Welcome Wagon gives checks to area agencies

By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
06/24/2005

Shrewsbury - Sending a kid off for special memories at summer camp is financially out of reach for some families. But one child who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it will be able to attend YMCA's Camp Harrington this year thanks to the Welcome Wagon Club of Shrewsbury. As a social and charitable organization, the Welcome Wagon celebrates its year-end each June by dividing their expense overage to local nonprofits.
According to out-going Welcome Wagon President Becky Dalke, benevolent deeds are intertwined with the club's focus.
"One of the primary goals of the Shrewsbury Welcome Wagon, beyond being a social organization, has always been to promote and/or support local civic and charitable causes," she said.
Including mid-year donations, a portion of more than $3,000 was also given to Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS), Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE), the Shrewsbury Public Library, the Shrewsbury Educational Foundation, the Prefontaine Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Walk for Breast Cancer, the Tsunami Relief fund, Share the Warmth and the Tara Bean Foundation.
Jeff Chin, executive director of SYFS, said their nonprofit organization relies on donations to carry out their services. With contributions like the one from the Welcome Wagon, he said, the organization is able to do such things as subsidize after-school or other programming for people unable to afford participation costs.
"There is that continued misconception," Chin said, "that there aren't people of need here in Shrewsbury because we tend to be known more as an upper-to-middle class community. But there are pockets of people in town that really have no health insurance, are on the lower economic scale, and mental health issues affect all of us regardless of what our socio-economic status might be."
Chin said having SYFS being chosen as one of the Welcome Wagon beneficiaries is heartening.
"One of the things that's most satisfying is how an organization like Welcome Wagon is made up basically of community members here in Shrewsbury, and to have that support from the community means a lot," he said.
Dalke said her term as president has been a fabulous experience and she's enjoyed having a role in the club's charitable endeavors.
"Charitable giving brings out the best in everyone," Dalke said. "I have been very impressed with the wonderful people whom I have met that give generously of their time, talents and money. These people really feel great knowing that they are helping someone less fortunate."
Besides the financial contributions, the club is also involved with in-kind donations. Each month, the organization conducts a different service project to help a local cause. Member contributions during the past year included a collection of over 150 coats for St. Anne's Church's social service offerings, 50 gifts for St. Anne's giving tree, school supplies for children in need, household items for Abby House, which serves homeless and battered women and children, and 1,500 pounds of food for the Shrewsbury-based Worcester County Food Bank.
Charitable funds are raised through the club's social activities throughout the year, with the surplus after expenses going toward the end-of-year causes. Social activities supporting the charities during the past year included an auction in which husbands were auctioned off for their skills, a town-wide scavenger hunt, a holiday marketplace, a brown bag raffle, a dinner at the Sumner House, which was decorated by area designers, and an evening of creative table presentations.
As Dalke steps down from her presidency term, she's taking on the role as the organization's membership coordinator cochair, along with Paula Baker. Dalke said she encourages anyone in town who is interested in getting involved "in a wonderful social and charitable organization" to contact her at beckydalke@beckydalke.com or (508) 864-1047. For more information about the Welcome Wagon's other activities, visit www.shrewsburywelcomewagon.com.

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