
Focus on Fresh
On-Site Gardens
Where to Donate
Use rear food pantry or thrift shop door for food donations
17 Church Street, Weymouth
241 Broad Street, Weymouth
Drop off Thursday mornings 8-10am
Hundreds of runners and walkers defied the rain and took to the streets of Quincy’s Squantum neighborhood for Interfaith Social Services’ 51st annual Stop the Stigma 5K. The event, which raises funds and awareness for mental health and addiction care, brought in more than $150,000 to fund counseling sessions for those in need at our New Directions Counseling Center. Nearly 900 supporters signed up to take part in the April 26 event and over 600 runners and volunteers came out to the Kennedy Center in North Quincy despite the rainy weather.
New Directions serves anyone seeking counseling but we pride ourselves on being a safety net for the uninsured and underinsured members of the community by offering services on a sliding scale fee system. To further break down barriers to receiving treatment, new clients receive their first four sessions free of charge.
We host the Stop the Stigma 5K each year to challenge stereotypes, encourage acceptance and eliminate stigmas associated with mental health and addiction. Many participants feel a strong connection to the mission and run or walk to support family and friends, or to highlight their own battles with mental illness or addiction recovery. Here are a few statements our participants shared when asked, “What is your connection to the mission of Stop the Stigma 5K?:”
Our runners were energized by the great tunes pumping out of our speakers courtesy of DJ Jeff Fowler Productions. A huge shout out to Katie Asack, a group fitness instructor who led us in a fun pre-race warmup.
Everyone stayed fueled and hydrated with bagels donated by Gold Medal Bakery and water donated by Polar Beverages and Trader Joe’s.
The Cravery Food Truck was a fun addition this year offering delicious ice cream and acai bowls for our participants to purchase!
And finally, we would like to give a special thank you to the Quincy Police Department for providing officers to make sure that everyone stayed safe.
Case Brabham of Cambridge was the fastest male, with a finish time of 17:51. Maureen Collins of Braintree earned the fasted female title, with a finish time of 21:38. Jacob Lai of Quincy earned the fastest youth title in the under-16 category, with a finish time of 20:29.
The 2025 Stop the Stigma 5K is sponsored by many generous local businesses, including Presenting Sponsors Arbella Insurance Foundation and Wulfpac Charitable Funding; 5K Level Sponsors The City of Quincy – Mayor Koch’s Office, The Heritage Companies, and New England Medical Group; Gold Level Sponsors Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, J. Calnan & Associates, Keohane Funeral Home, and South Shore Bank; and Silver Level Sponsors Abington Bank, Bank of Canton, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Crocker Electrical Co., Inc., Dedham Savings, First Congregational Church of Randolph, FoxRock Properties, Law Offices of William T. Kennedy, P.C., Lawson & Weitzen, LLP, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, MountainOne Bank, Point32Health, Puzzle Pieces, South Shore Health, Stop & Shop, United Healthcare and Wellsense Health Plan.
Our fantastic photographers, Gary Higgins 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 Gary and Rocky!
Save the date for the 2026 Stop the Stigma 5K: Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Hundreds of South Shore children in need opened gifts this holiday season thanks to the generosity of Interfaith’s community of supporters. A record number of families came to us this fall seeking holiday assistance through our Help for the Holidays program.
“We want to make sure that everyone in our community has the food and essential items that they need,” said Rick Doane, executive director of Interfaith. “We also want to make sure that children from those struggling households don’t miss out on the joys of childhood.”
Interfaith’s seasonal initiatives provide school supplies, Halloween costumes, Bunny Baskets, holiday gifts and more to client families served by the organization’s food pantry. This year, Interfaith’s Help for the Holidays gift program provided more than 6,000 gifts to 1,000 children in need.
“This is only possible because of the incredible generosity of our community,” said Doane. “More people than ever donated and supported our clients this holiday season. It was so heartwarming to witness such a display of compassion and charity.”
More than 400 individuals from the community signed up to sponsor Interfaith’s client families this season, another record number for the agency. In addition, more than 25 local businesses, houses of worship and other organizations signed up to conduct toy drives or host “Giving Trees” at their places of business.
We would like to thank the following groups for their participation: Adams Shore Association, Ahold Delhaize USA/Stop & Shop, Beth Israel Deaconess – Milton, CB Realty Hingham, Cohasset Sports Complex, D’Allessandro Corp., Emma Lisa’s Breakfast & Lunch, Faith Lutheran Church Quincy, First Congregational Church of Squantum, First Presbyterian Church Quincy, First Spiritual Church of Quincy, The Goddard School (Dedham & Quincy), Houghs Neck Congregational Church, J. Calnan & Associates, Living Hope Foursquare Church, Realtor Nicole Vermillion, Orangetheory Hingham, Paycom, Quincy Point Congregational Church, The Southeast Massachusetts’ Chapter of The New England Mountain Bike Association, Topco, Urban Beauty Lounge, The Village School Milton, WellSense Health Plan, Wicked Loft Cafe and Withum.
Doane said many social service agencies in Massachusetts saw an increase in need this season.
“This year especially has been difficult for many local families, causing them to reach out in greater numbers to food pantries,” said Doane. “In 2023, Interfaith’s food pantry was serving about 1,300 households from Quincy and surrounding towns each month. In 2024, we averaged about 1,600 families each month. We’ve only been able to keep up with this increase because our community of supporters has rallied by increasing financial donations and coming in to volunteer with our programs.”
Interfaith Social Services’ Assistant Food Pantry Manager Leslie Wittmann, who manages the organization’s seasonal programs, echoed those sentiments.
“Donors were exceptionally generous this year,” said Wittmann. “We’re also incredibly fortunate to have a team of amazing volunteers who bend over backwards to make sure that every single child received items that were on their wish list.”
More than 300 of Interfaith’s supporters gathered to “party with a purpose” at the recent Feed the Hungry Gala. Held Dec. 6 at Granite Links, the event raised more than $450,000 for our emergency food, mental health and homelessness prevention programs. Fundraising at the annual Gala accounts for a significant percentage of our annual budget.
“Without a doubt Interfaith’s programs have never been needed more than right now,” said our Executive Director Rick Doane.
Doane said the organization has seen a 100% increase in the number of households served by their food pantry in the last four years.
“If you drive by our building on any given morning, you will see hundreds of people lining up to get groceries,” Doane said. “They don’t want to be there, but they have no choice. Faced with a lack of affordable housing, they are having to make choices between paying rent and buying groceries. The lines of clients are a visible representation of how expensive it is to live in our state.”
Interfaith’s homelessness prevention program also saw a 70% increase this year in outreach from South Shore residents facing eviction or the loss of a basic utility.
“It was incredible to witness such an incredible display of generosity at this year’s Gala,” Doane said. “The community showed up in force to donate and sustain Interfaith’s programs.”
Feed the Hungry Gala guests enjoyed an evening of food and beverage samples, games, a silent auction and live music. Restaurants attending included Abby Park, Alma Nove, Granite Links, JP Fuji Group, Liberty Tavern, Niveaux Patisserie, Novara, Ocean Seafood International, Pearl & Lime, Sweet Lizzy P Bake Shop, Uno Mas and Victory Point. Beverage samples were provided by Castle Island Brewing, Untold Brewing and Bin Ends Wine. Purefections Chocolates provided an Interfaith branded chocolate-covered Oreo for guests to take home.
 Attendees played carnival-style games as they attempted to win an assortment of prizes donated by generous local businesses. Guests were excited to challenge their friends or family members to a new “minute to win it” game called Solo Cup Stack and to try to win a Dunkin’ gift card in a new Dunkin’ Carvalho Group sponsored game.
All of Interfaith’s supporters were welcome to participate in the online silent auction, which offered packages including a Maine skiing vacation, a basketball signed by the Celtics, a Cape Cod glassblowing experience, Boston sports tickets and overnights at several Boston hotels. The South Shore’s Belted Galloways provided live music for the event.
The Feed the Hungry Gala is sponsored by many generous individuals and businesses, including Presenter Level Sponsor Arbella Insurance Foundation, Champion Level Sponsor Walmart, and Hero Level Sponsors The Heritage Companies, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, Plymouth Quarries, Quincy Mutual Group, and Summit Energy.
Save the date now for our 2025 Feed the Hungry Gala, to be held on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at Granite Links.
MORE PHOTOS: Highlights from the Feed the Hungry Gala
MORE PHOTOS: Spotted at the Feed the Hungry Gala
Our food pantry serves approximately 425 people who menstruate every single month. Last year we distributed 101,400 individual pads and tampons! Clients receive 20 pads or tampons each time they visit us. Each bag costs us about $6.30, totaling $2,678 per month.
We are so grateful to community members and organizations who donate and drop off pads and tampons for our clients; but it isn’t nearly enough to keep up with the demand.
With a $25 donation, you can provide 4 bags of menstrual hygiene products to those in need. Make that a monthly donation and you will provide 48 bags per year!
Help Interfaith keep the money “flowing!”
Donate monthly for that time of the month
Interfaith is a safety net for thousands of children and families from the South Shore who are struggling to make ends meet. We believe that like the food we provide, menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury.
Federal assistance programs like SNAP and WIC do not allow the purchase of period products.
The National Institute of Health estimated that 16.9 million menstruating individuals in the United States live in poverty, two-thirds of which are low-income and food-insecure. These individuals cannot afford basic menstrual products. Those who face this scarcity of resources may miss work and school and are sometimes driven to improvise using unsanitary alternatives.
Interfaith is committed to ensuring all the clients we serve never go without the period products they need. We rely on monetary donations from caring donors like you to help us maintain this commitment.
You can help!
Join our Circle of Friends: Give monthly to ensure that everyone we serve in our food pantry has the menstrual hygiene items they need each and every month.
We use inclusive language when discussing period products to reflect our diverse clientele. We acknowledge that not all people with periods are women, and that not all women have periods. As such, we avoid using the terms “women,” “girls,” or “feminine hygiene” when referring to menstrual products.
As many as 1 in 3 adults in Massachusetts are facing food insecurity, and at the same time, more than one-third of all available food in the United States is going to waste. How can that uneaten food (nearly 92 billion pounds per year) get into the hands of those who need it most? One solution is food rescue programs.
Interfaith Social Services in Quincy operates one such program, diverting more than 434,700 pounds of food last year from the waste stream to the households of Massachusetts residents in need. Since 2009, the organization has rescued more than 5 million pounds of food from local restaurants, retailers and grocery stores.
“This is more than just an initiative to feed the clients served by Interfaith Social Services’ food pantry,” said Interfaith’s Executive Director Rick Doane. “Preventing food waste is part of our collective responsibility to protect our planet and be conscientious stewards of our natural resources.”
In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection banned the disposal of commercial organic waste. That meant that no one in the state could dispose of one ton or more of organic material per week. In 2022, they tightened the rule to half a ton per week. So, what happens to that food if it can’t be thrown away? It has to be composted or donated. Interfaith Social Services is part of this solution.
Interfaith’s food rescue coordinators drive a refrigerated box truck around the region five days a week, stopping at grocery stores like Stop & Shop and Trader Joe’s and retail establishments such as Target. At each stop they load up the truck with food that the stores can no longer sell. Interfaith also partners with local food rescue organization Spoonfuls for weekly deliveries of perishable foods they recover.
“For the most part, this is perfectly good food that would otherwise be heading to a landfill,” Doane said. “In some cases, the store may have over-ordered a product or the best buy dates are quickly approaching. As stores restock with new items, the old ones are pushed out and that’s what we’re rescuing.”
Doane credits local store managers who are committed to this initiative with the success of the program. “Many companies have corporate policies that mandate food must be donated, but it takes the dedication of the store’s employees and management to turn those policies into a reality,” said Doane.
When the boxes of food rescued from supermarkets return to Interfaith’s food pantry in Quincy, a team of volunteers sort and shelve it, making sure that the food is fresh and within food safety guidelines.
“We make it a point to only distribute food that we would feed our own families,” Doane said. “If it’s not in good enough condition to feed our own kids, we wouldn’t want to give that our client families. Interfaith’s volunteers are amazing. They tackle the herculean task of sorting thousands of pounds of food each day. We also work with a local company to compost food that is unfit for human consumption.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average family spends $1,500 a year on food that doesn’t get eaten.
Here are some tips on how you can prevent food waste at home:
Learn more about Interfaith’s food rescue program at https://interfaithsocialservices.org/food-rescue
DONATE NOW to sustain our programs.
More than 850 local children received new backpacks and school supplies from Interfaith Social Services during the month of August, easing the burden of back-to-school expenses for South Shore families in need. Generous donors and local businesses provided both backpacks and school supplies for families that utilize our programs.
The Backpack Drive is one of several seasonal initiatives that we run throughout the year, designed to bring joy to children who may be growing up in difficult situations. The program aims to make sure students start out the school year outfitted with the supplies they need to succeed.
“We are immensely grateful to our donors who make our backpack drive possible,” said Assistant Food Pantry Manager Leslie Wittmann. “Data show that having one’s own school supplies helps with grades, self-esteem, and many other aspects of school. And since we know that education is key to break free of poverty, our backpack drive is very important for our clients’ wellbeing in both the near and long term.”
The Backpack Drive is made possible through the support of many individuals, businesses and organizations. Several local businesses and organizations supported the program this year with donations of backpacks, supplies and funds, including: Arbella Insurance, Boston Metal, Braintree Knights of Columbus, Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills, Black Rock Women’s Golf Association, Crown Colony Pediatrics, FoxRock Properties, the Have a Sammi Kinda Day Fund, Hingham Congregational Church, Houghs Neck Congregational Church, Marriott Quincy, Nicole Vermillion of LaMacchia Realty, Sandcastles Childcare & Learning Center, and Second Congregational Church – Cohasset.
Xaverian Brothers High School student Michael McGrath also participated in the Drive for the third year in a row, raising funds to fill 50 backpacks with supplies. Over the summer, McGrath asked friends and family for financial support, and the teen purchased supplies and assembled all 50 bags before delivering them to Interfaith.
To learn more about Interfaith’s seasonal programs, please contact Assistant Food Pantry Manager Leslie Wittmann at leslie@interfaithsocialservices.org or 617-773-6203 ext.26.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, Interfaith also honored their 2024 Community Partner of the Year, Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. This award honors businesses or organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteerism.
The mission of Dunkin’s foundation is aligned nicely with ours. Like Interfaith, one of their goals is to provide simple joys to children battling hunger. They give more than $9 million dollars to organizations like ours around the country each year.
Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has been a strong community partner of Interfaith’s since 2019. Dunkin’ volunteers have donated more than 130 volunteer hours to Interfaith over these past 5 years. We are deeply grateful for the time and service their hard-working teams have given to us. Their example motivates other businesses and community groups to get involved and stay involved.
The Foundation has also supported us by providing much needed grant money that sustained us through the difficult COVID pandemic years and beyond. Since 2019, the Foundation has donated close to $100,000! These grants have allowed us to purchase fresh produce for our food pantry, and have provided JOY to the children we serve. We have been able to purchase Halloween costumes, school supplies, toys and goodies for Bunny Baskets and holiday gifts for thousands of children living in difficult situations here on the South Shore.
“Support from Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has helped our food pantry cope with significant demands for our services”, said Paula Daniels, Interfaith’s Director of Development. “In 2019 when the Foundation started supporting us, we were distributing 56,000 bags of groceries to local families in need. This past year, we distributed 96,000 bags of groceries and hygiene supplies! Their amazing contributions over the years have meant so much to us and their positive impact is immeasurable!”
Several of the Foundation’s employees attended the volunteer appreciation event and accepted the award on its behalf.
Are YOU looking for volunteer opportunities? Weekly volunteer shifts are now available in our Food Pantry and Thrift Shop.
If you meet the requirements above, please fill out the questionnaires below. PLEASE NOTE: This form is used to collect information only. If you are selected to fill one of our shifts, we will reach out to you to set up an interview.
Food Pantry Questionnaire
Thrift Shop Questionnaire
Our 2023 Annual Report is out!
First of all, thank you! So many amazing people support the work that Interfaith Social Services does in our community. I love taking opportunities to express our appreciation for the amazing community of supporters who sustain our efforts.
If you are taking the time to read this letter, you are a true friend to Interfaith. Our mission is special to you. You may have sacrificed your time volunteering, you may have received services from our programs in the past, or you may have made financial contributions to support our programs. Thank you!
Recently, we have been commemorating several milestones. Last year marked Interfaith’s 75th anniversary . In 2024, we mark the 50th anniversary of our Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop, Food Pantry, and 5K Fundraiser. Yes, they all started in 1974; it was a big year for our organization! Read more…
THANK YOU!
Businesses, organizations, houses of worship and individuals who gave $100 or more in monetary donations in calendar year 2023 are listed in this year’s report.
On April 27, 850 wonderful souls took to the streets of North Quincy’s scenic Squantum neighborhood to run (or walk) in Interfaith Social Services’ annual Stop the Stigma 5K, raising more than $140,000! After so much rain this Spring, Mother Nature blessed us with sunshine for our community to enjoy while celebrating the 50th anniversary of this event and showing their support for loved ones affected by mental illness and addiction.
Thank you to The Kennedy Center in North Quincy, the gracious host of our start and finish line since 2012. The 5K route winds through the Squantum neighborhood, with picturesque views of the Harbor and Boston’s skyline.
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.
We are so inspired when we hear from our participants about why they support this event. Here are some statements our participants shared when asked, “What is your connection to the mission of Stop the Stigma 5K?”:
Our runners were energized up by the great tunes pumping out of our speakers courtesy of DJ Jeff Fowler Productions. A huge shout out to Katie Asack, a group fitness instructor who lead us in a fun pre-race warmup.
Physical therapists from Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness provided free screenings and helped the runners stretch before and after the race. And Licensed Massage Therapist Solange Connolly provided relaxing massages to our tired runners.
Everyone stayed fueled and hydrated with bagels donated by Gold Medal Bakery & Bagel Boy and water donated by Polar Beverages.
Granite Links’ Food Truck was a fun addition this year offering delicious brunch food options for our participants to purchase! Their food is always top notch!
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.
Steve Conte of Quincy was the fastest male, with a finish time of 19:08. Nicole Souza of Quincy earned the fasted female title, with a finish time of 21:27. Ran Cronin of Manchester, NH took gold in the non-binary category. Ronan O’Connor of Quincy earned the fastest youth title in the under 16 category.
The 2024 Stop the Stigma 5K is sponsored by many generous local businesses, including Anniversary Level Sponsors Arbella Insurance Foundation and Wulfpac Charitable Funding; 5K Level Sponsors The Heritage Companies and Summit Energy; Gold Level Sponsors Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, Colonial Federal Savings Bank, Keohane Funeral Home, Mayor Koch’s Office, New England Medical Group and South Shore Bank; and Silver Level Sponsors Abington Bank, Bank of Canton, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Brain Aneurysm Foundation, Dedham Savings, First Congregational Church UCC of Randolph, FoxRock Properties, IntelyCare, Law Offices of William T. Kennedy, P.C., Lawson & Weitzen, LLP, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Point32Health, SIGNET Electronic Systems, South Shore Health, Stop & Shop, United Healthcare and Wessling Architects Inc.
Our fantastic photographers, Katelyn Fay and Hurley Event Photography, captured so many incredible images from the day. Check out our photo gallery of some of our favorites on our Facebook page. Thank you Katelyn and Christine!
If you were not able to participate, but would still like to help those affected by mental illness or addiction, you can make a donation.
You can also choose to celebrate our anniversary all year long by becoming a monthly donor!