Parent Talk Celebrates Our Super Volunteers, Part 2

Parent Talk is happy to honor Meghann Freni and Laura Perras as recipients of our Volunteer of the Year service award.  On December 27th, we celebrated with a blog post on Laura, and today, we follow up with a post on Meghann!
 

Spotlight on Meghann Freni, Volunteer of the Year

Meghann Freni is someone who seems to like getting off to a running start, judging from her habit of diving headfirst into each new volunteer experience with Parent Talk! 

Meghann is wife to Jon and mom to Ryan, Colin and Nora (ages 5, 3 and 1, respectively). She shares the Volunteer of the Year title with Laura Perras because of her remarkable willingness and courage to jump in and lend a hand, and leadership, when needed.

 

After giving birth to Ryan in 2012, Meghann left her Human Resources job in Boston to become a stay-at-home mom.  She moved with her young family back to her hometown of Needham.  Once in Needham, she joined a Parent Talk playgroup.

When Ryan turned 4, Meghann had her first real volunteer experience with Parent Talk.  She became Co-Chair for Parent Talk's Preschool and Kindergarten Fair in 2016.  She quickly followed that experience by once again, stepping in as Co-Chair, this time for the annual Summer Camp Fair in 2017.  Meghann explains, "I had friends who were involved with Parent Talk [who] really enjoyed their volunteer experiences, so they encouraged me to get more involved and I'm so glad I did!"

In chairing each event, Meghann's responsibilities included reaching out to schools, enrichment programs and camps to invite them to attend and purchase a table at either of the two fairs.  "From there, it was logistics such as set-up, materials needed for the event, and of course, the [Preschool Fair and Camp Fair] booklet[s]!"

While learning the ropes from the bottom up may be the preferred way many of us get started on a new adventure, a lack of past experiences appears not to have posed any constraint on Meghann!  Consider that freshly off of her second Parent Talk volunteer experience of co-chairing the Summer Camp Fair, Meghann neatly stepped into her current Board role as Parent Talk's Fundraising Co-Chair. 

Meghann has continued her involvement in Parent Talk because of what she views as the rewards of volunteering -- getting involved, making friends, and gaining a sense of community.  Of her experiences with the Preschool Fair and Camp Fair, Meghann says,  "I was able to see both events from start to finish.  It was great to see how families got a lot out of both events and I enjoyed the planning process and meeting new families and Parent Talk members.  By volunteering, you are helping to promote a sense of community, which in turn helps those who are new to the area or those who are looking to find something new within our community."

Thank you, Meghann, for all you do to make great events and programming possible for the entire Parent Talk community!

Are you thinking of volunteering or filling a leadership role for the first time? Perhaps take a page from Meghann's book and jump right in, learning trial by fire!  If that's not your cup of tea, keep in mind that beginning your involvement with Parent Talk can be as easy as clicking on the next Sign Up Genius link that you see, and filling a one-hour volunteer slot!  Volunteer opportunities are announced in Parent Talk's weekly  e-newsletter and Yahoo Groups discussions.  They are often also announced on our Facebook page and website.  Keep your eyes peeled for an opportunity!

About the Author:

Darlene W. Cancell first volunteered for Parent Talk at its biannual Used Toy, Clothing and Equipment Sale.  She followed that with at stint as PT's Blog Coordinator and currently is enjoying her role on the Board as Volunteer Chair.  She hopes she can help make volunteering with Parent Talk even more fun, convenient and rewarding.  If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about volunteering, please email her at volunteer@parenttalk.info

Consign or Donate Your Used Kids' Items at the Parent Talk Sale!

WHY CONSIGN AT THE SALE?

We all see the posts on For Sale and parent groups on Facebook, and it often occurs to me that I could get rid of the piles of outgrown kid stuff in my house that way, but I rarely do. The few times I've tried did not result in the easy success I anticipated. After volunteering at the Sale and seeing how it works, I realized that consigning was actually a much better way to clear out my used stuff than by attempting to sell items one at a time online.

1. I can get everything out of my house at once.
2. Everyone who sees my items will be specifically looking to buy these types of items, and there's a ton of people at the Sale. That's much better exposure than to people who may or may not be seriously looking to buy anything, may just see the post by accident, scrolling through a thousand other posts on their phones on the couch at night. Check out all the ready to go shoppers in the background:

3. If somebody buys my items, they take them right there. We don't have to schedule a pick up that may or may not go down. I've waited for someone to pick up free stuff and been stood up before, I imagine that happens more frequently when it isn't free.
4. If somebody buys it, I get some $$, while also supporting this fantastic organization - both financially and by contributing my really cool items to make the Sale the awesome event that it is.
5. No negotiation. Nobody is going to show up, dig in their pockets and say "Oh, I've only got a 5 - is that ok?"
6. If nobody wants my stuff, it's still out of my house. And it goes to charity.

HOW TO CONSIGN ITEMS AT THE SALE

This is the first time I'm consigning things at the Sale, and probably like many people who've never done it before I kind of assumed it would be a big project. One I might never actually get around to. I decided the best way to test this theory would be to actually do it, and for motivation, try to write a blog post about it. Which is working.
SO . . . I'll break it down and make it EVEN easier for you than it has been so far for me :

1. Click on this link CONSIGN AT THE SALE. It will take you to a page with all the info you need about consigning.
2. Download your SELLER'S KIT. This document is yet another testament to the mind blowing efficiency and organization that is the legacy of 25 years of ParentTalk planning. Don't be overwhelmed by the sheer size of it - it's not because this is complicated. It's because this pdf is an easy-to-navigate compilation of the answers to every question posed by sellers over the last 20 years. It practically consigns your stuff FOR you.
3. Get yourself a Seller's ID by emailing the following information to ptsellerkits@gmail.com :

Full Name

Address including zip code

Phone Number

Preferred Email Address

4. Decide what's going. The Seller's Kit has guidelines as to what will and will not be accepted. For the Fall Sale, I'm consigning fall and winter clothing, a shelving unit for organizing toys, and a baby carrier, among other thing. Here's my pile so far:

You don't see any toys, because I'm hiding them.

5. Print out your tags from the template, also found in the Seller's Kit.
6. Label them clearly with price and Seller ID - pricing suggestions are included in the Seller's Kit. To make it easier and make sure your labels are readable, we'd suggest typing in your Seller ID before printing the tags. Some people type in all or a few prices before printing (for example, "$4 shirt" if you're consigning a bunch of shirts) to save time and avoid having to write the same price over and over for similarly priced items.
7. Attach the tags to your items. You might want to purchase a tagging gun like I did. If you are volunteering as well as consigning, this gun will come in quite handy later on - veterans know what I'm talking about. If you don't have a tagging gun, make sure the tags are fastened securely with strong tape so they don't fall off, as items do get moved around quite a bit as people are shopping.

8. Bring your tagged, priced items to the Christ Episcopal Church at 1132 Highland Ave on Friday October 13th between 9am and 8pm. Place them in the areas where they belong, ie. clothing downstairs on racks with the appropriate size, toys upstairs - the Seller's Kit also includes a sizing guide for clothes, and explains where everything goes.
9. Wait for your check. You will receive 50% of all proceeds collected before 11:45a.m. on Sale day, which is Saturday October 14th this year. All items not sold prior to 11:45 a.m. will become a tax deductible donation to Parent Talk.

If you're looking for an even faster way to clear out your gently used items, you can donate them to the Sale and we'll do all the work for you! Donations are currently being accepted at our two drop off locations (6 Birds Hill Ave and 10 Noyes St), or you can bring items directly to the church on Friday October 13th.

If this sounds good to you, check out this other blog post about consigning your used kids' items :
How To Consign and Donate to PT's Sale

Once you've gotten your consigned goods cleared out, it's time to buy more! Consider volunteering 2 hours at the Sale for preferred shopping hours. Check out this post about how much fun it is :
Do Good, Have Fun, and SHOP

See you at the Sale!

About the Author:

Laura Perras is a mom and Realtor who grew up in Needham, where she now works as part of the Perras Group at the William Raveis Needham office. In addition to mom-ing and selling houses, Laura enjoys djing, yoga, and arts and crafts. She’s involved in Parent Talk as Board CoChair of Marketing and Communications, Blog Coordinator, and Sale Committee Member.  Please reach out if you would like to submit a post to the blog or have feedback or ideas regarding what you’d like to see here : Laura.Perras.Realtor@gmail.com

Do Good, Have Fun, and Shop! Volunteer at the Spring Sale Saturday May 19th

     

     This weekend myself and countless others will be volunteering (and, of course, shopping!) at the 2018 Parent Talk Spring Used Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale, happening Saturday May 19th at the Christ Episcopal Church in Needham. The founding members of Parent Talk put on the first Sale in 1993, and since then it has mushroomed in both scale and popularity. Now it's held twice a year, with shoppers and volunteers returning again and again, some for most or all of the Sales over the past 24 years.
       If you've never been to the Sale before, it's what I can only describe as an extravaganza of deals on quality gently used kid's items. You can find everything from books to bikes, strollers to swimsuits. Proceeds support the Parent Talk organization, and all the items that remain after the Sale are donated to charities and non-profits. If you've been, but have yet to volunteer, know that a meager 2 hours of your time is all that is required to reap the reward of early shopping hours before the general sale is opened to the public. And if you've taken advantage of the early shopping, but have yet to join the Sale Committee, I'm here to tell you you're missing out.
       So here's how the Sale happens from a general shopper's perspective. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and everyone can have at all the fantastically priced stuff until 11:45 a.m. Then everyone cashes out, and those who'd like to take part in the Clearance Bag Sale are provided as many bags as they want, at a flat rate per bag. At 12:00 p.m. the doors reopen, and the shoppers have until 12:45 to cart out as much as they can fit in their bag(s); anything too big to fit is automatically reduced to half the tagged price. It's fast, it's fun, and everyone gets great stuff without spending a ton.

Sounds good, right? It is. But volunteering at the Sale is way, WAY better.

You get first pick of everything. 

 This is the most obvious perk, but I'd say not even close to the best. Still, allow me to share with you the mindblowingest of the many bargains that I personally found at the last Sale. Number one is a pink princess vanity table with mirror I snagged for a cool $20. I saw a similar one at Home Goods a few weeks later priced at $99. Number two is a full kid's drum set, complete with little stool, pedal and drumsticks I scored for a jaw-dropping $35. I looked it up online later; $180 new. (On a side note, I'm aware that buying something like that for a 3 year old might be considered evidence that I've lost my mind - the truth is, my kid's just got a really cool mom.) I also picked up a beautiful velvet dress with the price tag still on it, suede winter boots (in 2 sizes, you never know), puzzles, a box of wooden train tracks . . . . Let's just say Santa was VERY good to my daughter this year.

It's exciting. 

The Sale is basically a pop-up, and as such a ton of energy, planning, and hard work goes into organizing and setting up a pretty large-scale event for a remarkably brief period of time. The past 24 years of mistakes, solutions, and ideas has fine-tuned the strategy and organization of the sale, resulting in an event that for all it's many parts runs like a well-oiled machine. As someone who appreciates efficiency and preparation (in other words, as a mom) this is inspiring to witness. It goes by quickly, with never a dull moment. I feel weird saying this about volunteering at a fundraising sale, but it's a rush.

You get to hang out with your friends. 

And don't tell me none of your friends are going to be at the Sale. I moved back to this area from NYC three years ago, volunteered at my first Sale this past October, and not only did I make new friends doing so, I ran into neighbors and people I didn't even realize I knew at the Sale. This has to be the best perk of volunteering, whether you do the 2 hour gig or join Sale Committee for all the fun get-togethers too; you will have a great time socializing and meeting people in your community.

Your faith in humanity will be restored.  

Maybe that's a bit dramatic, and maybe your faith in humanity is fully intact, but if you wouldn't mind a little positive upswing to your perspective, this could do it. There's really nothing like working with other people toward a common goal to make you feel more connected to the world. Especially when you know that everybody is there because they want to be. It feels good to be a part of something positive, and to be supporting not only Parent Talk but the other great charities and non-profits that benefit from the Sale, including Cradles to Crayons, Circle of Hope, Room to Grow, Bayong Kulturang Pinoy Inc, Jeremiah Project and others.
       In addition to all the aforementioned benefits, I personally get a great sense of satisfaction from the Sale because I abhor waste, and almost equally despise clutter. So I love that I can easily clear my closets of outgrown items guilt-free, and that something I want or need at the moment is there for me to use, instead of becoming more garbage. I also love saving money (don't we all), and while I suppose I could buy a drum kit for my child at $180, I'm not about to. But now she has one, and she loves it. Almost as much as my neighbors do.
       The Sale is almost upon us, but it's not too late to sign up for a volunteer shift! So if you'd like to give some of your time to a good cause and have fun doing it, see how below. See you at the Sale!

Volunteer:  email ptsalevolunteers@parenttalk.info for more info or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4ca4ae23a46-spring5

Check out this blog post with great tips on how to donate, consign, and utilize the Sale to declutter and clear out your outgrown children's items : How To Consign and Donate to PT's Sale

More info : Parent Talk Spring Used Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale
Saturday May 19, 2018
Christ Episcopal Church in Needham
1132 Highland Avenue (across the street from Needham Public Library)
General Sale: 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Clearance Bag Sale: 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

About the Author:

Laura Perras is a mom and Realtor who grew up in Needham, where she now works as part of the Perras Group at the William Raveis Needham office. In addition to mom-ing and selling houses, Laura enjoys djing, yoga, and arts and crafts. Please reach out if you would like to submit a post to the blog or have feedback or ideas regarding what you’d like to see here : Laura.Perras.Realtor@gmail.com

Call for submissions:

Would you like to write something to be featured on the Parent Talk Blog? Send me an email! Laura.Perras.Realtor@gmail.com

PT Spring Sale: Six Reasons to Volunteer, Donate, Consign and Shop!

If you are pregnant or new to parenthood, the Parent Talk Sale on Saturday, May 7, 2016, is a must-not-miss event.  You can expect to see some high-end baby gear, clothing, and toys at bargain basement prices (literally...the Sale is held in a church basement!).  And all of it within a welcoming community of fellow moms and dads, eager to swap stories from the parenthood trenches or share resources ranging from pediatricians to preschools to summer camps.  It is so special that I have friends who travel from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts twice a year to volunteer and shop.  No joke.  There is simply nothing else like it.

A long line of shoppers waits to enter one of PT's bi-annual Sales.

If you are welcoming another baby to the fold, you also owe it to yourself and your growing family to check out the Sale.  Donate or consign some of that outgrown blue clothing and search for something new in pink!  Volunteer as a Sale staffer, share your hard-earned expertise with a friend, and learn something new from someone with older kids.  Simplify your life and pick up an extra set of everything (cheap!) for grandma's house, and never ever schlep another toy or pack-and-play there again.  Doesn't that sound amazing?!

I can't wait.  See you Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Christ Episcopal Church in Needham.  The General Sale runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., followed by the $10 Clearance Bag Sale from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The Sale is open to the general public.  Membership in Parent Talk is not required to donate, consign, volunteer or shop. 

 If you need a few more reasons to squeeze the Sale into your calendar, here are six:

1.  HIGH END BRAND NAME CONSIGNMENTS

The Sale has established a reputation for high quality.  You can often find brands like Hanna Andersson, Mini Boden, Crew Cuts and more.  Think Kate Spade diaper bags, Kelty backpacks, and Bugaboo strollers.  Even if you are just cleaning out a pile of Carter's jammies, you can feel good about making the donation.  Or, turn a tidy profit when you place your consignment cast-offs in the company of brand name merchandise.

Shoppers among the many racks of clothing.

2.  DO WELL AND DO GOOD!

Parent Talk is a 501 c3 non-profit organization, so your donations to the Sale are fully tax deductible.  Half of all that you earn on consignments also directly supports Parent Talk programs that benefit hundreds of Metro-West families.  Any unsold donations or consignments are scooped up by other regional charities that help needy or homeless families, such as Circle of Hope, Cradles to Crayons, and the Department of Children and Families.  Email donations@parenttalk.info for donation drop-off information and sellerskit@parenttalk.info for information on consigning.

3.  REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Donate your well-loved toys and clothes to the Parent Talk Sale, not the landfill.  Shopping for recycled treasures at the Sale is much more fun and eco-friendly than shopping at your local big box store or online.

Example of a "jackpot" item from a past Sale -- small Trek mountain bike.

4.  TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

Parents can shop with their children to teach them elementary math while making purchases and how to best manage their money.  Kids enjoy a freedom of choice not possible at more expensive stores. 

5.  VOLUNTEERING HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

If you serve on the Parent Talk Sale Committee and/or sign up for a 2-hour volunteer shift, you can shop from Sale items a whole day early, and under less crowded conditions.  Friday is a private shopping day for volunteers and some of the most desirable items are sold then, before the Sale even opens to the general public. 

6.  IT'S IN THE BAG!

The very last hour of the Sale is exciting.  For just $10, shoppers can fill a bag with as much merchandise as they can carry.  Even if you shop all day at Friday's private sale for volunteers, you will want to come back to bag the best bargains on Saturday.

The Parent Talk Sale is the Olympics of sales.  But you can't get to the PT Sale from your computer or your iPhone.  You have to show up to share the good gossip (maybe even get a warm hug!) and grab the deals of the century.


About the Author
Catherine Memory is a freelance writer and publicist, and a former Parent Talk Board member.

Parent Talk Photo Album: College Throwback

Fun abounded for those who attended Saturday's College Throwback night, this year's spring fundraiser for Parent Talk.  With a program that included food and drinks, DJ, NCAA basketball, a wish tree (wish list of items for PT's Playspace and community partners), raffle, and silent auction, what was not to like?  The dress code at the Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton was college casual.  PT members rummaged through the back of drawers and closets to proudly don the names of their almae matres for one more night.  See pictures below!

Hey, that's pretty funny!

Line-up of items for sale in the silent auction.

 Just chilling at the bar.

We're starting our own College Conference.

Give me a P. . . P! Give me a T. . . T! Go, Parent Talk!

The PT crowd.

A great team starts here:  PT's President Megan Bourque (left), VP Ellie Beasley (center), and Executive Director Susan Kagan (right).

PT's wish list and a popular college past-time come together to dress up the Donation Tree.

This is better than guys' night out!

Members of PT's 2015-2016 Board and Event Co-Chairs.

Couples hang out.

Taking advantage of a chance to catch up.

Taking a break from watching the Syracuse v. North Carolina game.

Playgroup friends are the best!

A memorable experience to share with a friend.

Over 50 local businesses donated to Parent Talk through College Throwback 2016!  Parent Talk would like to thank these businesses and all of the silent auction donors and bidders, along with all of the Red Cup Raffle donors and winners.  The response to our wish list was gratifying.  Many items were donated to the Parent Talk Playspace and to other local charities.  Parent Talk thanks Ginger and Julia from the Biltmore Bar & Grille which was the perfect location for College Throwback.  The chicken and waffles were a hit!  And for their unwavering support of Parent Talk, including attending College Throwback, we would like to thank Needham Bank's Eric Morse and Michelle DiSimone. 

Parent Talk members can likewise support local businesses in our community.  Plan to shop at Needham Cash Mob on April 30th!  Spend at least $10 with local retailers.   The event starts at 10:00 a.m.   Shop anytime throughout the day!

Items Used and Loved: Donating It Forward

I was outside on the first warm(ish) day of Spring this year, playing with my kids in the yard.  As my 4-year-old walked past the plastic toddler slide, she stopped and looked at it as if she had not noticed it in a long time.  She climbed up the stairs (it only took two steps) and slid down it -- kind of.  Her outstretched legs stopped her slide about 8 inches above the wood chip floor.  She turned around and gave the slide a quizzical look which seemed to say, "Really?  Is that all you've got?"  Then she ran off to play with something else.

"Maya at the top of the slide" by Anathea Utley.

If last year had not meant balancing everything else that all moms juggle -- kids, work, and the day-to-day tasks that are a part of life -- I probably would have thought about the fact that my kids have outgrown the slide, and I would have gotten rid of it a year ago.  But to be honest, there is a little bit of nostalgia that probably played into the situation.  My kids used to love that slide.  They are still my babies.  Why would I give the slide away?

The slide has been well-used and loved at our home.  There have been a lot of fun moments with that slide.  As toddlers, my girls had their very first slide experience on it, smiling from baby cheek to baby cheek.  It also played a part in their obstacle courses.  Their dolls went to the "park" and down the slide with their "mommies."  There were kiddie pool parties in the summer with the kids and their friends sliding joyfully into cool water.

"Boy and Bunny in the Playhouse 2" by Gordon.

But time has passed, and my kids are no longer toddlers.  They are full-fledged children.  My kids still have joy from things that make them smile, but the slide is no longer one of those things.  The slide is just taking up space that could otherwise be used for the rope ladder that my 7-year-old has requested for her upcoming birthday.  What our slide really needs is a new toddler who will love it and use it as it is meant to be used.

Luckily, I live in Needham, where a toddler can be seen strolling down the street with his or her caregiver at any given time.  And luckily, I am a member of Parent Talk and I know just where I can bring the slide.  Parent Talk's next Used Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale is on May 7, 2016.

When I donate the slide to Parent Talk's bi-annual Sale, another lucky toddler will have a new toy just in time for lots of summer backyard fun.  That child will have just as many smiles using the slide as my girls did.  And the parents of that lucky toddler will get a great toy in very good condition for a fraction of what they would have paid if they bought a brand new slide.  Parent Talk -- the awesome group that does so much to build community for young families in Needham -- will even make some money from my donation.  Everyone wins.

Donated toys, interested kids, and the POD to move it all to Parent Talk's Sale location!

In short, I have discovered that donating forward is the best way to handle my case of mother's nostalgia.  When I am volunteering at the Sale (which I always love doing), I know I am going to smile when I see a chubby cheeked toddler running over to the slide with wise parents who know great deal and a recipe for fun when they see one.  Really, who can resist playing a small part in making a toddler smile?  I know you feel the same.


About the Author
Kara Veley is a member of Parent Talk who has previously volunteered for the Used Clothing, Toy, and Equipment Sale as part of the Sale Committee.  She plans to do so again this year, and wishes you a Happy Parent Talk Sale Spring 2016!


EDITOR'S NOTE:  Donated items to the Sale that remain unsold can still have a second life!  After the Sale, representatives of local charities are given a chance to claim any unsold items (for free!) to pass along to their clients and families in need.   Pay it forward!  Please consider donating your used items to Parent Talk's May 7, 2016 Used Clothing, Toy, and Equipment Sale.  Email donations@parenttalk.info for donation drop-off location and guidelines.  PT also needs help from many people to make this happen, and is seeking volunteers.  Sign-up for one 2 hour shift beginning April 7, 2016!  Email volunteers@parenttalk.info to get on the email list for volunteering.