‘Doing something for the community’

LEOMINSTER — Excitement was in the air at the March 15 Worcester Railers hockey game, where city-based Warmer Winters was the featured nonprofit.

The goal was to get the word out about what they do to give back in the community and the crew there did just that. Besides showing examples of the handknit items they offer to those in Central Mass in need — hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters — they made sure to let people know about the Warmer Winters 20th anniversary kickoff on Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at First Parish Church, 923 Main St., Fitchburg.

The anniversary is themed “A Work of Heart” and the event will feature a complimentary dinner buffet and their first ever “Work of Heart” honorees will be Dina and Greg Nims of Parkhill Pizza, who host an annual Christmas Day luncheon at their Fitchburg business that is supported by Warmer Winters. The anniversary celebration is open to the public and free, but donations are appreciated and will be used to help defray the cost of the Christmas Day luncheon.

The Railers game served as the yearly Warmer Winters President’s Volunteer Appreciation Outing. Warmer Winters President David Roth said that it was, “as always, a highlight for me and my wife to provide a big thank you to our loyal and hardworking volunteers, board members, and junior board leaders.”

He went on to say that they have “the absolute best volunteers and crafters, many of whom have been with us since Judy Gentry founded the organization with just four volunteers” two decades ago. Nowadays they have over 100 volunteers and distribute 5,000 handmade warm winter items to neighbors in need each winter.

David said they were “thrilled to be able to host” at the Railers game youth and families from organizations such as the Spanish-American Center in Leominster, the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg, Leominster, & Gardner, LUK Mentoring in Fitchburg, and Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens “to enable them to enjoy the game, learn more about Warmer Winters, and to meet our current volunteers and supporters.”

Warmer Winters Assistant Executive Director Nancy Gedenberg, Warmer Winters Junior Board of Directors Chair Kelly Taylor, and her dad Glen Taylor, a Warmer Winters board member, helped Roth man their table at the hockey game.

“It makes me feel like I’m doing something for the community,” said Kelly of what she enjoys about being involved with Warmer Winters.

The 16-year-old high school sophomore said she and her dad got involved with Warmer Winters a few years ago after learning about the nonprofit organization while buying a Christmas tree at one of its community partners, The Gardener’s Spot in Leominster. She shared it has taught her leadership skills and that she already knew how to knit when she joined the Warmer Winters crew — her cousin taught her how to knit when she was little, and her favorite thing to make is scarves.

Both Glen and David admitted that while they don’t know how to knit, they are happy to give back in other ways.

“My job is to bring the pizza,” David quipped about the food provided at the monthly Knit Knites they hold the third Friday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the First Parish Church in the fall, winter, and spring and during the summer at The Gardener’s Spot, 66 Granite St., Leominster. Anyone age eight and up is welcome to join and can learn to knit or crochet on a loom if they don’t know how.

Glen called Warmer Winters “a great organization that helps so many people in the community,” and talked about the annual Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Coats for a Cause effort they participate in.

“Until you go to an event, you don’t realize how many people are in need,” Glen said.

Nancy, who has been with Warmer Winters since 2012, said “people appreciate” what they do and mentioned just some of the many places they visit each year to drop off the handknit items made with love, including shelters in the Twin Cities, DCF offices, Community Health Connections, and FMC Devens, a federal prison.

She is a second-generation Warmers Winters team member. Her mother started knitting with the nonprofit after sustaining injuries due to a fire, which was helpful with getting strength back in her hands.

“I think it’s awesome,” Nancy said when asked what it means to her to be carrying on her mother’s legacy.

The Railers outing gave Warmer Winters a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about what the 100% volunteer led nonprofit organization does in the greater community. Roth said they welcome volunteers ages eight and up to “experience the absolute joy of giving back” and that their junior board members ages eight to 17 are “given responsibility and respect while enhancing their leadership and community engagement skills.”

“We always need additional volunteers and those interested in knitting or crocheting, or learning to do so, to help us to warm the bodies and hearts of more neighbors in need each year,” he said, adding that they donate handknit items to over 30 nonprofits and community organizations in the region each year.

The family-oriented anniversary celebration will feature a complimentary dinner buffet, raffling off tickets to the Warmer Winters Knit Knite at the Worcester Red Sox baseball game in August as well as the chance to win baskets, the opportunity to chat with Warmer Winters volunteers, and presentations by junior board members. Those interested in attending should RSVP by calling or texting David at 978-340-0486 for food planning purposes.

David said besides the guests of honor — The Nims — Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia and State Rep. Michael Kushmerek will be there along with representatives from State Sen. John Cronin’s office and the Fitchburg Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit. In addition, members of the Fitchburg Islamic Center mosque will be presenting Warmer Winters with a donation.

For more information email warmerwintersorg@gmail.com and follow Warmer Winters on Facebook and Instagram.