Dear Members, Patrons and Friends,
It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to gratitude and giving. As we launch our Annual Appeal, we hope that you think of us when considering your end-of-year gifting. But more about that later.
I had written a totally different letter until I read a Bloomberg article titled “America’s Neighborhoods are in Trouble.” It is a good read discussing the degrading state of our community cultures. But instead of coming away with yet another cloud of doom hovering over my head I realized that what is happening at NRAS is an antidote. What we do at NRAS is IMPORTANT. The light went off in my head about how terribly important the existence of North River Arts Society is to the kind of community building, and community healing, that we all need right now.
We can succumb to the sadness of losing favorite gathering places, or we can celebrate and support the ones in our communities that are surviving. The places that are crawling back from the devastating isolation of a worldwide pandemic, with folks who are finding ways to shore up beloved places and bringing them back to life.
North River Arts Society is one of those beloved places. We have been in existence for over 55 years, operating in a quintessential New England village, nestled among neighbors and a handful of small businesses. We exist because we serve a need for community. A need to gather, to celebrate, to share, to spend time with each other and connect. The work we do and the programs we bring to our audience are vitally important in that we help create the fabric that weaves us together as a community. And we invite you to help us to continue achieving our goals.
For our Annual Appeal this year, we are setting a goal of $25,000 to assist us in renovating and refurbishing the GAR Hall’s interior spaces to make them more functional and presentable. Our home, GAR Hall, is unbelievably 197 years old, and has been undergoing much-needed repairs. Just this October, she finally got a brand-new roof thanks to a CPC Grant from the Town of Marshfield. Now we can begin plans to address the many other issues of caring for an aging historic building.
Please consider making a donation today. You can also have a portion of a mandatory IRA distribution sent untaxed directly to your favorite organization - check with your financial advisor to determine eligibility and to make arrangements for donations.
As much as we welcome financial donations, we are also grateful for the gift of time. NRAS is a nearly 100% volunteer-driven organization, and we welcome new members and volunteers! You don’t need to have a background in the arts, we welcome all. Please contact us at northriverarts@gmail.com to become a member or join our list of volunteers - we will find a good fit for you.
We are incredibly grateful for all your ongoing support and we look forward to seeing you at North River Arts Society in 2024!
Sincerely,
Liz Haywood-Sullivan
President
