Michelle has been volunteering in the Bureau Drawer since Sept. 2015 and is in charge of posting high value or unusual donations to Interfaith’s eBay site.
Michelle researches a donated item before posting it to Interfaith’s eBay site.
Cindy says: “Even though you may not see Michelle very often she is a dedicated team member in the thrift shop. She spends a lot of her time researching, listing, monitoring, answering questions, closing out, packing and shipping select items on our eBay site.
These are donations from our community that we have decided will sell much better to a wider audience. In the past year and a half since I started tracking sales, she has sold close to 150 of these various things to buyers across the country for about $7,500.
She comes to the shop once a week and collects things we have saved for her and takes them home and does her magic, making us money!
This also means she has made more than 150 trips to the post office – that in itself is amazing!”
We asked Michelle 4 Questions:
Why did you choose to volunteer at Interfaith?
I started volunteering at Interfaith a few years ago because I loved the many different aspects of the mission, and how the organization can assist clients on so many levels, from food, to emergency, to holiday assistance, and so much more. I began volunteering in the thrift shop and then started selling higher value donated items online.
What other volunteer experience have you had?
Before Interfaith, I had volunteered at Cradles to Crayons in Quincy for 8 years until they moved to Boston. I also worked in animal rescue, fostering, doing home visits and helping to place many dogs, as well as managing and administrating a Facebook page to promote shelter dogs.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering here?
I really enjoy working with the people at Interfaith, and also researching some of the many interesting items that are donated before selling them online. I have sold everything from vintage teapots to 14k gold bracelets to cowboy boots. There are always new and interesting items that are donated.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that the other staff and volunteers may not know.
I have 4 kids and 4 dogs!
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Know someone who may be interested in volunteering? Have them reach out to volunteer coordinator Paula Daniels at 617-773-6203 ext. 28 or pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.
Wow! What an amazing day Saturday turned out to be. Record-breaking attendance, record-breaking fundraising totals, and perfect weather. A huge thank you to whoever ordered up the gorgeous sunshiny day for our Stop the Stigma 5K!
We had a crowd of more than 500 individuals, families and even some dogs at the 44th annual event. This number includes 366 race finishers and more than 70 volunteers. The race, held each spring at the Kennedy Center in North Quincy, gets families and individuals running and walking on a scenic race route as we try to break down stigmas surrounding mental health.
Participants run (or walk) in support of friends, family and neighbors living with mental illness or addiction. We raised more than $40,000 this year, funds that will go to Interfaith’s programs, including The New Directions Counseling Center. New Directions offers nonprofit counseling services on a sliding scale, ensuring that everyone is able to receive care regardless of their health insurance status or income.
We’ve heard so many moving stories in the last few weeks about how mental illness and addiction issues touch so many of our race participants, clients, friends and families. We hope that this event gets even more people talking about mental health and breaking down the stigmas surrounding it. Talk about it! Educate others! And get help for yourself and others when needed!
Saturday’s event included the race, which takes a winding route through Quincy’s Squantum neighborhood and along Boston Harbor, and a spirited post-run Family Fun Festival. Festivities included a delicious lunch, including pizza and subs donated by Balducci’s House of Pizza and Unchained Pizza, beverages from Polar Beverages and Ocean Spray and frozen treats donated by New England Ice Cream.
Following the 5K, kids took part in a Fun Run, Dave and Busters‘ Street Team had fun giveaways, WROR had out their prize wheel, and the kids exhausted their leftover energy on the bouncy house provided by Busy Bee Jumpers. Kaleidoscope Art & Entertainment decorated runners with air brush tattoos, Kids Party Productions made balloon creations and kids of all ages participated in face painting and the kids’ craft table, kindly organized by our race committee.
This year we offered several ticketed games, with chances to win fun prizes such as toys and gift cards. And the always popular raffle sent winners away with restaurant gift cards, overnight hotel stays, sports memorabilia and much more.
Our fantastic photographer, Christine Hurley of Hurley Event Photography, captured so many incredible images from the day. You’ll see several here and even more over on our Facebook page. Thank you, Christine!
Save the date for next year’s Stop the Stigma 5K: Saturday, April 27, 2019.
It’s never too late to support this cause! Donate Now.
Robert began volunteering with us in August 2017 as an afternoon food pantry helper and has quickly become one of our go-to guys – filling in when others are out, helping Geoff with food rescue runs and throwing in a hand wherever needed.
He’s a communications professional currently seeking new employment (Got a job lead? He’s into transportation and urban planning communications!).
Eileen says:
“Ever since Robert started with us he has consistently gone the extra mile – he is always pleasant, cheerful, ready to do whatever needs to be done. He has great organizing skills and repeatedly has been available in a pinch when we have needed extra help. Robert always stays till the job is finished. The Food Pantry can look like a storm hit after the morning pantry shift, but after Robert has been working our shelves are clean, organized, rotated and restocked. Robert’s great attention to detail gives me confidence that we are providing our neighbors with quality food from our pantry shelves.  An extra bonus of having Robert at the Food Pantry is his wicked dry sense of humor – you know you are going to laugh when he is here.”
We asked Robert 5 Questions:
Why did you choose to volunteer at Interfaith?
Food insecurity is a huge problem in this country, even though it has the world’s largest economy. I wanted to help with that. I have a fair amount of time while I search for employment and it doesn’t hurt that Interfaith is 20 feet from my home.
Is there an aspect of our mission that motivates you to want to volunteer here?
Definitely the fact that you offer mental health care. As a cancer survivor, I know the importance of mental health in life and think it is an important part of recovery.
What other volunteer experience have you had?
I’ve volunteered a lot in public radio, dressing up as children’s characters and manning phones.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering here?
Rescuing the amazing amount of food that would otherwise go to waste. It doesn’t hurt that the staff always have smiles on their faces and the volunteers are having fun.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that the other staff and volunteers may not know.
I did not waste my youth playing video games. I’ve gone sky diving, bungee jumping, SCUBA diving, and have even flown an airplane. Alone.
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Know someone who may be interested in volunteering? Have them reach out to volunteer coordinator Paula Daniels at 617-773-6203 ext. 28 or pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.
Preparations are already in full swing for Interfaith Social Service’s annual Stop the Stigma 5K! Mark your calendars now for April 28 as we take to the streets of Squantum (in North Quincy) and walk and run in support of our friends, family and neighbors fighting mental illness and addiction.
What’s new this year?
Our name! We’ve modified the name from the South Shore Walk and 5K Race to the Stop the Stigma 5K. We feel this puts more emphasis on the purpose behind the race, which is to draw attention to the importance of mental health counseling and addiction recovery treatment, ending social stigmas attached to mental illness and supporting those suffering.
The course! We’ve made slight adjustments to try to avoid some of the hillier sections of Squantum. Check out the new route:
Bibs and T-shirts. All participants who register by April 13 will receive an awesome Stop the Stigma 5K cotton T-shirt. This year, for an extra $5, anyone can upgrade to a dry-fit performance tee (previously these were reserved for runners only). And…this year everyone will receive a numbered bib from RaceWire. This will allow all participants to be timed as well as tagged in race-action photos!
Besides a scenic, challenging race route and the chance to support an amazing cause, this event also includes a post-race Family Fun Celebration with lunch, snacks, drinks, a kids Fun Run, games, raffles, a bouncy house, face painting and so much more. So bring your friends, your baby, your mom, your dog, whomever! and come run or walk with us on April 28. Register now.
All funds from this event support Interfaith’s various programs, including The New Directions Counseling Center. New Directions has been offering compassionate and skilled counseling to the South Shore since 1947. Our nonprofit counseling services provide a safety-net ensuring that everyone is able to receive care regardless of their health insurance status or income.
Each year, Interfaith presents the Community Hero Award to someone who inspires others through selfless service. For 2017, that individual is Bob Taylor, a compassionate, generous clinician and leader who served our organization for more than 30 years.
Bob was the Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services from 1967–1994. Then he retired….until 2001 when he came back again and was director for another three years. He then continued to see mental health clients for more than a decade.
Bob Taylor
When he finally decided to stop seeing counseling clients about two years ago, Interfaith staff held a party for him. During the party he leaned over to our current Executive Director Rick Doane and said “You guys threw a retirement party just like this for me about 20 years ago.”
His friends and colleagues shared these kind words about him:
"Bob represented the best of Interfaith Social Services. He was a man of character. ... Bob demonstrated those important traits of commitment, steadfastness, and compassion. In all challenges he tackled he was the consummate professional and always a gentleman." -- Jim Thorne, past president of Interfaith's Board of Directors
"My favorite time was early in the day having coffee with Bob. It was special as we talked about work, family, current events, shared stories, and some jokes. Bob has the best sense of humor. Bob is a gentlemen and a gentle man. His quiet presence would calm the most tense situation in the pantry." -- Bettyanne Lang, former Interfaith Food Pantry Manager, for more than 20 years
"I could always be certain of receiving wise and solid advice from him. ... He was skilled and knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and it was an honor to work with him. He is always very gentle but never missed a beat and no one could put anything past him. ... His heart is the heart of ISS; I feel that his love for the agency and its mission has shaped what it has become and continues in today’s work." -- Claire Hagan, Interfaith's Counseling Coordinator
Interfaith's Executive Director Rick Doane, right, honors Bob Taylor with the Community Hero Award at the 20th Annual Feed the Hungry Gala.
Bob was recognized December 8 at our annual Feed the Hungry Gala. We hope to make him proud in the decades to come by continuing to model his compassionate, respectful demeanor here at Interfaith.
Thank you to everyone who came out to our 20th annual Feed the Hungry Gala on Friday night! It was truly a spectacular evening. We were able to raise nearly $385,000 to support Interfaith’s programs, including the food pantry, New Directions Counseling Center and HomeSafe.
Scroll down for lots and lots of pictures from the event!
We kicked things off months ago (February, in fact!) as our gala committee worked tirelessly to plan the event, secure sponsorships and organize the auctions.
The 2017 Feed the Hungry Gala committee. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Ally Donnelly, NBC Boston and gala co-chair, with Robin Organ and Chris Buchanan, Director of Public Affairs & State & Local Government Relations for Walmart. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Our morning kicked off bright and early Dec. 8, as the venue, Granite Links Golf Club, began to transform into a red and white, winter-themed wonderland. Our friends at Fruit Center Marketplace once again set up their spectacular produce display in the rotunda. Best of all, the gorgeous fruit and veggies in the display were later sent back to Interfaith to distribute to our food pantry clients!
Michael Dwyer, Ryan Keyes & Joe Sullivan, from Fruit Center Marketplace spent hours setting up this amazing display. Photo by Jennifer Sammons.
Detail of the Fruit Center Marketplace display, all of which was donated to Interfaith’s food pantry after the event. Photo by Jennifer Sammons.
A group of wonderful corporate volunteers from Arbella spent the morning hauling supplies to the venue, constructing Arbella/JetBlue swag bags and jumping in wherever needed. Thank you, Team Arbella!
Arbella volunteers (in green shirts) and Paula Daniels, Interfaith’s Development Director, on the morning of the event. Photo by Jenn Reale.
Our silent auction table, with nearly 40 fabulous packages, was assembled. From Disney vacations to sports tickets to foodie getaways, the packages this year were even more impressive than in years past.
The silent auction table. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Attendees could bid on a Celtics package including game tickets and a ball signed by the 2017/2018 team. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Later in the evening guests used mobile bidding to try to win packages. Congratulations to all our package winners!
John Terrio browses (and hopefully bids on!) the silent auction items. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Paula Daniels and I with the awesome cake from Montilio’s. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Sadie Mae’s chocolate peppermint cupcakes. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
As the evening began, guests entered to see decorated trees from Kennedy’s Country Gardens before they approached check in.
Decorated trees from Kennedy’s Country Gardens. Photo by Jennifer Sammons.
Registration volunteers. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
They enjoyed a Winter Cosmo welcome cocktail from Bradford Distillery before moving on to try their hand at the Wheel of Chance.
As guests roamed about the room, they had opportunities to play games, including wine ring toss, the snowball toss, putting for a hole-in-one and our new addition, Plinko.
Ron Collins (snowman suit), an Interfaith volunteer, watches as guest Barbara Pyne tries out the Snowball Toss game. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Molly Fabiano tries out the Hole-In-One game. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Interfaith volunteer Robert Slack poses with our new Plinko board, constructed in-house by board member Ed Kelly. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Board member Linda Blais, left, volunteered at the Wine Ring Toss station. Guest Amy Ledwell gives it a try as Chili Salazar looks on. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Food pantry manager Eileen Kelly, right, chats with guests at the Giving Tree, a station where guests could purchase an ornament which in turn provides holiday gifts for children of Interfaith’s food pantry clients. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
As the program began, guests took their seats and were welcomed by our gracious emcee, Latoyia Edwards from NBC Boston. Our gala committee chairs, Ally Donnelly of NBC Boston and Donna Mavromates of MavroCreative, briefly spoke, followed by our main sponsors: Beverly Tangvik of Arbella and Chis Buchanan of Walmart.
“We continually seek organizations that will utilize the financial support we give them in thoughtful, responsible and impactful ways,” Arbella’s Beverly Tangvik said. “With Interfaith, we can be confident in knowing that our funds will be used in this spirit. Interfaith also supports one of Arbella’s core values – citizenship. It is the volunteer organization of choice by many Arbella employees and after a day of service, volunteers truly feel like they have made a difference.”
Our event emcee, Latoyia Edwards of NBC Boston. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Gala co-chairs, Donna Mavromates, left, and Ally Donnelly. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Beverly Tangvik of Arbella. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Chris Buchanan of Walmart. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Then our live auction kicked off! Packages this year included a backyard makeover, trip to Universal Studios Florida, a JetBlue Turks & Caicos vacation, premium Patriots tickets and a farm-to-table dinner for 20.
Guest John Tallarida holds up his paddle during the auction. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Guest Matt Donnelly raises his paddle during the live auction. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Our Executive Director, Rick Doane, spoke about Interfaith’s missions and played a video recorded by Jill, one of Interfaith’s clients.
Interfaith’s Executive Director Rick Doane. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Jill and Anaiya
Meet Jill: Jill works full time as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. She lives here on the South Shore. She is a loving mom and daughter. Her mother is retired and lives with Jill to help provide child-care for two year-old Anaiya. Recently, Jill and her husband filed for divorce. Her husband moved out of Massachusetts and is not providing any child support. Struggling to provide for her daughter, her mother and herself, Jill turned to Interfaith Social Services for help.
Jill’s story is one of thousands. Thousands of children and families, like Jill and Anaiya’s, need a hand up during difficult times in their lives. Thanks to the assistance that they received from Interfaith, Jill’s family has food, diapers, Christmas gifts, counseling services and much more. And this assistance comes from the support we receive from events like the gala. It was moving to see the generosity of our attendees as they pledged their hard-earned money to support our missions during the Fund the Need.
Attendees watch Jill’s video message. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Ron Collins, Jim McDonough and Katie Cutler pledge donations to the Fund the Need. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
The program ended as we honored Bob Taylor, former director of Interfaith and this year’s Community Hero. Bob was the Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services from 1967–1994. Then he retired….Until 2001 when he came back again and was director for another three years. He then continued to see clients for more than a decade.
The Community Hero of the Year award is presented to someone each year who inspires others through selfless service and Bob definitely meets that criteria!
Community Hero of the Year, Bob Taylor. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
The evening ended with more music, dessert and dancing. We would love to see you at the gala next year! Get your tickets early!
Take a look at more photos below and browse our gallery on Facebook.
George Burke and guest. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Amilcar and Michelle Cardoso. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Kara Bianchi, Victoria Souza and Amanda Kennedy. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Gala co-chair Donna Mavromates with John and Molly Fabiano. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Cynthia Simonides and Donna Mavromates. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Glenn Marshall and gala co-chair Ally Donnelly. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Jennifer and Adam Chu. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Katie and Jay Catlender. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Linda Blais and Matt Witkowski manned the Wine Toss game. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
John Hajjar and his team from Foxcroft. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Photo by FayFoto Boston.
A Hole-In-One game winner with our Food Pantry Driver, Geoff Bowen. Photo by FayFoto Boston.
Gala committee member Jen Chu poses with chef Paul Wahlberg of Alma Nove. Wahlberg dropped by unexpectedly to check on the Alma Nove dining station. Courtesy photo.
The months of November and December are the busiest months for our pantry. This time of year we struggle to keep basic necessities stocked for our clients.
Starting this week we kick off our fall food drive. This is not a drive for Thanksgiving food, but rather a time to restock our shelves and make sure that clients have meals on their tables for the entire holiday season. While Interfaith will provide Thanksgiving meal packages to more than 800 households over the coming weeks, this particular food drive is necessary to keep our shelves stocked with the essentials.
On Sunday, Nov. 19, from 11:30am–2:30pm, we will be hosting a special ingathering of food at our office in Quincy.
We would sincerely appreciate it if you would organize a food drive for your church, business or organization for this drive. Our volunteers will be on hand Nov. 19 to help unload cars as they arrive here.
We depend on support from the community to feed the thousands of people who turn to us every year for assistance and we hope that you will join with us this Thanksgiving season to feed our neighbors in need. Can’t donate food? Monetary donations are also very welcome:Â bit.ly/iss_donate
Food items that are needed: Tuna
Canned meat
Cereal or oatmeal
Peanut butter & jelly
Healthy snacks for kids
Juice boxes
Shelf-stable milk
Rice
Canned soup
Mac & Cheese
Pasta & sauce
Canned fruit or vegetables
Dry or canned beans
Condiments
Salad dressing
Gluten-free foods
Low-sodium canned items
Cooking oil / Olive oil
Diapers (size 4, 5 & 6), baby wipes
Personal care items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap (unscented), shampoo, body wash
Happy Halloween! There will be hundreds of little princesses, ninjas and witches happily trick-or-treating on the South Shore this evening thanks to the generosity of Interfaith’s donors and volunteers. Our annual Halloween costume drive wrapped up last weekend with a very busy distribution day here at 105 Adams St.
I’ve almost got Halloween fatigue after all the costume craziness we’ve been handling here for the past six weeks! This is my first Halloween as an employee here at Interfaith and I was just floored by the outpouring of support from individuals and community groups. More than 600 new or gently-used costumes were dropped off here during the drive. Corporate groups brought bags and bags of them, schools set up costume drives (thank you Inly School!) and Kennedy’s Country Gardens even had a special movie night benefiting the drive. Not to mention the dozens of individuals that stopped by with armfuls of costume donations. We so appreciate the support!!
Our crack team of volunteers – Therese Fleming, Robin Anderson and Judy Kiley, spent weeks inventorying, packaging and sorting costumes. The basement was a wonderland of fairy wings, furry paws and superhero capes. They rounded out princess dresses with wands, ninja outfits with swords and goofy get-ups with wigs so that all children would get a complete package. They spent hours and hours prepping and we couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you!
Interfaith volunteers Robin Anderson, Judy Kiley and Therese Fleming put in dozens of hours preparing for the costume drive. Photo by Jennifer Sammons.
Come distribution day, clients arrived to find a team of 24 volunteers ready to match them up with their dream costume. After some Halloween snacks and cartoons, they were able to try on their costumes and take a photo against the “spooky wall” in the Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop before heading out with smiles on their faces and treat bags in hand. A quick two hours and nearly 200 costumes later, a worn out team of volunteers celebrated another successful drive.
Lots of changes here at Interfaith over the summer! We welcomed a new Food Pantry Manager and Food Pantry Driver and a new position was approved for myself, as Development Associate. We also brought on a new fall intern, who will be working with us through the holiday season. The fresh enthusiasm around the building has brought some nice energy to our programs!
Here’s a little info about the new faces:
Eileen Kelly
Eileen Kelly – Food Pantry Manager
Eileen is responsible for the oversight of Interfaith’s Pantry Shelf, Career Closet, Harvest Helpers and Learning Pantry programs. A passion for social justice issues permeates Eileen’s life. She has been involved with many different nonprofit organizations conducting advocacy and outreach efforts around such issues as: domestic violence, marriage equality, adoptee rights and the National Mental Health Alliance. Throughout all of her volunteer experiences hunger insecurity has been one that she is most passionate about. For years she has volunteered at local food pantries and soup kitchens here in Massachusetts as well as in Maine and New York. Outside of volunteering Eileen has had a diversity of career experiences from being a senior litigation paralegal to an insurance industry claims adjuster. Most recently she was employed as the Community Engagement Manager for the Greater Boston Food Bank. She is a very proud mother of two talented sons and grandmother of a cherished grandson. Eileen studied Art Education at The University at Buffalo, State University of New York. She is a landscape painter affiliated with the Artists Group of Charlestown, MA – Stove Factory Gallery.
Geoff Bowen
Geoff Bowen – Food Pantry Driver
Geoff is responsible for our food rescue program, driving our rescue van to various grocery stores and retailers that provide us with food. Geoff was born and raised in Massachusetts and is trained as a professional chef. He met his wife while working at a theater in New York and moved to Quincy after graduating from the Culinary Academy of New York. Geoff is currently a student at Eastern Nazarene College, where he studies business management. He’s a big Boston sports fan and likes to cook and read in his free time. He and his wife have two daughters.
Jennifer Sammons
Jennifer Sammons – Development Associate
My position is responsible for aiding the development team – organizing fundraising events, managing volunteers, and producing public relations and social media campaigns. I was born and raised in Tampa, FL, and graduated with a BS in journalism from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). My professional background is in digital journalism and I’ve worked as an editor at media outlets in North Carolina, Colorado, Connecticut and Massachusetts. I most recently served as an editor at Boston Parents Paper magazine. My volunteer experience covers a wide spectrum, from training sea lions at the Mystic Aquarium to co-chairing the annual gala at my son’s school, Adams Montessori. I previously volunteered in Interfaith’s food pantry. I live in Quincy with my husband and son and love to read, cook, garden and travel.
Elena Galland
Elena Galland – Food Pantry Intern
Elena grew up outside of San Francisco and moved to Quincy to attend Suffolk University to get her BS degree in Psychology. She hopes her internship will help her gain a better understanding of the world of social services. She is planning on starting on her Master’s degree in Social Work in Fall 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys being active outdoors, trying different foods and reading.
Interfaith Executive Director Rick Doane, Development Director Paula Daniels, Food Pantry Manager Eileen Kelly and Development Associate Jennifer Sammons celebrate the four-star rating.
We were excited to receive a Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator this week! This is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, which assesses more than 8,000 American charities. The nonprofit evaluator examines financial documents and rates charities based on their financial health, accountability and transparency.
Interfaith has received four consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, since 2014.
This rating, and our programs, couldn’t have been achieved without you. Our generous donors, tireless volunteers and community supporters keep our organization alive. Thank you!
View the full rating and breakdown here –Â https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=13218.
We’ve heard so many moving stories in the last few weeks about how mental illness and addiction issues touch so many of our race participants, clients, friends and families. We hope that this event gets even more people talking about mental health and breaking down the stigmas surrounding it. Talk about it! Educate others! And get help for yourself and others when needed!
Our fantastic photographer, Christine Hurley of 
Robert began volunteering with us in August 2017 as an afternoon food pantry helper and has quickly become one of our go-to guys – filling in when others are out, helping Geoff with food rescue runs and throwing in a hand wherever needed.
