Smart Car Raffle reminder...

[Cathy DeFuria]

In case you missed an earlier announcement:

^{Communities for Restorative Justice, PO Box 65, Concord, MA 01742 978.318.3447}

A Smart Car Raffle in Support of Restorative Justice

- an innovative program for youth offenders currently being introduced in Acton & Boxborough -

Acton Dump, Saturday, July 19^th, 10 am – 1 pm

Sometimes it all falls in place. Here's your chance to support a great non-profit organization that works with our local youth who have committed legal offenses. And you'll have a chance to win this 2008 "smart car passion coupe" while you're at it. Here's how.

During the past year, Acton Boxborough Community Alliance for Youth (CAFY) has been helping Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ), a program that has been functioning in Concord and Carlisle since 2002, take its first steps toward becoming a regional organization by implementing the program in Acton and Boxborough. Restorative justice responds to crime by prioritizing the needs of victims, holding youth offenders accountable while helping them understand the impact of their offense, providing support for the families, and offering opportunities for volunteer community members to participate in the process. This summer, C4RJ in close partnership with the Acton Police Department will complete its first Acton case; a brief article on the referring incident first appeared in the Beacon on April 16^th, 2008. A leadership committee with nine local community members, has been instrumental in guiding the implementation of the restorative justice process in Acton-Boxborough.

Now you can help, too. C4RJ volunteers are going to be in town to raffle a brand new, fuel-saving Smart Car that was donated by Herb Chambers Car Dealer to raffle with them. On Saturday, July 19^th from 10am-1pm, C4RJ volunteers – including Acton residents Deb Nicholls, Linda Minkoff, Bob McGowan and others – will be at the Acton Transfer Station and Recycling Center selling raffle tickets for a 2008 "smart car passion coupe." Come admire this sought-after microcar, sniff its plush leather seats, peer out its sunroof, imagine yourself in the driver's seat tooling around with your errands. Then buy a ticket – $100 each, only 999 will be sold – and help support the work of C4RJ. If you're game, buy ten…or 20 tickets! If successful, this fundraiser will help C4RJ expand restorative justice services in Acton, Boxborough and other communities in the region by training police officers, recruiting and training new volunteers, engaging our schools and other organizations involved with youth in the process, and helping to inform the larger community about the process.

In addition to on-site sales, tickets can be purchased online (www.C4RJ.com), via the phone (978.318.3467), or by mail (C4RJ, P.O. Box 65, Concord, MA 01742).

CAFY encourages you to support this Communities for Restorative Justice initiative. We believe that our community will greatly benefit from this program