Halloween Costume Distribution is Back!

Kids picking out Halloween costumes

Superheroes, princesses and zombies were back at Interfaith last weekend, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. We invited children served by our food pantry to a Halloween Costume Distribution event on Saturday, October 15, and each child was able to select a brand-new Halloween costume at no cost.

Kids picking out Halloween costumes

For local families having trouble putting food on the table, “extras” such as Halloween costumes can seem out of reach. Our seasonal initiatives, like the Halloween distribution and Help for the Holidays gift program, help ease these costs for South Shore families in need and bring joy to children in difficult situations.

Generous individuals and businesses donated hundreds of new Halloween costumes through our Halloween Drive. We’d like to thank O’Connor & Drew, P.C., Have a Sammi Kinda Day, Dan Minton and the Quincy Police Department, Emergent BioSolutions and DanceWorks for running costume drives at their businesses and organizations. DPS Insurance Group donated a tent for the event and Stop & Shop donated hundreds of sugar pumpkins for the children to take home.

Interfaith Social Services volunteer Kim DeVito, of Taunton, left, helps a child find a makeup kit to go with her costume

 

Dozens of volunteers helped sort incoming donations, prepare for the event, and assisted clients during the costume distribution, including corporate volunteer groups from IntelyCare, Peapod Digital Labs, Retail Business Services, and SIGNET Electronic Systems. THANK YOU!

A big thank you to the Patriot Ledger and WBZ for the wonderful media coverage of the event!

For more information about Interfaith’s holiday initiatives, please contact Seasonal Program Coordinator Natalie McMenamin at natalie@interfaithsocialservices.org.

Enjoy some of our favorite photos from the event, by Gary Higgins Photography:

Halloween Costumes Needed

After having to scale back our Halloween program for the past two years due to the pandemic, we’re excited to start up the Halloween Costume Drive again!

Each year in mid-October, we invite our food pantry client families with young children to a special day of “shopping” where their children can choose a Halloween costume. The programs gives families experiencing hardships a bit of normalcy, allowing their children to enjoy trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities with their peers.

HOW TO HELP

We need your help to ensure that we will have enough costumes to provide one for every child aged 12 and under. Donations of new costumes and accessories can be dropped off at our building, located at 105 Adams St., Quincy, Monday-Friday, 12:30-3:30pm, and until 7pm on Tuesdays.

Costumes can also be purchased from our online Amazon Wish List and shipped directly to Interfaith. Monetary donations are also welcome. More information about both options can be found at https://interfaithsocialservices.org/halloween.

Costume donations need to be received by Friday, Oct. 7. Questions about the program can be directed to Seasonal Program Coordinator Natalie McMenamin at natalie@interfaithsocialservices.org or 617-773-6203, ext. 26.

A volunteer assists a child in selecting a Halloween costume at Interfaith's 2019 Costume Giveaway.
A volunteer assists a child in selecting a Halloween costume at Interfaith’s 2019 Costume Giveaway.

Backpack Drive provides more than 900 students with supplies

More than 900 local students received free backpacks and school supplies thanks to you!

Backpack Drive

We distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to our food pantry clients with school-age children during the month of August to lighten the burden of back-to-school expenses for South Shore families in need.

THANK YOU to the generous donors and local businesses who provided backpacks and school supplies for more than 700 children whose families utilize our programs. Another 200 backpacks filled with supplies went to Quincy Public Schools to be distributed to children that may need them.

“We’ve seen prices going up on just about everything,” said Natalie McMenamin, Interfaith’s Seasonal Project Coordinator. “Our food pantry clients are really struggling with the rising costs of food and other necessities. It’s wonderful to be able to help them with some of these back-to-school expenses. It’s our hope that all the children we serve will start the school year prepared and that their parents have one less thing to worry about.”

The Backpack Drive is made possible through the support of many individuals, businesses and organizations who donate backpacks, supplies and monetary contributions during the summer. Several local businesses and organizations supported the program this year with donations of backpacks and supplies, including Arbella Insurance, Black Rock Country Club Women’s Golf, the Braintree Council Knights of Columbus, Coastal Heritage Bank,  First Church of Squantum, First Congregational Church Randolph, FoxRock Properties, Hingham Congregational Church, and Paige Landscape Company.

Employees from FoxRock Properties dropped off hundreds of donated backpacks for Interfaith's annual Backpack Drive.
Employees from FoxRock Properties dropped off hundreds of donated backpacks for Interfaith’s annual Backpack Drive.

Volunteer groups, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, South Shore Bank, and SIGNET Electronics Systems, helped sort incoming donations and fill backpacks with notebooks, pens, pencils, markers and other supplies.

Volunteers from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts helped sort supplies and fill backpacks for Interfaith Social Services' Backpack Drive
Volunteers from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts helped sort supplies and fill backpacks for Interfaith Social Services’ Backpack Drive.

THANK YOU!

Volunteers Inducted Into Hall of Fame

2022 Hall of Fame volunteers

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Interfaith Social Services’ programs! Each summer, we dedicate an evening to honor and celebrate all of our amazing volunteers.

At the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night on August 2, 100 of Interfaith’s volunteers gathered at the Quincy Masonic Building to enjoy dinner, trivia and camaraderie. In addition, 17 volunteers were inducted into the Matti Lang Volunteer Hall of Fame. This honor is bestowed upon those who have served at Interfaith regularly for at least one year. The Hall of Fame is named after one of Interfaith’s most dedicated volunteers, Matti Lang, who gave decades of his life selflessly serving Interfaith’s clients. Interfaith considers all of its volunteers its heroes – they make sure that none of our neighbors in need go hungry or lose hope.

This year’s inductees:

Tricia Bertucci
Susan Bill
William Blackmer
Bernadette Connolly
Connie Corcoran
Therese Dolbec
Alan Howarth
Helen Irvin
Cathy Kennedy
Mary Kerrigan
Gene Lee
Heather Nolasco
Ann O’Brien
Jill Rupple
Debbie Stadnicki
Liz Tangusso
Jan Whalen

2022 Hall of Fame volunteers
Seventeen local residents have been inducted into Interfaith Social Services’ Matti Lang Hall of Fame. These volunteers have given their time regularly for at least one year. (Left to right) Gene Lee of Quincy, Debbie Stadnicki of Quincy, Jan Whalen of Quincy, Jill Rupple of Pembroke, Interfaith’s Director of Development, Paula Daniels of Norton, Ann O’Brien of Weymouth, Bernadette Connolly of Quincy, Helen Irvin of Quincy, Heather Nolasco of Quincy and Alan Howarth of Quincy.

PARTNER OF THE YEAR

In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, Interfaith also honored our 2022 Community Partner of the Year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. This award honors businesses or organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteerism.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has been a loyal corporate partner of Interfaith since 2014. Blue Crew volunteers have donated more than 1,000 volunteer hours to Interfaith over the past eight years. In addition to sending monthly volunteer teams to Interfaith’s food pantry, Blue Cross has sponsored and participated in the annual Stop the Stigma 5K and Interfaith’s annual Feed the Hungry Gala. They’ve donated towards Interfaith’s seasonal programs and organized food and clothing drives.

During the critical pandemic period, when Interfaith’s client numbers continued to rise, Blue Cross also provided more than 10,000 meal kit packages for Interfaith’s food pantry. With a large percentage of their employees working from home due to the pandemic, Blue Cross brought back furloughed cafeteria staff to prepare hundreds of meal kits per day to donate to community members in need.

“We thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for cultivating the philosophy of giving and service in their offices,” said Paula Daniels, Interfaith’s Director of Development. “We are deeply grateful for the time and service their hard-working teams have given to us.”

Several Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts employees attended the volunteer appreciation event and Pauline Murnin, Blue Cross Civic Engagement Manager, accepted the award on behalf of Blue Cross.

Pauline Murnin BCBS award
Interfaith Social Services awarded their 2022 Community Partner of the Year Award to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for their outstanding commitment to volunteerism. Pauline Murnin, left, Blue Cross Civic Engagement Manager, accepted the award from Interfaith’s Director of Development Paula Daniels, right, at Interfaith’s August volunteer appreciation dinner.

“Blue Cross is committed to creating more equitable, just and healthy communities,” said Jeff Bellows, vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs. “We’re proud to partner with Interfaith Social Services and to engage our employees in supporting their vital work in the Quincy community.  We’re humbled to be recognized as the Partner of the Year and look forward to many more opportunities to work together to ensure community members have access to the resources necessary to support healthy lifestyles.”

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

Volunteers at Interfaith Social Services commit to a three-hour shift per week. Shifts are available Monday-Friday, between 9:30am and 7pm. Opportunities include working in the Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop, assisting in food rescue operations, filling orders for clients in the food pantry, staffing the front desk, and stocking and inventorying the pantry.

Those interested in volunteering at Interfaith Social Services are encouraged to contact Paula Daniels at 617-773-6203 ext. 28 or pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.

MORE PHOTOS

Donate to our Gala auction!

Gala attendees browse the silent auction packages at the 2019 Feed the Hungry Gala.

We are seeking fun, unique items and experiences to include in our December Feed the Hungry Gala auction! This event is Interfaith Social Services premier fundraising event, bringing in a significant portion of the funds needed to run our emergency food, mental health counseling and homelessness prevention programs.

Can you help us secure auction items? Examples of what we’re looking for include:

  • Tickets to sporting events
  • Stays at vacation homes
  • Fine wine or liquors
  • Unique experiences such as hot air ballooning, race car driving, travel, etc.
  • Interesting classes – can you teach someone a skill you may have? Cooking, fly fishing, etc.
  • Donated airline miles
  • Gift cards – any amount to any location!

Your donation will result in bringing in critical funds for our programs. Please contact our Gala committee auction chair Jennifer Sammons at jsammons@interfaithsocialservices.org for more information or to donate an item.

 

A big thank you to  Scavenger Hunts by Let’s Roam and Adventures from Scratch for their recent donations to our silent auction!

Support your neighbors this summer

Faces of Interfaith clients, volunteers, staff, donorsAll families, regardless of income status, are feeling the effects of inflation. However, price hikes are particularly devastating to lower-income households. Many of those served by Interfaith Social Services struggle to purchase basic necessities. Rising costs of everything from meat and fresh vegetables to gasoline and housing are draining monthly budgets faster than ever.

Interfaith’s budget is also feeling the impact: Our food budget has increased 50% compared to last year, we have hired more therapists to keep up with demand for mental health services, and we increased funding to our HomeSafe program to make sure those who are on the verge of eviction can stay in their homes.

Food Pantry – The USDA has reported that the average cost of groceries has increased almost 10% this year. Our clients shouldn’t have to choose between purchasing meat, milk, or bread because they can no longer buy all three. Interfaith’s food pantry helps fill that gap.

One of the households served by our pantry is a single mom of a 13-year-old son and her disabled grandmother. The mom and her son ride the bus each month to collect food from the pantry. When the mom came in last month, she shared that she had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had just come from her chemo treatment and mentioned that it is really taking a toll on her, but she knew she needed food in the house to feed her son. “No one would want my life right now, but I will be ok…I have to be ok. I am so thankful for your food pantry.”

New Directions Counseling Center – New Directions has been a vital community resource for decades. With the repercussions of the pandemic, we are currently serving record setting numbers of clients. We strive to eliminate all barriers, including financial ones, and get clients into treatment as soon as possible.

One of our therapists shared that she has been seeing a woman who is raising three young children alone after her husband died suddenly. She, as well as the children, are having a difficult time grieving their loss. In addition, the youngest has been acting out in school and is very angry. Our therapists have been helping her through a healthy grieving process and equipping the children with strategies and interventions to navigate their feelings.

HomeSafe – HomeSafe’s goal is to keep families “safe at home.” We accomplish this by providing emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction and utility shut offs. We also help our clients, some of whom are homeless, move into safer, more affordable housing.

HomeSafe recently provided one month’s rent for a young mother with significant health issues. She has several young children, including a newborn. Her mother had been helping to pay her rent but was no longer able. “I want to say thank you very much for all your help. You were able to take some weight off my shoulders and give me some relief. At times it’s hard to find just a little bit of help to get you through and I am very grateful that you were able to give me a hand.”

Please give generously to help us address the challenges that our clients and our organization are facing due to this economy. Help us to ensure we can meet the basic needs of the thousands we serve on the South Shore. Interfaith’s programs are only possible because of the support that we receive from people like you.

On behalf of the thousands of people we serve, THANK YOU.

Sincerely,

Rick Doane

Executive Director, Interfaith Social Services

Your Impact

2021 Annual Report cover image

Our 2021 Annual Report is here!

2021 Annual Report cover image

The report is one way that we thank YOU and highlights the tremendous impact that your donations and contributions have had on our organization in the last year.

Joy to children stats

In the report, you’ll read about the recent updates in our New Directions Counseling Center, the many changes that took place in the past year in our Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop, the incredible amount of food rescued last year for our food pantry program, and learn a bit about the 400+ volunteers that helped us make all these programs run smoothly last year.

food rescue stats

Last but not least, the annual report is a space where we can publicly thank our donors who supported us throughout the year. Our generous donors who gave $100 or more in calendar year 2021 are listed in our Annual Report Donor List.

Annual Report donor list

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to have a look!

Plant.Grow.Share. – our community gardening program

Plant.Grow.Share. – a fresh food initiative for local food pantries

The Plant.Grow.Share. initiative is a collaborative effort between Keohane Funeral Home, Interfaith Social Services, and the Weymouth Food Pantry to encourage backyard growers to donate produce to local food pantry clients.

FREE Gardening Workshops and Plants!

Farmer Jon Belber of Holly Hill Farm

Take part in this annual tradition! Keohane Funeral Home will kick off another Plant.Grow.Share. program with free gardening workshops on May 23 in Weymouth and May 27 in Quincy. Attend one of two one-hour long workshops led by local organic farmer Jon Belber of Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset to learn how to garden at home. Attendees will receive a vegetable seedling from Holly Hill Farm, donated by Keohane Funeral Home.

Workshops

  • Monday, May 23 at 6-7pm
    Old South Union Church, 25 Columbian St., Weymouth

  • Friday, May 27 at 2-3pm
    Kennedy Senior Center, 440 E. Squantum St., Quincy

Please RSVP to events@keohane.com or 1-800-KEOHANE with the location where you would like to attend and receive a free vegetable seedling. If you can’t attend the workshops, you can stop by the locations, at the times listed, to collect free seedlings.

Don’t have a green thumb?

There are so many ways to help. Both food pantries are also happy to receive donations of fresh store-bought produce! Learn more about donating fresh produce to local food pantries here:
• Interfaith Social Services — https://interfaithsocialservices.org/donate-food/
• Weymouth Food Pantry — https://www.weymouthfoodpantry.org/donate-food

Thanks in advance for your interest in helping others in your community!

Stop the Stigma Raises $100K for Mental Health

Team Arbella

On April 30, more than 600 wonderful souls took to the streets of North Quincy to run (or walk) in support of mental health in Interfaith Social Services’ annual Stop the Stigma 5K. In another record-breaking year, we raised nearly $100,000! The community’s outpouring of support is a testament to the overwhelming number of people that are affected by mental illness and addiction today.

Stop the Stigma 5k 2022 runners at the starting line

This year, the Stop the Stigma 5K was offered in both in-person and virtual formats. The in-person race was held on April 30 at the Kennedy Center in North Quincy. The 5K route winds through the Squantum neighborhood, with picturesque views of the Harbor and Boston’s skyline. For those choosing the virtual option, they could run (or walk) a course of their choice between April 30 and May 6 and submitted times and their own “finisher” photos on our online platform.

Drew Hanson prepares to run the 2022 Stop the Stigma 5K.

Why We Run

Now in its 48th year, the Stop the Stigma 5K encourages awareness and acceptance of mental health and addiction issues while raising funds for Interfaith’s New Directions Counseling Center. The Center serves anyone seeking counseling but prides itself on being a safety net for the uninsured and underinsured members of our community by offering services on a sliding scale fee system. To further break down barriers to receiving treatment, new clients to the New Directions Counseling Center receive their first four sessions free of charge. The success of this event supports these sessions, and many others, for individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford treatment.

It has been so inspiring to hear from our participants what being involved in this event means to them.

Here are some statements our participants shared when asked, “What is your connection to the mission of Stop the Stigma 5K?”:

• I have a loved one who has been sober for more than three years. Your services have meant the world to him.
• My daughter’s eating disorder and my own struggles with anxiety and depression are key reasons I run.
• Working in a school system, I see a lot of students struggling with mental health issues.
• My brother has been helped by the services you offer. I can’t thank you enough for being there for him and so many others. Keep up the great work you do.
• I ran this race in honor of my friend who is no longer with us. I found myself becoming very emotional on the start line when I thought about him and what this race was all about. After the race I wrote his name on the tribute sign.
• I am lucky to be able to afford mental health care but access to mental health resources should be free and accessible for all.
• I’m in recovery myself, so this is very personal to me.

Still Sober

Thank You To…

Our runners were energized up by the great tunes pumping out of our speakers coutesy of DJ Jeff Fowler Productions. A huge shout out to Katie Kickbutt from Commit 2B Fit who lead them in a fun, pre-race warmup. And physical therapists from MCR Chiropractic provided free screenings and helped the runners stretch before and after the race. Everyone stayed fueled and hydrated with bagels donated by Gold Medal Bakery & Bagel Boy and water donated by Polar Beverages. And finally we would like to give a special thank you to the Quincy Police Department for providing the officers to make sure that everyone stayed safe and sound.

Quincy Police Department

Winners

Jon Eng of Quincy finished first in the in-person race, with a finish time of 18:59. In the males, under 40 years category, Eng was followed by Mike Barrera of Quincy and Mason Tran of Quincy. In the males, 40+ category, Jeremy Whitelock of Scituate took first place, followed by Steven Young of Woburn and Joe Sennott of Franklin.

Allison Zaccheo of Columbia, MO, was the fastest female, with a finish time of 20:05. In the females, under 40 years category, Zaccheo was followed by Lauren Manning of Charlestown and Taryn Miller of Quincy. In the females, 40+ category, Kyla Triveri of Milton took first place, followed by Bridget McCaffrey of Arlington and Kerry Troup of Quincy.

Stop the Stigma 5K 2022 medal winners

Teams

We loved seeing all of the teams this year! Special mentions to our largest teams: Team Arbella, Team Boston Bulldogs Running Club, Team Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, Team Katie Kickbutt Squad, Team Quincy Running Club, Team ILKB Westford FitFam, Team Crown Colony Pediatrics,Team TryAngle Runs Together and Team Lori Scott Yoga.

Team Arbella

Our fantastic photographers, Christine Hurley of Hurley Event Photography and Rocky Taverna, captured so many incredible images from the day. Check out our photo gallery of some of our favorites on our Facebook page. Thank you Christine and Rocky!

5K PHOTO GALLERY

Ian Cain celebrates after his Stop the Stigma 5K run

Stop the Stigma 5k participants

Sponsors

The 2022 Stop the Stigma 5K is sponsored by many generous local businesses, including 5K Level Sponsors Arbella Insurance Foundation, The Heritage Companies and Quirk Auto Dealers; Gold Level Sponsors Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, IntelyCare, J. Calnan & Associates and SandBox Medical LLC; and Silver Level Sponsors Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C., Bank of Canton, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Burgin, Platner & Co. LLC, First Congregational Church Randolph UCC, FoxRock Properties, Keohane Funeral Home, the Law Offices of William T. Kennedy, P.C., Plymouth Quarries, Point32Health, SIGNET Electronic Systems, South Shore Bank, South Shore Health and United Healthcare.

SAVE THE DATE!
49th Annual Stop the Stigma 5K: April 29, 2023!

Why should you run the Stop the Stigma 5K on April 30?

black and white feet running a race

Our annual 5K raises funds for Interfaith's New Directions Counseling Center. This past year, our New Directions therapists have conducted more than 2,800 counseling sessions. Our clients are facing a variety of difficult situations, including:

• A young man who returned home to care for his terminally ill mother. Her illness was devastating and he stood by her side, caring for her until she passed away. He is seeing one of our grief counselors for help with the PTSD, sleep loss, and depression he's confronting from reliving the experience.

• A young teenage girl whose parents divorced, with much hostility toward each other. The girl now feels torn between them and as a result, is starting to have issues at school. She is an only child and felt like she had no one to talk to before beginning treatment at Interfaith’s counseling center.

• A young father of three who started drinking after losing his job. He is now in recovery and wants to do everything he can to stay healthy and find work.

• A 60-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with a disease resulting in her near-total loss of vision. She can no longer work and lost her job of 24 years. Interfaith’s vision loss counseling specialist is working with her to help adjust to her blindness and cope with the emotional and psychological ramifications of such a drastic life change.

• A 9-year-old boy who is being bullied at school. His single mother needs support and the emotional tools necessary to help her him deal with the issue.

By supporting the Stop the Stigma 5K, you are helping clients like these get the treatment they need, and challenging stereotypes, encouraging acceptance and eliminating stigmas surrounding mental illness and addiction.

All proceeds from the Stop the Stigma 5K benefit Interfaith's New Directions Counseling Center, which is a safety-net program ensuring that everyone is able to receive care regardless of their income status. Funding from donors like you ensures that our uninsured and underinsured clients can still get the counseling help they need by offsetting the cost of their sessions.

This year's hybrid Stop the Stigma 5K allows you to either participate in-person on April 30 at The Kennedy Center in Quincy or virtually at a time and place that works for you between April 30 - May 6. Register by March 25 to get a t-shirt.