Normally, this section gives you five great seasonal things to do on the Vineyard: caroling the night away at the Oak Bluffs tree lighting, guided mid-winter walks with the Vineyard Conservation Society, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival in March, that sort of thing. But this year, instead of the usual take, take, take (take, take)…how about some give, give, give (give, give)? The list below is not exhaustive by any means, but it’s a good place to start thinking about how you can support the Island you love by supporting the organizations that do good work, year-round.
1 Help Island kids:
• Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club provides an enriching and affordable after-school program and summer camp at their Edgartown clubhouse. mvbgclub.org
• Sail Martha’s Vineyard offers a wide range of nautical education for youth (and adults) through a summer camp, winter sailing and rowing,
vocational classes, and other programs.
sailmv.org
• Vineyard Youth Tennis offers free tennis lessons and court time to kids at its Oak Bluffs facility.
vineyardyouthtennis.org
• YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard offers a summer camp, a teen center, and a host of family activities in addition to its health club.
ymcamv.org
• Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands pairs Vineyard children who could benefit from a mentor figure with dedicated volunteers. bbbscci.org
2 Preserve our ecology:
• Vineyard Conservation Society educates the public and advocates at the state and local level for conservation, recycling, and green agriculture.
vineyardconservation.org
• Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation allows visitors to experience the Vineyard’s natural beauty through its growing network of preserves.
sheriffsmeadow.org
• The Trustees of Reservations is a state organization that conserves land and historic properties, including the wildlife refuges at Wasque and Long Point.
thetrustees.org
• The Nature Conservancy works on the Vineyard to restore natural habitats that are critical to global biodiversity, such as sand plains and dunes.
nature.org
• Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission, created by Island voters in 1986, has preserved some 3,000 acres of land.
mvlandbank.com
3 Care for neighbors:
• Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard provides free care and emotional support for families with a member at the end of his or her life.
hospice.vineyard.net
• Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center offers live-in services for elderly patients, with a special unit for those with dementia.
windemeremv.org
• Vineyard Nursing Association is a Medicare-certified group that provides home nursing and medical social work for sick or elderly Vineyarders.
vineyardnursing.org
• Vineyard Village at Home supports elderly Vineyarders who want to continue living in their homes, linking them with health and daily living services. vineyardvillage.org
• Vineyard House provides safe, supportive housing for adults recovering from substance abuse.
vineyardhouse.org
4 Keep culture alive:
• Martha’s Vineyard Museum preserves and displays the Island’s historical legacy and is currently creating a new facility at Vineyard Haven’s historic marine hospital.
mvmuseum.org
• Featherstone Center for the Arts offers a range of art classes and facilities, hosts events, and provides a space for artists to display work.
featherstoneart.org
• Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust preserves historic properties, such as the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown and the Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs. mvpreservation.org
• Martha’s Vineyard Film Society runs the MV Film Center, an independent film house that hosts community discussions and events year-round.
mvfilmsociety.com
• The Agricultural Society promotes agriculture on the Island through grants, scholarships, and community events, including the Agricultural Fair.
mvas.vineyard.net
5 Share the wealth:
• The Island Food Pantry distributes food to Vineyarders who struggle with hunger. And yes, there are Vineyarders going hungry right now.
islandfoodpantry.org
• Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard awards grants and scholarships to community organizations and individuals that work to enrich the Island.
endowmv.org
• Martha’s Vineyard Community Services offers a range of human services: an affordable preschool, crisis counseling for victims of domestic abuse, support for mental health or substance abuse issues, and more.
mvcommunityservices.com
• Island Elderly Housing provides affordable housing for eligible seniors and disabled Vineyarders; its four buildings have 165 rental apartments.
iehmv.org
• Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard provides affordable housing built by volunteers with donated materials.
habitatmv.org