News Briefs

Salvation Army Honors Partners in Coats for Kids

The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division honored Coats for Kids™ and its corporate partners Arthur C. Anton, Jr., COO of Anton’s Cleaners, Inc.; Eliot Tatelman, President of Jordan’s Furniture; and Jack Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Bank with the prestigious Others Award for their many years of service and dedication to the organization.

The mission of Coats for Kids is simple, yet powerful – “anyone who needs a coat will have one.” More than 250 schools, 300 companies, clubs and organizations, and thousands of individuals donate quality coats, which the organization then distributes free of charge to quality social service agencies, including The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division.

 There are 73 Coats for Kids corporate partner locations in addition to hundreds of additional drop-off locations in schools and company offices throughout the state.

The Salvation Army’s Others Award is presented to individuals and organizations who exemplify an extraordinary spirit of service to others. Over the 25 years, Coats for Kids has cleaned and distributed over 60,000 coats for children and adults in Massachusetts each year. Coats for Kids has also sponsored The Salvation Army’s largest Boston-area coat drive event – the Christmas Castle – for over 10 years, distributing coats to over 4,000 households in need.

“Coats for Kids and its corporate partners have played an integral role in providing coats to thousands of Massachusetts children and families who otherwise might not be able to stay warm during the winter months,” said Major Marcus Jugenheimer, General Secretary of The Massachusetts Salvation Army. “The support and dedication of Coats for Kids, Mr. Anton Jr., Mr. Tatelman and Mr. Clancy has been tremendous, and their commitment continues to help The Salvation Army fulfills its mission of serving all those in need. We’re honored to recognized them with the Others Award.”

 In addition to work with Coats for Kids, Anton, Jr. has also been serving on The Salvation Army’s Greater Boston Advisory Board since 2014, after a history of working with the Army through the ongoing efforts of Coats for Kids. 

CHA Cambridge Birth Center Receives Baby Friendly Re-Designation

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), an academic community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north region, is excited to share that the CHA Cambridge Birth Center has received the prestigious Baby-Friendly re-designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for granting this certification in the United States.

This honor demonstrates that the CHA Cambridge Birth Center is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

“The CHA Cambridge Birth Center has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns in our communities,” said Lori Bellwood, DNP, MSN, CNM, Director of the CHA Cambridge Birth Center and Midwifery Services. “This designation is a tribute to our Certified Nurse-Midwives who offer exceptional care and compassion and an outstandingly safe birth option for women.”

The Cambridge Birth Center is an intimate, warm, home-like setting right across the street from CHA Cambridge Hospital. The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

The CHA Cambridge Birth Center joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 604 of which are in the U.S. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family. Meet the midwives at the Birth Center at one of their monthly evening events. Please call 617-665-2229 to learn more today.

Treasurer Goldberg Warns of Lottery Scam Text Messages

 Illegitimate text messages are being sent claiming to be from the Massachusetts State Lottery. The texts say, â€œHi this is Kim with the MA Lottery. Please reply when you get a chance. I have some great news.” According to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, these texts are a scam and have not been sent by the Lottery. 

“It has come to our attention that text messages claiming to be from the Massachusetts State Lottery have been sent to residents across the state,” said State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. “Our goal is to ensure that no Massachusetts citizen is taken advantage of as part of this scam.”

 If you have any questions, please contact the Treasurer’s office at (617) 367-6900.