Jennifer Sammons, Author at Interfaith Social Services

Interfaith Provides Holiday Gifts for 1,000 Children

January 7, 2025

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 Social Services volunteer Christin Eigenmann, of Hingham, holds up a couple of bags of gifts that were donated to the organization’s Help for the Holidays program. Thanks to generous community donors, Interfaith was able to provide more than 6,000 gifts to 1,000 South Shore children in need this holiday season. Credit – Interfaith Social Services Courtesy Photo

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.

More than 400 South Shore individuals and 25 businesses and organizations signed up to sponsor families through Interfaith Social Services Help for the Holidays program, including this sister and brother pair who dropped off gifts to Interfaith in December. Credit – Interfaith Social Services Courtesy Photo

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.”

Feed the Hungry Gala Raises $450,000

January 2, 2025

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.

Castle Island Brewing offered up samples of several of their beers at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala at Granite Links. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography

Chel Paul Wahlberg of Hingham’s Alma Nove restaurant served up sample plates of braised pork with cheesy polenta for guests at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala. Attendees sampled food and beverages from more than a dozen local restaurants and breweries at the organization’s annual fundraising event. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography — Chef Paul Wahlberg of Hingham’s Alma Nove restaurant served up sample plates of braised pork with cheesy polenta for guests at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala. Attendees sampled food and beverages from more than a dozen local restaurants and breweries at the organization’s annual fundraising event. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography

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.

Interfaith volunteers Paula Cole, left, of Quincy, and James Madej, center, of Middleboro, ran the new Solo Cup Challenge game at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala. Interfaith board member Peter Lung, right, of Quincy, tried his hand at stacking and unstacking the cups in under one minute as he attempted to win a prize. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography — Interfaith volunteers Paula Cole, left, of Quincy, and James Madej, center, of Middleboro, ran the new Solo Cup Challenge game at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala. Interfaith board member Peter Lung, right, of Quincy, tried his hand at stacking and unstacking the cups in under one minute as he attempted to win a prize. Credit – Matt Teuten Photography

Nadine Steffan, left, of Quincy, reacts to selecting a winning duck at the Carvalho Group Dunkin for Ducks game at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala at Granite Links. Gala guests had the opportunity to play games and win prizes at the annual fundraising event. Alex Steffan, center, and Interfaith volunteer Gayle Davidson, right, both of Quincy, looked on. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography

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 silent auction at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala featured Boston sports tickets, a Maine vacation, a team-autographed Bruins jersey, a Cape Cod glassblowing experience, hotel stays and much more. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography

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.

Katelyn Asack, of Randolph, places an ornament on the Giving Tree at Interfaith Social Services’ Dec. 6 Feed the Hungry Gala. Participants in the Giving Tree Game purchase an ornament in hopes their selection is marked to win a prize. Each ornament purchased buys holiday gifts for children in need served by Interfaith’s food pantry. Credit –Matt Teuten Photography

MORE PHOTOS: Highlights from the Feed the Hungry Gala

MORE PHOTOS: Spotted at the Feed the Hungry Gala

Help Interfaith end period poverty

October 29, 2024

Help us ensure that everyone we serve receives the menstrual hygiene products they need each month!

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

Food pantry donors giving period products

Menstrual hygiene is not a luxury

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.

What is Food Rescue?

September 25, 2024September 25, 2024

Interfaith Social Services’ Food Rescue Coordinators Geoff Bowen (foreground) and Dritan Spiro assist in recovering more than 8,000 pounds of food each week from local grocery stores and retailers. The rescued food, which otherwise would have ended up in landfills, is redistributed to the organization’s food pantry clients.

Interfaith’s food rescue program diverts more than 200 tons of food to those in need

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.”

Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban

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.

Volunteer Efforts

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.”

An Interfaith volunteers sorts through boxes of rescued bread. — Interfaith volunteer Alan Howarth sorts through boxes of rescued bread.

Interfaith's Food Pantry manager Eileen Kelly composts vegetables that are not fit for consumption. — Interfaith’s Food Pantry manager Eileen Kelly composts vegetables that are not fit for consumption.

How You Can Help Make a Difference

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:

Meal Plan – Plan your meals for the week and purchase only what is needed to make them.
Beware BOGO Sales – Buying in large quantities, or falling for buy one get one deals, only saves money if all the food can be used before it spoils.
Store it Right – Properly store fruits and vegetables to make them last longer and preserve freshness.
Compost – Utilize at-home or city composting services to convert food scraps into soil or energy.
Donate – Nutritious, untouched food can be donated to food pantries.

Learn more about Interfaith’s food rescue program at https://interfaithsocialservices.org/food-rescue

DONATE NOW to sustain our programs.

Local students receive free backpacks and school supplies

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024

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.

Volunteers from Arbella Insurance helped prepare backpacks for distribution.

Staff from Quincy Marriott dropped off a load of backpacks and supplies at Interfaith.

Nancy from the Have a Sammi Kinda Day Fund delivered backpacks and supplies to Interfaith.

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.

Michael McGrath's annual backpack drive jus gets bigger and bigger! — Michael McGrath’s annual backpack drive jus gets bigger and bigger!

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.

Interfaith Honors Volunteers & Community Partner of the Year

June 18, 2024

Each year, Interfaith Social Services dedicates an evening to honor and celebrate all of its amazing volunteers. This year’s Volunteer Appreciation Night was held June 13 at the Quincy Masonic Building (thank you, Masons!) and more than 100 volunteers and staff gathered to celebrate.

Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Black’s Creek BBQ and cookies and brownies from Kate’s Confections. A round of trivia after dinner crafted by our very own executive director, Rick Doane, kept everyone on their toes, and we ended the night giving away prizes from a free raffle.

Volunteers got to take a night off to socialize with one another without having to bag groceries, check in clients, hang up clothes or check expiration dates. Whether they help out in the pantry, Thrift Shop, front desk, at one of our fundraising events or serve on our Board, they are ALL absolutely essential in Interfaith being able to deliver our programs efficiently and compassionately.

Paula Daniels, Interfaith’s Director of Development, spoke at the event and said, “We treat our volunteers like they are staff. We rely on our volunteers like they are staff. We have 135 generous ‘staff’ members right now who give us their all each and every week. This past year, volunteers sorted through 10,000 bags of clothes for our Thrift Shop, distributed nearly 100,000 bags of groceries, re-stocked our pantry with more than 1 million pounds of food, and helped raise $550,000 at our Gala and 5K events. They are truly our saving grace, allowing us to serve all who come to us asking for help.”

Attendees went home from the event with Dunkin’ gift cards as a token of appreciation. Volunteers are the heart and soul of Interfaith Social Services’ programs and we are so grateful for each and every one of them.

Hall of Fame

During Volunteer Appreciation Night, Interfaith inducted 29 volunteers 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.

Our 2024 Matti Lang Volunteer Hall of Fame Inductees:

Sylvie Abbott

Anne Acton

Wave Bascombe

Nancy Brokamp

Donna Bulka

Christine Chaudhary

Paula Cole

Andrea Concannon

Elaine Enos

Elizabeth Finkenstaedt

Brendan Gavaghan

Susan Gavaghan

Marilyn Hayes

Jean Kelliher

Andrea King

Terrence Manning

Kate O’dell-Goldie

Jacob Perlmuter

Martha Regan

Michael Riley

Lillian Rogers

Katherine Rondinelli

Mallory Sain

Marsha Sherman

Lucy Smith

Laura Sorgi

Clifton Sullivan

Jim Sullivan

Anna Wilson

Community Partner of the Year

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.

Volunteers Wanted

Are YOU looking for volunteer opportunities? Weekly volunteer shifts are now available in our Food Pantry and Thrift Shop.

Volunteer Requirements:

You have the time to commit to one 3-hour volunteer shift per week (available shifts are Monday – Friday between the hours of 9am and 3:30pm – no evenings or weekends shifts are available);
You can commit to volunteering with us for at least 2-3 months;
You are 16 years of age or older;
You are able to work in a fast-paced environment;
You can lift up to 30 lbs repeatedly;
Bilingual speaking (especially Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish or Portuguese) are encouraged to apply!

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

Photo Gallery

Our Annual Report Shows Your Impact

May 21, 2024

Interfaith Social Services 2023 Annual Report cover

Our 2023 Annual Report is out!

From our Executive Director, Rick Doane:

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 75^th anniversary . In 2024, we mark the 50^th 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…

In this year’s report you’ll learn all about the impact donations from our community had on our organization.

And we take the time to thank our donors

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.

50th Anniversary 5K raises $140K for Mental Health

May 13, 2024

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.

KATELYN FAY FOR INTERFAITH SOCIAL SERVICES

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.

About the 5K

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.

Why We Run

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?”:

I have been participating in this run for about 6 years now. My brother has used your services on more than one occasion. He is strong and has been fighting an addiction problem for years. Unfortunately, I also run for two friends who were not so lucky with their addictions.
Running helps me process distracting and negative thoughts in a healthy way. Continuous challenges and self-improvement will help you through anything in life. I still struggle some days.
My niece lost her life to addiction coupled with mental health issues. I run for her memory. This year, I had her father with me and it means even more to remember her.
We have just recently lost our son. He battled with addiction for many years. We believe that addiction is very related to mental illness. We are in the stage where we want to give his life meaning by trying to help others. We would like to get involved with Interfaith in any way that we might be useful.
I have benefited from mental health services and am lucky to have good health insurance. Finances and insurance should not be a barrier to people obtaining the support they need. I also lost a close friend to addiction. I suspect that stigma played a role in him not obtaining any help.
My daughter has been suffering for years with mental illness to the point of not living a life; sleeping day and night. Still working hard to find help for her. Thank you xoxoxo

Big Thank Yous to…

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.

Winners

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.

Thank you to Our Sponsors

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.

More Photos

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!

5K Photo Gallery

How to Help

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.

DONATE $50 for our 50th!

You can also choose to celebrate our anniversary all year long by becoming a monthly donor!

50 Years of Walking & Running for Interfaith

April 23, 2024

This Saturday, Interfaith Social Services will be celebrating 50 years of supporting our community along with 800+ of our closest friends at our 2024 Stop the Stigma 5K. We will be running (or walking) in solidarity to stop the stigmas that exist in our society around mental illness and addiction.

If you cannot be with us on April 27, we ask that you make a $50 donation for our 50th! Be a part of our anniversary celebration and at the same time, sustain our New Directions Counseling Center – a safety net for our neighbors in need who are struggling with their mental health.

DONATE NOW

The History of South Shore Walk-a-thon / Stop the Stigma 5K

In 1974, we launched our first South Shore Walk fundraiser. Interfaith Social Services (known at the time as Protestant Social Services Bureau) faced a funding crisis that threatened the closure of our organization. This walk-a-thon, along with the opening our Thrift Shop, allowed us to keep our doors open to serve our community.

Over the next couple of decades, Interfaith was heavily supported by faith communities. The walk always took place on Sunday afternoons after church services. The route changed from year to year because houses of worship took turns being the “event host.”

Throughout the early years, the length of the course changed several times. At one point, the walk was 10 miles long! In the 90s, Interfaith reached a record-breaking event total of $35,000.

In the early 2000s, the event settled on a Quincy location and added “family fun” activities to encourage more families from the community to participate. There was entertainment for children, arts & crafts, food and more.

In 2014, with the emergence of 5K race popularity, Interfaith’s event team mapped new 5K route, hired a professional timing company, and added registration fees. The event was renamed to South Shore Walk & 5K Run.

In 2016, the event’s focus shifted to raising funds and awareness specifically for our New Directions Counseling Center, as need in the community was growing. And in 2018, the event was officially rebranded as what it is known as today – Stop the Stigma 5K.

By 2019, the Stop the Stigma 5K became more of a running vs. walking event, hosting 500 participants and raising more than $53,000. It was the biggest show of support from our community the event had ever seen.

In addition to the outpouring of generosity, we were also hearing more people talking about mental health. Many of our participants shared their stories and struggles with mental health and what this event meant to them.

In March of 2020, after we had already starting planning our event as usual, the COVID pandemic hit. We had to wade into uncharted waters and pivot to a virtual 5K. We thought our fundraising efforts would suffer. However, our virtual community stepped up, helping us raise close to $70,000 – all by running or walking in their own neighborhoods, getting on social media to ask their peers for support and sharing masked photos with us! Rinse and repeat for 2021…

In 2022, we joyously (and safely) returned to an in-person event! And to say our community was excited about it is an understatement! It was a record-breaking year, with 700 participants raising more than $100,000!

And then in 2023, we broke records AGAIN, raising $131,000!

********

This event has evolved quite a bit over these 50 years, but our mission has remained the same – to help those in need.

Join us and DONATE $50 for our 50th!

You can also choose to celebrate our anniversary all year long by becoming a monthly donor!

Join us for our 50th Anniversary 5K!

March 6, 2024

Stop the Stigma 5K Celebrating 50 Years

What started 50 years ago as a fundraising walk-a-thon to support the initiatives of Protestant Social Services Bureau (the former name of Interfaith Social Services), will kick off its 50th iteration this year on April 27 in North Quincy. Our annual event has grown from a homegrown church-sponsored walk to a full-blown 5K race welcoming more than 800 walkers and runners annually.

In its early days, participants formed teams with their churches, and proceeds from the 10-mile walk benefitted all programs of the social service agency. As we grew and dropped religious affiliation, the walk was opened beyond houses of worship. In 2016, we decided to refocus the mission of the event to focus on stopping stigmas surrounding mental health and addiction while raising funds for our New Directions Counseling Center. Around the same time, we pivoted from the walk-a-thon model to a timed 5K race.

Mental health and addiction remain critical issues in our community and across the nation. According to recent statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, with only 47.2% of them receiving the treatment they need. Addiction issues in Massachusetts, including opioid-related overdoses, remain a challenging public health crisis, hitting record numbers in 2023 according to a recent report from the state Department of Health.

New Directions is a Safety Net

Our New Directions Counseling Center seeks to address these challenging issues by serving anyone seeking counseling. The Center acts as a safety net for 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 to the New Directions Counseling Center receive their first four sessions free of charge.

Over the past 10 years, the Stop the Stigma 5K has raised more than $500,000 to assist New Directions’ clients, allowing hundreds of individuals and families to get the mental health care they need. By participating in the 5K, thousands of local residents have chosen to take a stand against mental health stigmas and support those experiencing mental illness and addiction.

“We are so excited to celebrate this milestone year,” said Paula Daniels, Director of Development of Interfaith Social Services and Stop the Stigma 5K’s Race Director. “We hope to welcome a record number of participants, all coming together to support their loved ones who are suffering as well as raising awareness to the cause. There is no shame in having a mental illness. It is okay to ask for help.”

2024 Race Details

This year’s Stop the Stigma 5K will be held April 27 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. All participants registering before March 29 will receive a race t-shirt. Registration is open now at StoptheStigma5k.org.

This year’s event will feature a food truck from Granite Links with coffee and light breakfast & lunch items for sale, as well as free bagels provided by Gold Medal Bakery & Bagel Boy. Polar Beverages will be donating water for race participants.

2024 Stop the Stigma Sponsors

Anniversary Level Sponsors:

Arbella Insurance Foundation
Wulfpac Charitable Funding

5K Level Sponsors:

Gold Level Sponsors:

Silver Level Sponsors:

Abington Bank
Bank of Canton
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
the 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
United Healthcare

ABOUT

PROGRAMS

EVENTS