Thanking our supporters for a long list of 2017 accomplishments.
We are sincerely thanking our supporters. Here are some highlights of how we were able to help homeless families on the South Shore. They found permanent housing and stability in their lives, thanks to supporters like you.
We couldn’t have done all of this without your inspiration, donations, and plain hard work. Every individual, community group, church, and business sponsor we worked with played an important part in our success.
Thank you for all that you do! You help us fulfill our mission to be “A change force in the lives of families who need hope, love and stability.”
Safe housing and more for shelter guests
In 2017 we:
- Provided 59 families (65 adults and 70 children) with a safe place to live.
- Gave these families ongoing support to:
- find permanent housing and
- stabilize their lives through counseling, training, and employment.
- Replaced all of the aging stoves in our Weymouth shelter kitchens. We are thankful for the generosity of Store Manager, John Miller and Customer Relations Manager, Lisa Chiavaroli, at Lowe’s in Weymouth, who donated the new stoves we so desperately needed.
- Rebuilt the septic system at the Norwell shelter.
- Welcomed our always-willing volunteers from Babson College who joined us to do painting, planting grass, and general maintenance.
- Hosted interns from Eastern Nazarene and Bridgewater State colleges who helped us “with just about everything,” says shelter director, Ed DiSante. This included cleaning units, working in the yard, and lending a hand in the office when needed. “This gives the interns a chance to interact with the families and learn about advocating for change for homeless families.”
Friendship, advice, pots and pans for families moving to permanent homes
- Home with Friends Friendship Teams in three South Shore communities gave ongoing financial and emotional support to four families in transition. Their practical advice and day-to-day guidance helped these families move to new jobs, homes, and true self-sufficiency. Learn about our newest team from Wollaston Church of the Nazarene in Quincy.
- Our friends at Promise Church collected and redeemed more than 5,000 Shaw’s stamps so 50 home-ready families would have shiny new sets of pots and pans for their new kitchens. And they’re doing it again right now: collecting stamps to redeem for Rachel Ray bakeware.
So, if a Shaw’s cashier asks, “Do you collect stamps?” By all means say, “Yes” and start saving them to send to Judith Patt at Promise Church, 781-337-5592. Make sure you send them before the January 18th deadline.
Gifts for our “extended” families at Christmas
Here are more reasons to be thanking our supporters:
- In 2016, 260 families and 528 children celebrated a more joyful Christmas thanks to our annual Christmas Giving program.
- More than 100 individuals, businesses, churches, and community groups generously donated gifts to make this happen.
- In addition, 2016 was the first year where we helped make Christmas brighter for families in need from other agencies too. New families came from other shelter providers, Father Bill’s in Quincy and Ollie’s House, a start-up shelter for single mothers of young children.
You can make a difference next year too!
Find out how you can make a difference again in 2018 by volunteering your skills, time, and energy to Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore. Contact Dorothy Newell at 781-340-1604.
To make an online donation, use the button below to connect to Network for Good: