baby items, including car seats, strollers, playpens, safety items, bedding, diaper bags, toys and puzzles-(NO  CRIBS), for Cradles to Crayons. Nov./Dec. seasonal items, books and DVD’s for the Senior Center. Eyeglasses for Lions Recycle for Sight, cell phones for cell phones for soldiers, material to make quilts for Children’s Hospital. Aquariums, Filters, Heaters, Food Bowls, Animal Toys and cages/crates, dry dog food, reptomin turtle food and bleach for the N.E. Wildlife Center.

New items are also needed and they are: Toiletries, including toilet paper, toothbrushes, shampoo and toothpaste. Non-perishable food and paper goods, especially paper towels and toilet paper, for the Margie Crispin Center. Laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, diapers, female sanitary items and baby wipes.  Birthday party Supplies for Birthday Wishes. Other miscellaneous items that are being collected are: soda can tabs for Shriners Hospitals for Children, box tops for education, codes from Coke products, Campbell's labels, Sunny D labels, Capri Sun pouches, old sneakers, in any condition, for recycle or reuse (no cleats), old keys for keyforhope.org and wine corks. Cleanse your soul and your closets for these noble causes and get a free pumpkin, grown by The Farmer's Garden and sponsored by a Mini-Grant from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, all in one visit to the market. Efforts like this really do make a difference in people's lives. This event is organized by Sustainable Braintree. Item reuse benefits the community & our planet. For more info go to: http://www.sustainablebraintree.org. See you Saturday.