Sturbridge, MA – The REAS Foundation of Sturbridge announces the launch of the 2009-2010 10K Circle of Friends and 10K Circle of Businesses. These two fundraising appeals form the foundation of such efforts for the year. REAS predicts that applications for assistance this heating season will far surpass the many applications received last year. REAS asks that 1,000 Sturbridge families donate just $10 each – less than the cost of going out to lunch one day. This effort alone will raise $10,000 to aid qualifying Sturbridge seniors who cannot meet their utility costs.

Similar to the 10K Circle of Friends, Jennifer Morrison of Sterling Engineering has renewed her 10K Circle of Businesses challenge. Sterling Engineering will make a matching donation of 10% of any other business donation, up to a maximum donation from Sterling of $1,000. When asked why, in these lean times, Sterling was willing to offer this challenge again Morrison stated, “That’s precisely why. Times are tough for everyone, but even more so for those among us who are most vulnerable – our seniors. How can we not help?”

REAS asks all who are interested in donating to please mail their check directly to: REAS Foundation, PO Box 737, Fiskdale, MA 01518 and earmark it for the 10K Circle. Additional information and news on these and other events may be found at the REAS website: www.reasfoundation.org.

The national media is abuzz today with stories of an absolutely unnecessary tragedy in Bay City, Michigan wherein a 93 year old man literally froze to death in his home. Oakland County deputy chief medical examiner Kanu Virani who performed the autopsy, said that Marvin E. Schur died “a slow, painful death”.

The Bay City Times reported that neighbors who discovered the body indicated that the “indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time” they discovered his body.

It’s heartbreaking, disturbing, and absolutely inconceivable that a human being could become so lost in the system. It is also quite sadly, a fact of life.

The full storty (reported by the Associated Press) as found on MSNBC online follows. There is little to add as this tragedy speaks volumes all by itself. Read the rest of this entry »

The REAS Foundation, in partnership with Southbridge Savings Bank, Hometown Bank, and the Publick House has established a fund for Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Sisley - 54 Ridge Way, Sturbridge, MA - whose home was destroyed by fire January 15th.

Donations can be made directly at, or by mail to: Southbridge Savings Bank (200 Charlton Road, Sturbridge MA, 01566), Hometown Bank (331 Main Street, Sturbridge MA, 01566) or the REAS Foundation (PO Box 737, Fiskdale MA, 01518) and should be made payable to - Sisley Family Fire Fund.

Most of us can only imagine the magnitude of loss in witnessing the destruction of a life’s work. We labor each and every day to build a life for ourselves and our family, often sacrificing a great deal in order to provide for our children or other members of our family.

Our neighbors - the Sisley’s - are experiencing an incredible loss, in many respects the tangible sum total of their life’s efforts. We are a community that has repeatedly demonstrated its incredible compassion, humanity, and love via the countless acts of generosity conveyed on behalf of our most vulnerable neighbors.

We are now called to service in support of a family in great need; they have lost heir home, their beloved pets, and the physical momentos of an entire life.

Please consider your ability to assist the Sisley’s as they begin the long journey of rebuilding their lives. Those of us who are able to help, can take great pride in knowing that even the smallest contribution will go a long way towards helping to ease some portion of the burden, their journey will entail. Knowing that we are here, willing to share this journey may bring some level of comfort to our neighbors.

Thomas R. Creamer - Executive Director

We have developed a video pictorial that highlights some of our combined efforts on behalf of Sturbridge seniors. The support and encouragement of the multitude of Sturbridge residents and businesses, has been instrumental in restoring hope and comfort to many Sturbridge seniors. Without you, this dream would never have become reality.

We extend our deepest gratitude for the privilege you’ve granted us in affording us the honor of assisting Sturbridge seniors on YOUR behalf. We will remain ever vigilant in conducting our efforts in a manner that evokes pride in each of you who support us.

The link below will forward you to a temporary site hosting our pictorial in honor of all Sturbridge businesses and residents who have made this possible. Once at the site, simply press the PLAY button (bottom left of video box) and enjoy the video.

http://trcsgratitude.blogspot.com/

The following post is an article found in the December 25, 2008 Tantasqua Town Common. It was written by Matthew Bernat, of Turley Publications.

During J.T. Mills tenth birthday celebration, all the things you’d find at a typical adolescent lazer tag party were there: Food, fun and 13 of J.T.’s closest friends. But the only gift in sight was – that’s the thing, there were no gifts in sight.All of J.T.’s birthday loot - $260 in checks and cash – went to the Residential Energy Assistance for Seniors Foundation (REAS).

For some local families, deciding to skip the traditional birthday ritual of accepting gifts is part generosity lesson and part first line of defense against an ever mounting pile of toys that threaten to overtake free space. It’s an experiment where guests are asked to donate money or items to a charity chosen by their child. But it’s not that different from adults (who are not wanting) whose only request is attendance at birthday parties,anniversaries and other celebrations. Read the rest of this entry »

Recognizing the severity of damage caused by the ice storm which descended upon us Thursday evening (12/11/08), coupled with the delays in restoring power to the Leadmine/Finlay Road sections of Sturbridge/Fiskdale, the REAS Foundation - in direct concert with and under the coordination of, the Sturbridge Police Department - took the following steps to provide assistance to local residents.

On Friday evening and throughout Saturday, we secured several rooms with our partners at the Publick House at significant discounts for area residents. The strong support we have enjoyed from this historic Sturbridge venue continues to evolve, and we are extremely fortunate for their contributions within our community. Since then we have negotiated reduced rates with others. This has allowed us to place 8 residents locally as hotels have experienced an overflow of people affected by the storm and have been booked as far away as Chicopee. The rooms are paid for by the residents themselves.

Saturday evening we began door-to-door checks on residents in the area. This continues through today (Tuesday) as we have canvassed the entire area 3 times. Calvin Montigny has been tireless in reaching out to residents via our door to door status checks.

Sunday morning we secured complimentary hot shower and respite facilities at the Sturbridge Host Hotel for those affected by the storm. The Host stepped right up in responding to our request for assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

REAS Foundation 2008 Preliminary Report

The REAS Foundation is honored to offer its first official public report on the amazing gift of love extended by Sturbridge residents and businesses on behalf of Sturbridge seniors.  As the fiduciary agents granted the privilege and honor of disbursing your gifts, we recognize the enormous responsibility we have to those who have entrusted us with this role. We welcome that responsibility.

Over the last several months - you, the residents and businesses of Sturbridge - have engineered an amazing community-centered approach in addressing the needs of Sturbridge seniors. You have created a source of hope and inspiration for our seniors and our youth. Your efforts, your generosity, and your compassion have filled the hearts of many with love, restored hope to numerous souls, and calmed the fears of our most vulnerable. Read the rest of this entry »

The Soul of a human being is an amazing and astonishing entity. It is defined in many ways; ancient Greeks believed that the soul manifested in our dreams and revealed “an award of joy or sorrow drawing near”. Socrates considered the soul to be, the “spirit or essence of a person” whose existence was “eternal”.

Psychologist Thomas Hillman believed the soul to be that “which makes meaning possible, deepens events into experiences” and “is communicated in love”. Many religions believe the soul to be “the innermost aspect of humans, that which is of greatest value in them, that by which they are most especially in God’s image”. The definitions surely do not end here, but one recognizes the esteem with which many view the soul.

Surely, this most mysterious and inanimate aspect of human existence has been an ongoing enigma as long as Homo Sapiens (thinking man) have walked the earth. Though the definitions of what the soul is, or is not, may vary slightly, the recognition of just exactly what it is when one is fortunate to witness it, is of little doubt.

Consider the soul of one young boy, 10 year old J.T. Mills of Sturbridge MA, whose actions embody the very “spirit or essence” of who this person is.  Young J.T. was about to celebrate his 10th birthday and as he contemplated his party and formulated the list of gifts he would like, his thoughts drew towards the struggles of Sturbridge seniors and the challenge they faced in staying warm this coming winter. Read the rest of this entry »

The REAS Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of a Chapter in Charlton, MA.

Concerned about the burden shouldered by seniors balancing the challenges of energy, food, and medical costs against the diminished purchasing power of fixed incomes, a group of Charlton residents began exploring options for assisting seniors.

Lead by Charlton Police Chief James Pervier and Charlton Council on Aging Director Elaine Kingston, the group examined various mechanisms over the last two months for providing energy assistance to qualifying Charlton seniors.Those efforts, more and more began to parallel the approach taken in Sturbridge through the REAS Foundation, and ultimately lead to discussions favoring the establishment of a REAS Chapter in Charlton. Read the rest of this entry »