8th Annual Cambridge Safer Homes, Safer Community: Gift Cards for Guns Day to Take Place Saturday, June 10th

Led by Cambridge’s interfaith-based organizations, non-profit community, and regional partners, the 8th annual citywide “Safer Homes, Safer Community: Cambridge Gift Cards for Guns” initiative is being held on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at two locations.

This public health and public safety event will once again provide residents with an opportunity to anonymously and safely dispose of their unwanted firearms and, in turn, reduce the risk of suicide, potential for an accidental discharge, or wrongdoing in a home or on our city streets. In the first seven years of this event, public safety officials and community volunteers have collected more than 560 guns at Cambridge events, handed out firearm safety locks, and shared extensive information about suicide prevention and gun safety. Since 2013, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has assisted 15 cities and towns throughout the county, and more than 1,900 unwanted weapons have been turned in.

The Reservoir Church in North Cambridge and Pentecostal Tabernacle in The Port will provide safe, convenient locations for participants to drop off unwanted guns with no questions asked and no ID required. Residents are asked to bring firearms unloaded with the safety engaged in a bag, box, or case. The unloaded firearms can be left inside the trunk of your vehicle upon arrival.

Locations:

Reservoir Church
170 Rindge Ave, Cambridge
Drop-off: Parking lot in front of the church (enter on Middlesex)

Pentecostal Tabernacle
77 Columbia Street, Cambridge
Drop-off: Parking lot

As an incentive to participate, residents will be awarded gift cards for the firearms they turn into public safety officers the day of the event. The values range depending on the firearm type. There will be a maximum reward of $200 for BB guns, pellet guns, and ammunition turned in, and a $500 maximum reward for all guns turned in. Any leftover gift cards not distributed to participants will be donated to local Cambridge food pantries.

$200 gift card                                    Assault Weapon
$100 gift card                                    Revolver, Handgun, Semi-Automatic,Shotgun, Rifle
$50 gift card                                      BB Gun, Pellet Gun, Ammunition (maximum of $200)
$5 ice cream card                             Children who turn in toy guns

The Cambridge Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will handle the guns and ammunition that is turned in, and then they will facilitate the safe destruction. Representatives from the Cambridge Public Health Department will also be on-site to provide helpful information and materials. 

For those who cannot attend the event on June 10th, gift cards will be provided if pickups are scheduled during the month of June. Residents should call (617) 349-6009 to make an appointment. 

For more information on Cambridge’s Gift Cards for Guns, please visit camb.ma/GiftCardsforGuns. If you or your organization is interested in becoming involved in the event (e.g. donate gift cards, volunteer at the event or help post flyers in advance of the event), please e-maillori@manyhelpinghands365.org.  

The following Cambridge interfaith organizations and community partners have already committed to collaborating on this important initiative: A Place to Heal Ministries, Abundant Life Church, Calvary Praise and Worship Center, Cambridgeport Baptist Church, Central Square Church, Christian Mission Holiness Church, Congregation Eitz Chayim, First Church in Cambridge Congregational, First Parish Cambridge, Friends Meeting Cambridge, Harvard Epworth United Methodist Church, Harvard Memorial Church, Islamic Society of Boston, Journey Church, Kingdom Empowerment Center, Parish of Saint Paul, Pentecostal Tabernacle, Reservoir Church, Rush AME Zion Church, Salvation Army, Cambridge Citadel, St. James Episcopal Church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Shalom, Union Baptist Church, Western Avenue Baptist Church, Cambridge Community Foundation, Cambridge Community Center, Cambridge Women’s Center, Community Art Center, East End House, Many Helping Hands, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, The Loop Lab, Transition House, Tutoring Plus, YWCA Cambridge, CambridgeSide, Central Square BID, Harvard Square Business Association, Pemberton Market, Toscanini’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Peace Commission, Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge Public Works, Cambridge Veterans Services, Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.

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