Bridgewell’s 2022 Celebration of Community Kick-off a Success

Over 50 members of Bridgewell volunteer at Newhall Fields Community Farm in Peabody for a day of service

Bridgewell held the kick-off event for its “Celebration of Community” on October 4, 2022. The service project event, formerly known as the Bridgewell Day of Giving, was held at Newhall Fields Community Farm (NFCF) in Peabody and drew more than 50 volunteers to help with fall farm projects.

“Days like the one we had at Newhall Fields Community Farm are exactly why we do what we do. It’s a reminder of how important it is to be involved in your local community, bring people together from various walks of life and backgrounds, under one goal—learning from and helping others,” said Chris Tuttle, Bridgewell CEO. “We are so thankful for the work our fellow nonprofits do in the area and understand the importance of creating programs for people in our services that allow us to give back, together.”

More than 50 people, including people from Bridgewell’s autism day programs, disability services, housing and recovery programs, and staff, as well as partners from neighboring company JEOL, assisted with fall harvest work at the farm. The work not only benefitted the farm, a nonprofit organization in Peabody, but also supported Citizen’s Inn’s Haven from Hunger, which receives fresh produce from the farm.

“Our neighbors at Bridgewell do such a great job providing opportunities for individuals and families who need human services. We are so thankful for their program participants, employees, and neighbors at JEOL who came to the farm to help with a variety of fall projects,” said Stephanie Johnson, NFCF volunteer. “It was such a great day; what stood out most to me was the sense of accomplishment expressed by those who volunteered. It was heartwarming to witness.”

The Service Project kicked off Bridgewell’s Celebration of Community activities, which encompasses the first two weeks in October. Other Celebration of Community events include a Family Day on Saturday, October 8 at Buckley Field in Peabody, a blood drive for MGH at Bridgewell headquarters in Peabody on October 11, and the Bridgewell Team’s participation as a charity partner for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation’s 5K on October 16 at Lookout Farm in Natick.