What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

1. Many people tend to make fitness-related resolutions this time of the year. Here are some local gyms to help you keep them:

2. Maybe giving back is on your list. Here are some local places where you can volunteer:

• The at 474 Boston Tpke. has volunteer opportunities available in food sorting. Volunteers are encouraged to come in weekly for two to three hours. For more information or to fill out a volunteer application form, click here.
• The American Red Cross needs volunteers to register donors and to work at refreshment areas at blood drives, providing beverages and snacks to donors. If you would like to volunteer, call Ricardo McInnis at 508-791-7444 or email mcinnisri@usa.redcross.org.
• Rachel's Table at 633 Salisbury St. in Worcester helps feed hungry families and individuals in greater Worcester. Volunteers are needed to pick up and distribute donated food and to answer the food donation hotline, arranging for the pick up and delivery of donated food. (Dispatchers use their own touch tone phones and volunteer from their homes once or twice per month.) For more information, click here. 

3. If you don't have time to give, here are some ways you can help through financial donations:

• You can make a donation online to the by clicking here or by mailing a check, payable to the Worcester County Food Bank, to Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
• You can donate to the Shrewsbury Education Foundation by clicking here or by mailing a check, payable to Shrewsbury Education Foundation, to Shrewsbury Education Foundation, P.O. Box 282, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
• The Share the Warmth program that "assists needy Shrewsbury residents with funding to maintain electric service for heat, light and hot water through the cold winter months." All funds donated go directly to assist needy Shrewsbury families and seniors having difficulty affording heat and electricity. To donate, click here. Donations are accepted year-round.

4. A great resolution is to start a new hobby (or to commit more time to one you've already started). Here are some local places to help you get started:

• , a local arts and crafts studio at 124 Boston Turnpike, offers workshops in beading, glass fusing, mosaics, clay and more.
• has all the materials you need to get you started. There are also lots of classes held at the store. For more information, click here.
• The offers lots of lessons including piano lessons, voice lessons, violin lessons, guitar lessons, drum lessons,singing lessons, flute lessons, bass lessons and more.

5. Share your resolutions and/or plans and suggestions on how to keep them. Is there a resolution that you made last year and kept? Or did it not go quite the way you had planned and you're trying again this year? We invite you to share your comments below.