Thanks to all of the participants, volunteers, family and corporate sponsors, the Second Annual Strides for SOS 5K and 1 Mile Walk/Run was a huge success. With the help of our amazing BPS community, the event raised nearly $19,000.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STRIDES FOR SOS WALK/RUN IN THE FALL OF 2022
It’s time for our Annual Season of Giving and we need your help to make the season bright for BPS families in need. Get all the details and sign up to donate $25 Target and Meijer Gift Cards now through December 8th.
Schools will deliver the gift cards, wrapping paper, and handmade cards in time to allow families to shop for the holidays.
Any BPS family in need this holiday season can contact their school’s CSO or principal or fill out a request for Season of Giving support.
Beverly Elementary Brownie Troop 77564 completed a service project to support families through SOS. At their November meeting, troop members decorated and assembled a “Birthday in a Bag” for each of this year’s Season of Giving families. In addition to receiving gifts from the community in December, each family that signed up will also receive a “Birthday in a Bag” to help them celebrate the next birthday in their home. Bags included cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, streamers, plates, napkins, invitations, and more. The girls learned about the Schools Offer Support mission during their meeting and were excited to be part of helping support families in their BPS Community.
Good Morning Rachel – and of course Lori, Carol and SOS students,
Thank you so much for the generosity and SOS support for the community gardens at Next. Now that we have 4 large and easily accessible planter boxes, our members are really looking forward to the growing season. We have several members already signed up to plant, harvest and maintain the gardens all summer long. Gardening is such a pleasure for so many seniors but unfortunately many no longer have the opportunity as they have downsized to apartments or are no longer capable of maintaining a ground level garden that requires a lot of effort. For others, they are simply looking forward to a healthy harvest of summer vegetables and herbs to take home and enjoy, something many folks do not have access to.
Thank you – thank you!
Lori, Carol and the all the students that came out to help were so great to work with – Organized, efficient, and reliable!! You could not ask for a better representative for Seaholm! We are very grateful SOS reached out and choose Next to be the beneficiaries of their generosity and efforts!
Thank you again – we are humbled and honored.
Cris Braun
Executive Director
SOS First Annual Miles for Meals 5K and 1Mile Race was virtual this year due to the pandemic. But that did not stop our amazing community from coming out and raising funds, running in small groups or alone and supporting BPS families in need.
Thank you to all our participants! We hope, that despite the virtual nature of the event, you were able to connect with some friends, get outside, and enjoy a run or walk. With your participation, we were able to raise over $20,000. We cannot express our appreciation enough, and we hope to see everyone in person in 2021!
Overall Female
Audrey DaDamio 17:26
Overall Male
Toland Corum 18:20
BPS Staff Fastest Female
Vera Pecaj
BPS Staff Fastest Male
Antonio Boggiano
Largest Team
Derby NJHS
Fastest Team
Pace Makers
Age Group Winners
Ken Hall
Barb Roehling
John DaDamio
Phyllis Boland
Melissa Kosiba
Peter Frauenheim
Benjamin Thayer
Kristin Plumb
Ronan Tierney
Sophie Hanawalt
Seaholm High School Top Finishers
Jack Seel
Anna Warnemuende
Michael Davies
Meghan Murray
Groves High School
Top Finishers
Jace Bishop
Megan Gusho
Aymeric Flaig
Sydney Jones
International Academy
Top Finishers
Claire Thomson
Berkshire Middle School
Top Finishers
Cooper Bishop
Vincent Betanzo
Mia Boland
Derby Middle School
Top Finishers
Krysta O’Donnell
Spencer Werner
Reese Frauenheim
Daniel Cockroft
Birmingham Covington School Top Finishers
Henry Warnemuende
Cora Bogner
Rachel Goldstein
Beverly Elementary
Top Finishers
Taylor Finnerty
Bingham Farms Elementary
Top Finishers
Ellie Brinker
Greenfield Elementar
Top Finishers
Joshua Wiercinski
Lucy Langhorst
Harlan Elementary
Top Finishers
Charlie Dobrowitsky
Pierce Elementary
Top Finishers
Jane Murray
Sloane Bogner
Asher Boehm
Alex Tronel
Pembroke Elementary
Top Finishers
Kaia Heatherly
Easton Frauenheim
Luke Moran
Quarton Elementary
Top Finishers
Ginny Plumb
West Maple Elementary
Top Finishers
Addelyn Bishop
Thanks again to everyone who participated and donated. Because of you this event was a huge success and we will be able to help many people in our community.
Info TBD
The annual SOS Club raking event was held in early November with 25+ club members volunteering. They went to 8 houses of elderly families recommended by the NEXT organization. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day! Lots of leaves and lots of fun. Very rewarding. A real team building event benefiting many families.
In May of 2021, BLOOM Upcycle Boutique hosted its first Prom Pop-Up Shop. Groves and Seaholm students were able to shop for free prom dresses, suits, jewelry, shoes, and more during an event held in the Seaholm Cafeteria after school. Dozens of students from both schools attended the pop-up. BLOOM is grateful to Dani Lutz (Groves alumna) and her mother, Beth Lutz, for donating dozens of prom dresses to BLOOM. Dani collected dresses while in high school to host free prom dress events at Pontiac High School and still had many dresses on hand. When they heard about BLOOM, they graciously donated all of their remaining dresses.
