Many Ways to Help

The results of the 2023 Boston Homeless Census were released in June and reiterated that homelessness is increasing in Boston and across Massachusetts. Your support will be more vital than ever when Circle of Hope resumes donation drop-offs in September and we transition into the colder months. The families we serve rely on Circle of Hope for warm clothing, outerwear, and hygiene essentials to keep themselves and their children safe. In addition to donating your gently used clothing, there are many ways to support the children and adults we serve:

Do Some Back To School Shopping. Shopping for new clothing for your kiddos? Consider buying an extra outfit for a child experiencing homelessness. When our donation center re-opens in September, we will begin sending back-to-school clothing to our partner family shelters right away so children can attend school comfortably.

Run A Collection Drive. Collect new socks, underwear, hygiene essentials, or other donations for Circle of Hope. View our Collection Drive Guide for help getting started.

Assemble Donation Kits. Together with your colleagues, church members, or community group, assemble Welcome Baby Bags, Dignity Bags, Period Pouches, Get Set packages, or Emergency Clothing Kits for Circle of Hope.

Join Our Go-To Crew. Sign up for the Go-To Crew to receive email alerts about our urgent donation needs.

Spread the Word. Follow Circle of Hope on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter and help spread the word about our mission. Engaging on social media and sharing our posts go a long way!

Donate. Your gift to Circle of Hope enables our team to spring into action whenever a need arises. Donate online.

2021 Annual Campaign

Dear Friends,

In mid-June, Community Service Officers from Boston Police Department District E-13 asked Circle of Hope to help a young woman who was pregnant and homeless. “She doesn’t have anything,” the officers told us. Her due date was less than three weeks away.

Right away, we sent the soon-to-be mom brand new clothing, a Welcome Baby Bag, a new mom kit, and essential toiletries. These vital donations helped her and her newborn thrive in the vulnerable postpartum months. 

The number of emergency response requests grew this year, as did our partnership with the Boston Police Bureau of Community Engagement. Within 48 hours, we answered their emergency calls for dozens of families who lost everything in house fires, giving 6,500 items to children and families throughout Boston. Ten graduating public high school students who were homeless received our “Welcome to College” packages of bedding, toiletries, and health essentials at a special recognition celebration. Through Circle of Hope’s Vaccine Equity Initiative, Community Service Officers distributed COVID-19 vaccine postcards in multiple languages to help families who are homeless access reliable, life-saving vaccine information. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have supplied our partner shelters and clinics with 166,000 essential items – including 31,700 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) – to prevent the spread of illness and keep the people we serve healthy.

We couldn’t have done it without you. Your generosity made it possible for Circle of Hope to answer every call for help. Your support now will help us deploy warm clothing, hygiene supplies, and PPE directly to people in need this year.

Please give a gift to our Annual Campaign by December 31, 2021 to help us protect infants, children, and adults who are homeless and most at-risk during the pandemic. 

Thank you for your generosity and support. Together, we are protecting health and saving lives.

Most gratefully,

Barbara Waterhouse

Founder, Executive Director