WEST Gives Back

The WEST community is actively involved in volunteer projects.  We partner with local non-profits on projects to make a difference.  We have involvement from our Board, Advisory Board, members, staff, volunteers, and community coming together and helping others by giving our time, talents, dollars, and items in need.  If you have a volunteer opportunity to share or would like to give back, please reach out to us at [email protected].

May 2024 - Diaper Drive

We are running a diaper drive to support Beantown Baby Diaper Bank in Lexington, MA. Beantown Baby Diaper Bank serves 7 partner agencies based in Waltham, Burlington, and Lexington, collectively serving over 350 families annually. Diapers are not covered by any form of government assistance and 1 in 2 U.S. families struggle with diaper need, defined as lack of access to an adequate supply of clean diapers. You can help keep local babies clean, healthy, and dry! WEST will be collecting diaper donations at all of our in-person May events (5/2, 5/8, 5/23). 

  • You can purchase a box or bag of disposable diapers to donate - no quantity is too big or small - every diaper matters!
  • You may purchase diapers via Beantown Baby Diaper Bank’s Amazon Wishlist.
  • You can bring in FRESH disposable diapers that your children have outgrown.
  • Open packages or loose unused FRESH diapers are accepted! (Please make sure diapers are not dried out - they DO expire!)
  • Donate online at beantownbabydiaperbank.org.

December 2023 - Clothing Donation

 

This winter, we are working on providing new and gently used clothing to those in need. Please help us support the comfort, physical health, and stress level of these individuals. Donate gently used clothing to St. Francis House by bringing them to our upcoming in-person WEST events: 12/14 in Boston, 1/17 in Cambridge, or 1/23 in Lexington. Now is a great time to clean out your closet. You can also engage your company - Do your coworkers have clothes to donate? Does your company have extra branded swag?  

Donate new underwear and other basic needs via the ArCS wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1PC9OIO6AGKPZ. Select item(s) for recent migrants - Haitian, Colombian, Ukrainian, and Afghan refugees, select the correct delivery address on Amazon. It should say Phyllis Brown’s Gift Registry Address. You can sort the list by price or priority.

May 2023 - Dana Hall - Women in STEM

Dana Hall is about being unapologetically confident, ambitious and kind, forever curious, and audaciously yourself.  We brought in four women in various fields of STEM to talk about their careers with the 5th grade class to inspire the next generation.

December 2022 - Zaidi-STEM - Mentoring Program

We are partnered with Zaidi-STEM, a 501(c) non-profit whose vision is to enable equitable and inclusive quality STEM education in Sub-Sahara Africa. Their mission is to promote STEM in Sub-Sahara Africa through various programs, one of which is a 6–8-month virtual mentoring program. This program is accomplished through strategic partnerships with high schools in Kenya. Several members of the WEST community signed up to be mentors for the 2023 session. 

March 2022 - Latino STEM Alliance and Black Theatre United - The Art of Women in Science and on Broadway

WEST hosted a special three-part series to celebrate Women’s History Month, Broadway, and women in science. The exciting series included three unique interactive, entertaining experiences focusing on the Art of Women in Science and on Broadway. All of the proceeds from the series were donated to Latino STEM Alliance and Black Theatre United. 

Spring 2021 - Life Science Cares - Spring Drive for Room To Grow

We partnered with Life Science Cares on a drive benefiting Room to Grow, which is committed to supporting the fundamental needs of babies born into poverty during their first three years. We collected brand new bottles, bibs, and other feeding supplies crucial for babies' health and growth and so that caregivers have an opportunity to form mealtime bonds in the earliest years. 

March 2021 - Kids in Tech - Career Days

In March (for women’s history month), we partnered with Kid’s in Tech for their weekly tech club meetings. Throughout the month, we provided 9 speakers to talk with tech club students about their career path in STEM inspiring them with possible career options. We also partnered on a couple Beyond the Microscope Virtual Community Labs.

April 2020 - Life Science Cares - Donation to the COVID-19 Response Fund

The WEST community came together for a virtual fundraising event. We organized a special virtual panel discussion and donated one hundred percent of the proceeds to the Life Science Cares COVID-19 Response Fund providing flexible grants to organizations working to meet the emerging and shifting needs caused by the unprecedented outbreak.

May 2019 - Life Science Cares - Second Annual Diapers & Undies