Stop by Whole Foods Market in Hingham and South Weymouth, MA on Saturday March 4 and Sunday March 5 and grab a “cuppa Joe” while you shop. Not only will it perk up your spirits, but for every Coffee for a Cause cup you buy, Whole Foods Markets will donate $5 to Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore.

Whole Foods Market fundraisers help us help others

“The Whole Foods Market stores in our communities have been wonderfully supportive of our work over the years, so we’re delighted to have them sponsor this event to help us raise funds once again,” says Herb Newell, Executive Director, Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore.

Past events at the Hingham and South Weymouth Whole Foods Market locations have provided critical funds for:

• our family shelters in Norwell, Weymouth, and Cohasset,
• the Furniture Bank in Weymouth and
• our Shelter Emergency Food Pantries.

Vital support for Home with Friends

Contributions from the stores also support the new Home with Friends program.  Now in its third year, Home with Friends helps match a family in transition with a community church-based friendship team.

“The goal for the Home with Friends friendship team is to help each family achieve true self-sufficiency and end the cycle of homelessness,” explains Home with Friends Director Lora Wooster. The ongoing mentoring that each team provides is critical to a family’s success, she says, because “so many of the parents we serve are overwhelmed with challenges.” In addition to finding affordable, permanent housing they may need to finish school and find full-time work, day care and transportation.

Friendship and subsidies for family self-sufficiency

Each friendship team also subsidizes a family’s housing for up to two years during their transition. Today there are three successful Home with Friends teams on the South Shore. Wooster is eager to get more on board in the year ahead.

Aside from providing much-needed funds, another goal of Coffee with a Cause is to raise awareness of volunteer opportunities. “Volunteers also will be on site to answer shoppers’ questions about Friends of the Homeless and the work we do,” says Newell. “We’re hoping to meet people who may want to lend a hand to some of our ongoing and upcoming projects.”

To learn about all the ways you can volunteer to help families in transition, please visit the Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore site.