Natick Community Organic Farm is a certified-organic and non-profit farm. Established in 1974, the farm provides farm products, productive open space and hands-on farm education for persons of all ages.
The farm is open year round and is committed to healthy and sustainable farming methods and places emphasis on serving youths with volunteer opportunities, classes and work experience programs.
Hands-on programs include: curriculum-based farm visits that take place during the school year, community service and intership opportunities for high school and college students.
This farm also offers public programs that consist of workshops and programs for children ages 3 to 17. Overnight camping is available for scouting troops.
Saint Patrick's Church stands tall and majestic in red brick right in the heart of Natick, where it has been since it was founded in 1892. St. Pat's offers a flexible mass schedule, with many opportunities for worship and confession throughout the week. The parish has a strong music program and offers religious education classes for grades K-12.
Located in the lower level of the historic Bacon Free Library, the Natick Historical Society and museum is home to some of Natick's cherished artifacts. The collection includes The Natick Indian Community founder John Eliot's Indian Bible from the 1600s, as well as items once belonging to Harriet Beecher Stowe, Horatio Alger Jr. and the 20th U.S. Vice President Henry Wilson, who grew up in town. The museum also features a collection of North and South American birds. Various events and musical and historical performances, history talks, tours and farm events are held throughout the year. Visitors may receive help with research courtesy of docents.
First Church of Christ, Scientist is located in a peaceful setting on Union Street with plenty of parking and handicap access. The church offers Sunday school for children and teens, Sunday church services and Wednesday testimony meetings. First Church of Christ runs a Christian Science Reading Room located at 1 Pond St.
Overlooking the Charles River, a visit to the Bacon Free Library is a visit back in time to 1881, when the structure was built. With various holiday arts and crafts, a visit from Santa around Christmas, Mardi Gras celebrations, year-round fundraisers, artist displays, talks by authors, pre-school story hour and more, the Bacon Free Library is a place to keep everyone in town entertained. Local artists have the opportunity to put their works on display. The library offers reduced price admission passes to the Boston Children's Museum and the Museum of Science. Volunteers work to keep the gardens surrounding the library in beautiful condition for all visitors to enjoy. The Bacon Free Library also houses the Natick Historical Society.
Massachusetts Arborists Association is a trade organization for individuals in the commercial arboriculture industry. The association offers research support, certification and educational resources for its members.
This foundation is located on North Main Street, slightly hidden off the road. It is a large gray building with plenty of parking and an area of picnic tables under the tall trees. This foundation is aimed to help raise money in efforts to do research and help patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Some big events this organization hosts or involved in to raise money throughout the year include the Great Strides fundraising walk, Boston marathon, and annual dinners. There are numerous other companies that work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to further their accomplishments.
Located in the historic center of Natick, the First Congregational Church is considered one of the oldest in town. The Victorian Gothic style red brick building was built in 1651 and moved from South Natick to its current location in 1799. It was named to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1977. Rev. Victoria Alford Guest and Rev. Summer F. Shaud preside over the church, which runs its own non-sectarian pre-school.
The red brick Temple Israel of Natick sits proudly on Hartford Street. Ground-to-ceiling windows in portion of the temple allow plenty of light and cheeriness to enter for Shabbat services. Temple Israel hosts Friday night services and youth services, as well as child and adult education courses. The community has the opportunity to participate in the adopt-a-family program to raise money for survivors of attacks in Israel.
The lodge is located far off the road in a large off-white building at the back of a very large parking lot. Founded in 1868, the Elks have grown to be one of the biggest of its kind with more than one million men and women. The Natick Lodge of Elks has Monday night meals, lounges, large TVs, pool tables and other fun activities for members. Also, the lodge has one of the largest function halls in the town. The lodge has big events, such as Oktoberfest Craft fair, Misgivings comedy show, Natick Elks bingo and meat shoot.
The Autism Alliance of MetroWest plans programs and educational events to increase public awareness of autism related disorders. There are over 850 families that are a part of this alliance. A non-profit entity, its goal is to continue to provide information to families of children who live with this condition. The Autism Alliance's office is located at the Morse Institute Library.
The Church of Christ is a small congregation of about 50 members. The church welcomes newcomers to attend worship services and learn more about its beliefs. Church members meet on Wednesdays for a "carry-in" dinner at the church house, followed by a devotional to encourage discussion. On the first Sunday of every month, the church hosts a "Pot Blessed Meal" after church services and Bible school.
With Sunday morning services and coffee hours, musical performances, fundraisers, youth ministry trips, day care, vacation Bible school, poetry readings, spaghetti suppers and other community events throughout the year, Christ Lutheran Church is incredibly active in the community.
The Chabad Center is built adjacent to the synagogue as well as to a children's playground. It is a social service and educational organization that has multiple locations around the world dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide. In this location for 23 years, the synagogue has services Friday evenings at sundown as well as every morning at 6 a.m.
