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Charities

We are pleased to announce we will be working with two amazing charities for the 2023 convention. Please take a moment to learn more about these programs and the work they do!


School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA)

We are extremely excited to be working with this local charity whose vision is for all students impacted by homelessness to have the academic, social, and emotional support necessary to achieve a bright and productive future that will help end the cycle of homelessness.

Last year SOWMA paired more than 250 students with a personal tutor, supported 87 high school and college students with post-secondary plans and provided more than 6,000 students with customized backpacks and supplies.

Their mission is to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness.

Let us help them to Educate kids. Empower Families. End Homelessness. One Child at a Time.


Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts

You may remember the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts from last year.  They were so grateful for our donations, and because of our convention, they adopted out two puppies!  We decided they deserved a second year! 

APCSM is a small, nonprofit shelter, whose mission is to operate an open admission animal care and adoption facility, with focus on prevention of cruelty to animals, education, and outreach; while promoting inclusivity, acceptance, and equality.

Since 2009, they have placed over 9,000 animals into forever homes.

We will be collecting Wishlist items for APCSM, just as we did last year. 

Take a look through their wishlist items:

Amazon Gift Cards
Clay Cat Litter (Non-Clumping) **
Contractor Trash Bags
Regular Trash Bags (Kitchen Size)
Postage Stamps**
Gift Cards – Amazon, Home Depot, PetSmart…etc.
Paper Towels**

Regular Unscented Bleach
Laundry Detergent
White Printer/Copy Paper
Dog Toys (Indestructible)
Wet Cat Food
Wet Dog Food
Chewy Gift Cards
Soft Dog Treats
Cat Treats
Pill Pockets (Cat & Dog)
Colored Index Cards

Oxbow Rabbit Pellets
Oxbow Guinea Pig Pellets
Dog Blankets (NEW only)
Dog Beds (NEW only)
AAA Batteries
Mutt Mitts (Poop Bags)
Dryer Sheets
Hands Soap
Small Fleece Blankets


Red Guitars for Fisher House

Some of you may know Thom & Coley from previous conventions and parrot head events.  The Red Guitar Campaign started in 2017, when Thom Shepherd & Coley McCabe visited the Fisher House in Honolulu.

Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world. Fisher Houses have up to twenty-one suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room.

On their visit, the commander of the local base showed up and asked Thom to perform his hit song “Riding with Private Malone.” Thom was without a guitar that day as he and Coley were on their way to the beach.  Coley and Thom looked at each other and said, “Every Fisher House should have a guitar.”

As of Dec 21, 2022, 37 Red Guitars have been sponsored, and 21 of them have been delivered to Fisher Houses in Texas, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida.

We will be collecting loose change in a giant change jar, so start saving those pennies… and nickels… and dimes… and quarters!