Help Aaron raise money

We Want YOU... To support the Guild for Human Services and Open Table! My Dad and I are doing our first Flutie 5K on October 27. I hope he's ready to chase after me!

Dear Friends, 

It’s that wonderful autumn season again! Our High Holy Days are upon us, the air is turning crisp, the Dodgers are (for the moment) in the Playoffs, and Aaron and I had a wonderful time cycling on Sunday 10/6 for  Open Table  in Three Squares New England’s Ride for Food. On 10/28 we’ll run (but mostly walk) on behalf of the  Guild for Human Services  in our first Flutie Foundation 5K.

We want YOU on our Open Table and Guild Team(s)! 

Thirty years ago, when Ruthie and I were given Aaron’s diagnosis of 5p- or Cri du chat Syndrome, we could hardly imagine that he and I would routinely ride his tandem bike Eunice 20-25 miles. And who dreamt then that Aaron would know such success and pride living away from our Lexington home? Soon enough we caught a glimpse of Aaron’s determination, and the sunshine that he would bring to each day. My beloved Mom’s telling of her Uncle Aaron’s joie de vivre was prescient. 

Shouldn't we all live so well? 

Open Table Food Pantry: Hunger Relief, Valued Community, a Father-Son Learning Lab 

Since 2021, Aaron and I have both found great satisfaction and joy in our weekly shift at Open Table, near his Maynard home. We have endless stories to share about mastering new tasks, interacting with, and respecting fellow volunteers and guests, and practicing independence and responsibility. Breaking large tasks into small steps, I'm reminded of the guidance of Aaron’s earliest specialist and teachers. I believe we go through about 23 distinct steps together to seal, label, and stack 120+ fresh cooked meals, before storing them in freezers with names like Ruth Bader Iceberg, Robert Frost and Morgan Freezeman. 

The Guild: A Greenhouse for Individual Growth 

Meanwhile, thanks to The Guild’s professionalism and compassionate approach, Aaron’s intellect, social skills, and safety awareness rise steadily. Dedicated and loving international house staff help Aaron to advocate for himself, contributing to his strong self-esteem; he accepts responsibility and expresses pride in completing everyday living activities. Aaron’s meaningful knowledge of geography may surpass mine--and yours. And when he focuses for a few minutes, my ever-talkative, extraordinary son works out at the “Y”! 

Aaron and I have big fundraising goals this year: $15,000 to help Open Table distribute about a million pounds of food and provide food support for close to 10,000 individuals this year, and another $15,000 to support The Guild's continued ability to provide special activities and excursions for all 150 residents and student, and valuable staff development that contributes to high quality and retention. 

We'd love for at least 300 friends to contribute our teams! 

We hope you will accept this invitation to support Open Table and/or The Guild. In the spirit of inclusion, we wouldn't want you to be left out! 

Many good friends from every chapter of our lives have supported our past efforts including 20 years with Best Buddies, and more recently for Open Table and the Guild. THANK YOU for your contributions and for being a part of our rich community. 

With our deepest gratitude, today and always,
Danny Watt & Ruthie Liberman, and our incredible sons Aaron, Jonah, and Noam