December 23, 2025 • 41 mins
Dan presented NightSide’s annual Charity Combine, featuring 20 local charities and organizations that offer a wide range of services that support local communities.
This hour:
ConfiKids, Inc. - https://www.confikids.org/
Greek Folk Dance Group - https://greekfolkdance.org/
Salem United, Inc. - https://www.salemunitedinc.org/
Saltwater Initiative - https://saltwaterinitiative.org/
Project Bread - https://projectbread.org/
My Place By The Sea, A Slice of Heaven - https://myplacebythesea.org/
WellSpring Multi Service Center - https://wellspringmultiservice.org/
Mission of Deeds - https://www.missionofdeeds.org/
Minis with a Mission - https://www.miniswithamission.com/
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. - https://snaparts.org/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's with Dan Ray. I'm telling you Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We are continuing here on Nightside. This is the last
hour of my broadcast here. I will be back in January.
But we end our broadcast here with the Night Side
charity Combine. This is our thirteenth annual effort. We have
introduced to you over the years, more than two hundred
great charities, big and small, some well known, some not
so well known, and we are getting back to our task.
(00:30):
I want to welcome Laurie Barkowski. Laurie runs an organization
called confid Kids. Laurie, welcome to Nightside. Thanks for being there.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Thank you Dan.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I'm so appreciative to be on Dateline beyond Nightline with
you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Ks Side not Lightline, Yeah, no problem, no problem. So
tell us about this group which sounds to me great.
You've been on this board now for almost ten years.
It's called Confee Kids. Tell us about it.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
So, we we're a nonprofit and we.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Started in twenty seventeen, and what we do is we
provide funding for children to participate in activities that they
otherwise would not be able to.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
So some of these activities are arts or sports, or music.
You know, like when we first started this, to play
football or to go into an activity probably cost you
a couple of hundred dollars. And now to start anything,
I mean, these families are paying five six hundred dollars
and unfortunately it's it's got a lot of families that
(01:36):
aren't able to provide activities for their kids. So we
are helping children on the southeastern Massachusetts and we basically
follow these kids grades one through eight, so we're doing
te ball all the way up to All Stars. We're
potentially investing about ten thousand dollars per child. So it's
really important because confidence with these kids means the world
(01:59):
to them.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
How did you get involved in this in the first place?
What drew with your attention?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
So my best friend started this nonprofit and she really
when she was younger, got into dance. She started doing dance. Unfortunately,
she had a single mom and she wasn't able to
continue with the dance because it just they didn't couldn't
afford it. It was dear to her heart. Her name
is Rachel Calvary's. She started this nonprofit and we've actually
(02:28):
funded we've given out a million dollars so far. But
there's still so many families that we've had to turn
away because once we start investing with them grade one,
we try to keep them all the way.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Up to grade eight.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So there's a lot of families that knew that are
trying to get on that we cannot help. But we've
just been doing fundraisers and just trying to keep at it.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
What communities do you serve?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So we are helping kids into southeastern Massachusetts. I mean
we're all the way from down the Cape, We're up
to Aldaborow, We're in Brockton, We're all over the southeastern Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
That's great, And so give us the website because you
are looking at this point for some person or persons
to come and actually provide you with some help financially,
and that's I think what you need.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
You.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I don't know if you need volunteers, but certainly the
financial help would be so important. How give us the
website and let's make sure that people know how to
get in touch with you. What's the website?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Absolutely, so we're Confie kids dot org and you spell
that con Fi kids dot org. And just to let
you know, we absolutely need funding. We'd love to have
volunteers we're also doing a gala March twenty eighth at
Lake Pearl and rensom Our. Tickets are on sale on
our website if you want to go on there. You
(03:54):
can follow us on social media, so we absolutely can
use any kind of funding, any to volunteers, and we
hope to see people at our gall in March twenty eighth.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Laurie, I promise you you give me a call in
February and we will help promote your gala during our
regular eight o'clock program. We'll pick a night and we'll
have you on during the eight o'clock hour and talk
about this. I promise.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Okay, Dan, I really really truly appreciate you. I listen
to you on my way home from work. I love
hearing your show, and I really appreciate all the help
that you're doing for us and other charities. And I
just wish you and your listeners a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Were complete pleasure. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
Thanks so much, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
All righty bye bye, good night.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
We're going to go now to doctor John Pappis. Doctor Pappis,
welcome Tonight's I know that you are a loyal listener
and I really do appreciate that. But more importantly, tonight
you're going to talk to us about your group, which
is a Greek folk dance group. I'm not much of
a dancer and I'm not Greek, but I want to
(04:57):
help you here. Whatever we can do, go right Ahea.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
Well, thank you so much, Dan, you are correct. I
am a huge fan of Nightside and you specifically and
your Voice of Reason. Thank you for having me on
and for the opportunity to be on the radio to
talk about our Greek footcance program. You will say this
before I gets out of the Greek Dance I miss
your cold opens from back in the day.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
I will say.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
That, Well, well, we'll resurrect them maybe in January for.
Speaker 8 (05:29):
You media resolution. Well, you know, Greek folk dance, dance
in Greece is very integral to the whole culture, and
you know the dances for happiness. There's dances for that
are more somber and solemn, that symbolize and commemorate certain
(05:49):
unfortunate events through the years. There's dances that are war dancers,
there's wedding dances. There's dances from all over the area
of Greece, all the regions have different dances and the
unique to the area. The mainland and the islands have
different traditions and dances, so as a result, there are
hundreds of dances in that tiny little country known as Greece.
(06:12):
These dances tie our present day to our ancient past,
from the steps that we dance all the way to
the rhythm. The Metropolis of Boston Dance Group is a
nonprofit cultural organization that is dedicated to the preservation of
Greek culture and to the history in the history to
the Greek American youth of the Greater Boston area through
(06:33):
dance in what comes with it. You may have seen
the group perform in and around Boston at various events
including Frienway Park and halftime show at the Celtics Games.
We perform locally, nationally and internationally when the opportunity possess itself.
So we focus mostly for kids that are seven years
(06:56):
old and up that are of Greek American heritage. Focuses
on the education and the culture of the culture and
the instrumentation and song to the Greek American youth of
the Boston area. Our focus is to give back to
that community and to keep the heritage alive. We're a
volunteer organization. The teachers volunteer. We the teachers, we volunteer
(07:20):
our time. All money that we receive goes back to
the kids that are in the program, from getting music
that's quality music to purchasing handmade costumes from Greece from
experts who are themselves recognized as making authentic costumes.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Sounds like a wonderful organization. Give us the web. How
can people get in touch who want to either support you,
who may be of Greek heritage themselves and want to
keep the tradition going on, or who may want to participate.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
Yeah, so we have a website. It's called Greek Folk
Dance dot org. All one word, Greek Folk Dance dot org.
There's a little donate button donate now button on the
homepage and you can contact us directly through that. It
gets right to our email, which is Greek Folk Dance
(08:14):
at aol dot com. But if you just go onto
the website you can contact us and feel free to
learn more about our program. We're really proud of it.
I should mention that we are uh we are a
c i D member, which is the International Council of Dance.
It's a Unesco organization, and we are five one three,
(08:36):
all right under.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
No, no, yeah, I just gotta I gotta be fair.
All right, Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
Thank you so much, Dan, I really appreciate it. Maybe
listens to you and your family.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Right right back at you, Doctor John Pappas a Greek
folk dance dot Org. Doctor Papus, thank you so much,
appreciate it. We're going to take quick break. We'll be
back on the other side. This is our quick break,
so we'll be back. Get ready, here we come.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Night Side with Dan Ray ONBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
All Right, our next guest, who's a little late, but
better late than never, want to welcome Doreen Wade of
Salem United. Doreen, welcome to night Side. You're the president
of Salem United Incorporated. Tell us about your group.
Speaker 9 (09:31):
Yes, I just want to say thank you so much
for this opportunity. And Salem United is a nonprofit organization
that preserves, protects, and build Black history.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
And the black history.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
That we preserve, protect and build.
Speaker 9 (09:47):
Is called Negro Election Day, but many people know it
as the Black picnic that used to be in Salem
Willows Pop Salem.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Mass And so how long has the group been around,
tell us a little bit more about it.
Speaker 11 (10:08):
We've been around for ten years, but this or this
this history has been around for over three hundred and
thirty years.
Speaker 9 (10:22):
It was established by enslaved Africans that established the first
black voting system in this country. It's an amazing, amazing
history that just has not gotten enough exposure. And now
that we're celebrating America's two hundred and fiftieth we are
(10:45):
really working hard to get this history out of here
because all these enslaved Africans were part of the American Revolution.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
And how can folks get in touch, become members or
support of Salem United.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
Well, maybe we can become members by contacting us. And
our website is www dot Salem United, Inc.
Speaker 10 (11:15):
Dot org And we really, really really are interested in
having so many people contact us because we really want
to teach and educate young people that you know, there
there there is a negativity to slavery, but there's also
(11:39):
I know this sounds ironic.
Speaker 9 (11:42):
But this is there is also positivity that happened during
the history of slavery.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Okay, well, Doreen, thank you very much. Keep in touch
Salem United, Inc. Dot org. Appreciate your time tonight. I'm
glad that we are persisted and got you incos as
afraid we admissed it. Okay, thanks so much.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Oh yeah, with this, with this, no so we forgot
you know, we we've been trying to get everything organized,
but we we are so glad to be on.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Kenny, thank you your interest in nonprofit.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You're very welcome. Thank you very much. We're going to
talk now with linn Abbot. Linn Abbot, welcome to night Side.
You're with a group called Salt Water Initiative, and I
know we talked a little bit about it. It's a
fascinating group, uh, and a fascinating project. And tell us
a little bit more about it.
Speaker 12 (12:35):
Okay, sure, thank.
Speaker 13 (12:38):
You very much for having us on. I really appreciate
the opportunity to spread the word about what we do.
We are a nonprofit that provides vacations for families that
have autistic children and limited financial means to take their
own vacation. So we provide these vacations on Cape Cod
in the spring and in the fall, and we give
(12:59):
the families a weekend away and we give them one
hundred dollars to a restaurant that's near the resort, or
if the hotel or resort has their own restaurant, we
give it to that restaurant and the families get to
have some time together and hopefully get out in nature
and just have a weekend out of their home and
away from all their doctor's appointments and you know, all
(13:21):
the other activities that keep every family busy and running around,
but especially families that have children on the autism spectrum,
there's just more that goes along with that, and you know,
they just really deserve a break and they need a rest.
And it's been going really well, and we serviced sixty
(13:42):
families last year and we're hoping to do more this year.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
So, Lynn, how long have you been around and how
did you first get involved in this initiative. There's always
a story, there's always sort of a backstory.
Speaker 13 (13:54):
Yes, well, we were formed three years ago. The first
year we sent seven families away, and then the next
year we had forty four families. As I said, last
year we had sixty. I started it because I'm fortunate
enough to have a cape house and I teach, so
I can be there all summer. My kids could be
there all summer, and I would see a lot of
(14:15):
the houses that were right on my street and in
my neighborhood on the Cape just sit vacant, and I
was like, this is a crime. They should be filled
with families and they should have people in them. So
I tried initially to have people donate their home and
we could get families in that needed a vacation that
couldn't afford a vacation that way, but insurance companies did
(14:36):
not like that idea, so we had to pivot, and
so that's why we started working with the hotels and
the resorts, and it works out great. I think that
summer on the Cape as wonderful and as it is,
you know, everything's so crazy, and the beaches are crowded
and the restaurants are crowded. So really, I think that
honing in on the spring and in the fall, where
(14:56):
the weather is still great but the cape isn't quite
as crazy, has worked out even better than what I
could imagine. And the hotels all have indoor pools, so
even if the weather isn't fabulous, you know they have
some something fun to do and something to look forward to.
And who doesn't love a great indoor pool, So it's
it's it's been great.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Well, that's great, And how could folks support you, give
us a good website or how they can best get
in touch with you.
Speaker 13 (15:24):
Yeah, they can go right to Saltwater Initiative dot org
and find out all about us there. We have a
lot of family testimonials and pictures of all the families
we've sent and I think that would really be beneficial
for anybody that's interested in what we do to take
a look at, because the impact we make on the
families is you know, just a week and away for
(15:45):
a lot of us doesn't sound that that desirable, but
for families that don't get the opportunity, it means the world.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
It's so important. Absolutely, Lynn Abbitt, thank you very much
the Salt Water Initiative, but salt.
Speaker 13 (15:58):
Or thanks Lynn, Thanks so much, Dan, thank you, thank
for having us.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
Take care.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Okay, we're going to go next and speak with a
representative of Project Bread, Raina Sears Sabanda. Is Have I
got that name correctly, Reina.
Speaker 14 (16:17):
Oh, Raina sarl Sabanda, Hi, Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
You're the assistant director of Communications. I wasn't sure of
the pronunciations there, but you're with Project Bread. I think
everybody knows a lot about Project Bread, but tell us
about the history. How long has Project Bread been around
and tell us some a little bit how you got involved.
Speaker 14 (16:41):
Yeah, so Project Card actually started as the Walk for
Hunger in nineteen sixty nine, So you know, there was
a really pastiate group of people who wanted to find
a way to tackle hunger in their community and came
up with this way. They were walking twenty miles fundraising
and it has lasted for nearly sixty years. But from
(17:07):
the Wall for Hunger, what has grown out around that
is an organization that is focused on systemic change on
fighting hunger through different avenues like education and healthcare. And
I joined the team as part of our communications about
four years ago, going on five years, and have been
(17:28):
really enjoying my time. I've been a part of our
campaign for free school meals statewide and have gotten to
see so much incredible work happening just from the last
few years.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So Project Bread, it obviously sounds like a very basic organization.
There's nothing nothing more fundamental to a diet than bread. Obviously, people,
it's so so important in so many ways historically et cetera.
(18:03):
Is do you do any sort of providing actual food
stuffs through food pantries or is it more of an
advocacy organization. I'm just trying to make sure I can
understand it fully.
Speaker 14 (18:18):
Yeah, and that's a great question that we do get
a lot. We are not providing food, but we do
is take a really radical approach to solving hunger. And
so while we do run our Foods for US hotline
that connects thousands of residents every year with food and
resources like where your emergency food system supports like food pantries,
(18:41):
can we get you connected to snack and we make
sure that you can purchase your own groceries every month?
What other resources are available to you if you don't
have that option, So we take the time to walk
people through that. But we're also doing a ton of advocacy,
so we're not just getting people signed up, but we
also want to make sure that SNAP, which is the
(19:03):
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is able to get people the
grocery benefits that they need. So we're advocating in the
state house and on the federal level to make sure
that these are really robust programs that remain strong and
that are able to help people when they're in need.
And then we also just work in schools and with
(19:25):
healthcare centers to connect people to the different food refos
that are available through those avenues. So in the education space,
I mentioned our free school Meals for All campaign ensuring
that all K through twelve students can have free breakfast
and free lunch for the last five years in schools
and continuing on and then also our work with healthcare
(19:48):
centers means that we are connecting with patients on a
regular basis. We have connected with over five thousand patients
just this year, and these are people who are experiencing
food and security, but also trying to manage different health
conditions like diabetes or heart conditions, so they have Let
me just jump in.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
For a second. If someone is out there tonight and
they feel that they need some help, I'm assuming that
there must be a way in which they could contact
your organization. So, depending upon where they live and depending
upon their circumstance, they could find out what programs they
might be eligible for. So what is the best way
(20:30):
that individuals out there who right now are struggling can
get in touch with you and with your organises.
Speaker 14 (20:37):
Absolutely, our Frustace hotline is really the best touch point
for that any Massachusetts resident can call in at one
eight hundred six four five eight three three three and
they'll be connected to one of our Hotlight counselors who
is trained in giving expert assistance and can get them
connected to whatever good resources they need in are eligible.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Sounds great? Okay, thank you so much, Project Bread and
it has a website, I assume as well, said projectbread
dot dot org.
Speaker 14 (21:10):
Yeah, Project bread dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Perfect. Okay, Rata, thank you very much for your time tonight.
Appreciate it very much. We have a break coming up
here on news Break and we will be back right
after the news at eleven thirty and we will finish
up this edition of the thirteenth annual Nightside Charity Combine.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
We are joined by Kathy Milbury, she of the famous
Milbury clan here in Massachusetts. Her brother played some hockey.
I'm glad you spotted the phone. We had you plugged
a little earlier tonight, but I do want you to
know I'm looking at your book, My Place by the
Sea of Slice of Heaven. Kathy Milbury, this is a
(22:04):
book that you and Barbersterophropolis and Nick Haffey along with
Amy Allen, who put together which is to benefit the
Jimmy Fund. You have an amazing restaurant in Rockport called
My Place by the Sea. Tell me about the tell
us about the restaurant first quickly, and then I want
to talk about this great cookbook that people can buy
(22:25):
to benefit the Jimmy Fund.
Speaker 12 (22:27):
Well, thanks for having me on, Dan and I'm sorry
I missed the phone. I don't know what happened there,
but anyway, we are My Place by the Sea. We're
located at the very end of Bearskin Neck and we
call it a slice of heaven because we're surrounded by water.
And for whatever reason, people in the medical field, either
(22:49):
patients that are going through treatments or people that are
working in the medical field have found their way to
My Place by the Sea as a respite. And we
decided we wanted to do a cookbook after thirty years
of being there, and we wanted to donate the proceeds
all to the Dana Farber Jimmy Fund, and in particular
(23:12):
a special focus on something called diamond black fan anemia.
And so we decided to write the cookbook and have
all the proceeds go to the Dana Farber and it's
been a great success. People have been very, very receptive
with it.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Well, it's a fabulous book. I mean, I am not,
like you, a chef, but I love food and it
was just to read the recipes and to look at
the pictures of the area of Rockport, the restaurant My
Place by the Sea, a slice of Heaven. This is
(23:49):
amazing to look at this and to realize the cookbook
is available. What's the easiest way for people to get it?
By the way, this is a cook look that everyone
should have in their kitchen if they're a New England
in particularly because there are so many great recipes in here.
But there is obviously a lot of fish recipes and
(24:10):
lobster recipes. Well, there were a.
Speaker 12 (24:12):
Lot of stories, but I hesitate to call it just
a cookbook because it is a third stories. After being
there for thirty years, a little bit of history with
getting liquor passed in Rockport. It was a dry town
for one hundred and fifty seven years. There's been some
interesting visits from Mike Milbery, my brother who brought the
(24:36):
Stanley cup ring there, and so there's a whole collage
of pictures with people with the Stanley cup rings. So
it is it's more than just a recipe. It's it's
a little bit of everything, and it's really you know,
the fact that this time of the year you can,
you know, give it as a present. You feel good
that the proceeds one percent of the proceeds are going
(24:59):
to the Data FI. You know, it's a win win
for everybody. And the cover of the book is a
beautiful painting by a very well known artist by the
name of Judy Rotenberg. So it is all around just
a win win for everybody. Dan, you can find us
on my place by the seed dot org. You can
(25:21):
order the book there. It's being carried in local bookstores
in Gloucester, Beverly Farms, a place leuis pantry right here
in Rockport, and we will take you know, if someone
wanted to donate, make donations of two hundred and fifty
dollars or more on our website, we'd be happy to
(25:42):
send them a signed copy of the cookbook.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Sounds great, sounds great, Kathy. It's an amazing effort. It's
a great cause. Jimmy Fund Again. They should go to
my place by the Sea dot Org. I don't know
if you can get a reservation there, folks, but you
can get the cookbook. So Kathy, thanks very much. I'm
so glad we persisted and we got you tonight. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 12 (26:04):
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and all your listeners.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Yes, thanks so much. I want to go next to
Vinnie Hart. Vinnie is with a wonderful organization down on
the South Shore called well Spring, the well Spring Multi
Service Center. He is also a great friend of a
mutual friend of ours, Jack Dougherty. VINNI heart, welcome to
night Side. He's the president and CEO of the well
(26:28):
Spring Multi Service Center. Tell us the geographic area where
folks are served by well Spring. Vinnie tell us a
little bit about the service center itself.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Sure, and thanks for having me. It's a good thing
you do and good thing WBZ does to put such
a spotlight on so many good organizations. Well Spring is
where we just passed out fortieth year. We were founded
in Hull. We were in the Hull for forty years,
still are but we just recently expanded into Weymouth, so
we have two sites Hall in Weymouth. Our mission is
(27:03):
to provide support and skills to people facing challenges to
their wellbeing, everything aimed at helping them achieve independence and
self sufficiency. We have those two sites, but we don't
have any geographic boundaries in terms of where people can
come from. We serve anybody that comes to us. We
have excuse me, we have a food pantry, we have
(27:24):
a thrift shop. In both spaces, we have social services
like legal advocacy, case management, community outreach. We have a
social worker who does some counseling, and we have a wonderful,
just a fantastic adult education program where we get people
their high school credential. But while we're getting them the credential,
(27:47):
we're working on what's next in terms of are they
going to go to college or are they going to
get into the work world, And then we help them
with job skills and job placement as well. So we
try to do everything through a case management system that
no matter where you enter our services, we're going to
give you a wrap around approach. So if someone comes
in and says, you know, all I need is some
(28:08):
food and I'll be fine, well that's probably not true.
So we'll get you the food, but maybe we'll get
you the legal advocacy you need to avoid problems. Maybe
we can get you on to snap A, fuel assistance applications,
help you with social security and disability applications. So we
try to do everything with case management and a full
wrap around approach.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
How many people during the course of a year do you,
in some way some form of fashion.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Help over a thousand households, which translates to about eight
thousand people or so over the course of the year.
It's funny we get that question a lot, and I
think a lot of people you talk to tonight do
that too. Just wrote a piece the other day in
our inner Report that you know, we get We talk
a lot about the numbers, but then we try to
remember each individual, each individual's story and organizations that you've
(28:56):
had on tonight can really be boiled down to those
those one ones and that there was one success story
at a time. But we're over a thousand households each year.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Unbelievable. I'm looking at the website adulta education, community outreach,
counseling services, elder services, emergency services, food security and nutrition,
housing assistance, legal advocacy, thrift shop, transportation. You literally do
it all, and you serve a lot of people, and
(29:29):
I just want to thank you for what you do. Also,
I want to thank you for staying up late with
us tonight. But again, the easiest way to find you
or to get more information, I assume is the website.
Yeah well all one World, Wellspring multi service dot org.
And by the way, folks, Rob when he posts these
(29:53):
two hours, he will have information associated with each of
the charities on the web site, which is Nightside on
Demand dot com. Benny Hart, thank you very much for
what you do.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
My pleasure Christmas.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Right back at you, Vinnie, Happy Merry Christmas. We are
going to talk now with David mc isaac. David is
with an organization that's called Mission of Deeds. It's a
five oh one C three uh. David mciaac, welcome to Nightside.
Tell us about Mission of Deeds.
Speaker 7 (30:28):
Thanks so much, Dan for the opportunity and for shining
a light on all the local nonprofits. As you said,
I'm with the Mission of Deeds. We are a five
oh one C three located in Reading and we've been
for three decades, believe it or not, providing gently use furniture,
(30:48):
brand new beds, kitchen essentials and household goods to people
in need, and those people could be moving out of homelessness,
transitioning to homelessness please domestic violence. Maybe they've had a fire.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Or a flood.
Speaker 7 (31:03):
It's really one of the lowest moments of their life
when they walk through our doors, and we tried to
pick them up and help them out by providing that
furniture in brand new beds to give them some dignity
and some hope.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
The thing that is amazing about your group is that
your organization mission. Indeed, you said thirty years you currently
serve more than eighty five cities and towns. That's about
twenty five percent of the cormwealth of Massachusetts. Because we
only have three hundred and fifty one cities in towns
(31:39):
and you have served it says you serve more than
nine hundred households a year. This has to be an
incredible organization to geographically how many people, how far you reach.
This is a big organization. It I the more I
(32:02):
heard about it and learned about it, David, we got
to get we got to get the name of this
organization out there. Mission of Deeds all one word dot org.
How did you yourself get involved? If I could ask.
Speaker 7 (32:16):
Yes, I always wanted to be a nonprofit work. I
wanted to give back. I grew up in reading and
this nonprofit in reading. It is a great fit and
mission of Deed's going to get more direct service in
the nonprofit world. We take in furniture from the local community.
(32:37):
We pick up for free in eleven towns and cities
near us, and we give that directly back to people
in need. The best part is when our truck pulls
up into our parking lot and a client is visiting
at the same time. They might take a couch or
a kitchen table right off our truck. I mean, that's
as direct as you can get. If I can tell
(32:59):
you a quick story, worry about a single mother we
helped recently. She was here with her young child and
it was the first time her child would have a
brand new bed of their own.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
And we gave this child some dinosaur sheets, just live
it up and give that new bed just that feeling
of his own. And at the end of the visit,
he remarked, today's Christmas, and we try to make every
day Christmas and mission of Deeds and that's why I
(33:31):
love working here.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Well a great answer, David McIsaac Mission of Deeds dot org.
If you need any help, you want to check it out.
Eighty five cities and towns middlesex Essex County, as well
as Suffolk County communities of Chelsea, Revere, and Winter. David,
thank you very much for what you do.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Thank you so much. Dan, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
You're very welcome. We have two more charities coming up.
On the other side of this break will wrap up
the thirteenth annual Nightside Charity Combine. I'm so proud of
the people tonight. They're amazing, each and every one of them.
Back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
All right, we're wrapping up year thirteen of the annual,
the thirteenth annual Nightside Combine. With us is Justin Green.
Justin is with a group called Minis with a Mission.
Justin tell us about Minis with a Mission. How long
has it been around and what you do?
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Yeah, thank you for letting me tell you about Mini's
with a Mission. It started with Marian Hartman in twenty
seventeen with the thought that everyone loves miniature horses, and
in twenty twenty she teamed up with Glory Lowe and
they combined miniature horses and miniature donkeys. And it used
(34:54):
to be mainly like a Penning zoo atmosphere, which there's
a lot of fun. But now we're changing to people
helping people with the power of donkeys as the workshops.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Okay, so tell us do me a favor, justin cut
to the chase. Tell me what minis with a mission does.
The history is interesting, but tell me what it does
for people.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Yeah, it helps people. Donkeys used a lot of medical
worlds because they're very nurturing and they can use people's cues,
so they help people with autism, and they help veterans
with PTSD and recovery victims. They have workshops and people
(35:41):
spend the day with donkeys and it's very enriching for them.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
So you bring let me tell you what you do.
You take these little mini donkeys to nursing homes as
I understand that, correct me if I'm wrong? Is that
not what you do? You make? You make this? These
are available to help people, right.
Speaker 6 (36:02):
Yes, but now we're also doing programs like the Farm
where people that are recovering addicts. Okay, you can help
the knife skills with the help of donkeys.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Okay, so how can you how can people get in
touch with you justin if they'd like to take advantage
of the program.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
Miniswithimission dot com. Is the website perfecte user friendly and
it has the contact information all there.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Oh, perfect perfect justin. Thank you. I got to get
one more person in. Hey, thanks, thank you, very welcome. Okay, Last,
but not least, Haidi Omera. Hidi is with the Special
Needs Arts Programs Incorporated. Haidi, the question tell us what
your organization does for people? Heidi, welcome to night Side.
Speaker 15 (36:53):
Thank you so much, stand for this opportunity to talk
to your listeners. Special Needs Art Programs we provide programs
for individuals with special needs and art and music to
express to artistic talents and abilities and cultivate friendships. An
important part of our mission is to raise awareness of
how much people with special needs contribute to the cultural
(37:17):
richness of our community, and we do this through our
own concert, community performances and art installation. So SNAP programs
offer opportunities for creative expression, personal growth, a sense of
purpose and self empowerment. And Dan, I know you are
aware that we have an epidemic of loneliness in this country,
(37:37):
and it can be significantly more difficult for people with
special needs to create and maintain friendship. And our SNAP
programs run weekly and year round, so our programs provide
continuity and community for our singers and artists and they
make lasting friendships. And that is so important.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And so not only do you incorporate people in your
programs and you help them become part of something, but
then you bring them out and they appear and they perform,
if I.
Speaker 15 (38:10):
Understand it correctly, exactly right, Dan. We have our own
performances that we hold, and then we also go out
in the tunity and we perform at different public venues.
We go to assisted living centers, we install art installations
all over Suffolk Middlesex County. Really in an effort to
(38:33):
make the community aware of just all the contributions and
the abilities and talent of the special needs tunity. It's
really important.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Now you're based in Lexington, correct, yes, okay, but you
serve surrounding communities as well.
Speaker 15 (38:48):
Correct, Yes, we serve over thirty cities and towns come
to our programs. Our programs run out of the Lexington
Community Center and also lex Art, which is in Lexington,
but you certainly don't need to live in lexin King
to participate in our programs. Anyone can come to our
programs if you identify with us you're a special needs person,
(39:10):
we identify with you.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
That is great. So what is the easiest way for
either of people who want to guide someone who has
special needs to work with you? Folks or organizations and
groups within the area of Lexington who would like to
have your your organization come and put on a performance, Well,
(39:35):
the best thing.
Speaker 15 (39:36):
To do is to go and visit our website, and
our website is snaparts dot org so s n A
P A r P s dot org and you can
find out all types of information about our programs, our events,
(39:56):
our volunteer opportunities. If any businesses or corporations would like
to be a sponsor for our programs or our concerts
and our installations, we are always looking for sponsors.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
All right, all right, Heidi, thank you for what you do.
Heidi Omera, the executive director of the Special Needs Arts
Program Incorporated snap Arts s napart s dot org. Heidi,
thank you very much.
Speaker 15 (40:26):
Thank you so much, Dan, and have a very merried Christmas,
Happy New Year.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
You too, you too, right back at you. Okay, folks,
we have come to the end of another Nightside charity combine.
I want to thank all of the groups who provided information.
I hope some of you will take advantage to support
them participate in their programs. I want to thank Rob
for another great year of Nightside, our producer Marita aka Lightning,
(40:52):
and also Karen Bussemi. But most importantly, I want to
thank all of you who listen to the program devotedly
and who called the program frequently. We as always want
to remind you that all dogs, all cats, all pets
do go to heaven. That is where Mike Pelle Charlie Ray,
who passed fifteen years ago on February is and that's
(41:13):
where all your pets are. They loved you and you
love them, and I do believe you'll see them again. Hoope,
see again on Nightside in early January. I'm off for
a few nights. I want to wish all of you
Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Thanks so much for
being a part of this program and a part of
my life. Dan Ray for Nightside. I'll be on Facebook
Nightside with Dan Ray in just a minute or two
It's with Dan Ray. I'm telling you Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We are continuing here on Nightside. This is the last
hour of my broadcast here. I will be back in January.
But we end our broadcast here with the Night Side
charity Combine. This is our thirteenth annual effort. We have
introduced to you over the years, more than two hundred
great charities, big and small, some well known, some not
so well known, and we are getting back to our task.
(00:30):
I want to welcome Laurie Barkowski. Laurie runs an organization
called confid Kids. Laurie, welcome to Nightside. Thanks for being there.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Thank you Dan.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I'm so appreciative to be on Dateline beyond Nightline with
you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Ks Side not Lightline, Yeah, no problem, no problem. So
tell us about this group which sounds to me great.
You've been on this board now for almost ten years.
It's called Confee Kids. Tell us about it.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
So, we we're a nonprofit and we.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Started in twenty seventeen, and what we do is we
provide funding for children to participate in activities that they
otherwise would not be able to.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
So some of these activities are arts or sports, or music.
You know, like when we first started this, to play
football or to go into an activity probably cost you
a couple of hundred dollars. And now to start anything,
I mean, these families are paying five six hundred dollars
and unfortunately it's it's got a lot of families that
(01:36):
aren't able to provide activities for their kids. So we
are helping children on the southeastern Massachusetts and we basically
follow these kids grades one through eight, so we're doing
te ball all the way up to All Stars. We're
potentially investing about ten thousand dollars per child. So it's
really important because confidence with these kids means the world
(01:59):
to them.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
How did you get involved in this in the first place?
What drew with your attention?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
So my best friend started this nonprofit and she really
when she was younger, got into dance. She started doing dance. Unfortunately,
she had a single mom and she wasn't able to
continue with the dance because it just they didn't couldn't
afford it. It was dear to her heart. Her name
is Rachel Calvary's. She started this nonprofit and we've actually
(02:28):
funded we've given out a million dollars so far. But
there's still so many families that we've had to turn
away because once we start investing with them grade one,
we try to keep them all the way.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Up to grade eight.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So there's a lot of families that knew that are
trying to get on that we cannot help. But we've
just been doing fundraisers and just trying to keep at it.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
What communities do you serve?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So we are helping kids into southeastern Massachusetts. I mean
we're all the way from down the Cape, We're up
to Aldaborow, We're in Brockton, We're all over the southeastern Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
That's great, And so give us the website because you
are looking at this point for some person or persons
to come and actually provide you with some help financially,
and that's I think what you need.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
You.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I don't know if you need volunteers, but certainly the
financial help would be so important. How give us the
website and let's make sure that people know how to
get in touch with you. What's the website?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Absolutely, so we're Confie kids dot org and you spell
that con Fi kids dot org. And just to let
you know, we absolutely need funding. We'd love to have
volunteers we're also doing a gala March twenty eighth at
Lake Pearl and rensom Our. Tickets are on sale on
our website if you want to go on there. You
(03:54):
can follow us on social media, so we absolutely can
use any kind of funding, any to volunteers, and we
hope to see people at our gall in March twenty eighth.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Laurie, I promise you you give me a call in
February and we will help promote your gala during our
regular eight o'clock program. We'll pick a night and we'll
have you on during the eight o'clock hour and talk
about this. I promise.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Okay, Dan, I really really truly appreciate you. I listen
to you on my way home from work. I love
hearing your show, and I really appreciate all the help
that you're doing for us and other charities. And I
just wish you and your listeners a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Were complete pleasure. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
Thanks so much, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
All righty bye bye, good night.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
We're going to go now to doctor John Pappis. Doctor Pappis,
welcome Tonight's I know that you are a loyal listener
and I really do appreciate that. But more importantly, tonight
you're going to talk to us about your group, which
is a Greek folk dance group. I'm not much of
a dancer and I'm not Greek, but I want to
(04:57):
help you here. Whatever we can do, go right Ahea.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
Well, thank you so much, Dan, you are correct. I
am a huge fan of Nightside and you specifically and
your Voice of Reason. Thank you for having me on
and for the opportunity to be on the radio to
talk about our Greek footcance program. You will say this
before I gets out of the Greek Dance I miss
your cold opens from back in the day.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
I will say.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
That, Well, well, we'll resurrect them maybe in January for.
Speaker 8 (05:29):
You media resolution. Well, you know, Greek folk dance, dance
in Greece is very integral to the whole culture, and
you know the dances for happiness. There's dances for that
are more somber and solemn, that symbolize and commemorate certain
(05:49):
unfortunate events through the years. There's dances that are war dancers,
there's wedding dances. There's dances from all over the area
of Greece, all the regions have different dances and the
unique to the area. The mainland and the islands have
different traditions and dances, so as a result, there are
hundreds of dances in that tiny little country known as Greece.
(06:12):
These dances tie our present day to our ancient past,
from the steps that we dance all the way to
the rhythm. The Metropolis of Boston Dance Group is a
nonprofit cultural organization that is dedicated to the preservation of
Greek culture and to the history in the history to
the Greek American youth of the Greater Boston area through
(06:33):
dance in what comes with it. You may have seen
the group perform in and around Boston at various events
including Frienway Park and halftime show at the Celtics Games.
We perform locally, nationally and internationally when the opportunity possess itself.
So we focus mostly for kids that are seven years
(06:56):
old and up that are of Greek American heritage. Focuses
on the education and the culture of the culture and
the instrumentation and song to the Greek American youth of
the Boston area. Our focus is to give back to
that community and to keep the heritage alive. We're a
volunteer organization. The teachers volunteer. We the teachers, we volunteer
(07:20):
our time. All money that we receive goes back to
the kids that are in the program, from getting music
that's quality music to purchasing handmade costumes from Greece from
experts who are themselves recognized as making authentic costumes.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Sounds like a wonderful organization. Give us the web. How
can people get in touch who want to either support you,
who may be of Greek heritage themselves and want to
keep the tradition going on, or who may want to participate.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
Yeah, so we have a website. It's called Greek Folk
Dance dot org. All one word, Greek Folk Dance dot org.
There's a little donate button donate now button on the
homepage and you can contact us directly through that. It
gets right to our email, which is Greek Folk Dance
(08:14):
at aol dot com. But if you just go onto
the website you can contact us and feel free to
learn more about our program. We're really proud of it.
I should mention that we are uh we are a
c i D member, which is the International Council of Dance.
It's a Unesco organization, and we are five one three,
(08:36):
all right under.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
No, no, yeah, I just gotta I gotta be fair.
All right, Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
Thank you so much, Dan, I really appreciate it. Maybe
listens to you and your family.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Right right back at you, Doctor John Pappas a Greek
folk dance dot Org. Doctor Papus, thank you so much,
appreciate it. We're going to take quick break. We'll be
back on the other side. This is our quick break,
so we'll be back. Get ready, here we come.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Night Side with Dan Ray ONBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
All Right, our next guest, who's a little late, but
better late than never, want to welcome Doreen Wade of
Salem United. Doreen, welcome to night Side. You're the president
of Salem United Incorporated. Tell us about your group.
Speaker 9 (09:31):
Yes, I just want to say thank you so much
for this opportunity. And Salem United is a nonprofit organization
that preserves, protects, and build Black history.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
And the black history.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
That we preserve, protect and build.
Speaker 9 (09:47):
Is called Negro Election Day, but many people know it
as the Black picnic that used to be in Salem
Willows Pop Salem.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Mass And so how long has the group been around,
tell us a little bit more about it.
Speaker 11 (10:08):
We've been around for ten years, but this or this
this history has been around for over three hundred and
thirty years.
Speaker 9 (10:22):
It was established by enslaved Africans that established the first
black voting system in this country. It's an amazing, amazing
history that just has not gotten enough exposure. And now
that we're celebrating America's two hundred and fiftieth we are
(10:45):
really working hard to get this history out of here
because all these enslaved Africans were part of the American Revolution.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
And how can folks get in touch, become members or
support of Salem United.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
Well, maybe we can become members by contacting us. And
our website is www dot Salem United, Inc.
Speaker 10 (11:15):
Dot org And we really, really really are interested in
having so many people contact us because we really want
to teach and educate young people that you know, there
there there is a negativity to slavery, but there's also
(11:39):
I know this sounds ironic.
Speaker 9 (11:42):
But this is there is also positivity that happened during
the history of slavery.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Okay, well, Doreen, thank you very much. Keep in touch
Salem United, Inc. Dot org. Appreciate your time tonight. I'm
glad that we are persisted and got you incos as
afraid we admissed it. Okay, thanks so much.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Oh yeah, with this, with this, no so we forgot
you know, we we've been trying to get everything organized,
but we we are so glad to be on.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Kenny, thank you your interest in nonprofit.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You're very welcome. Thank you very much. We're going to
talk now with linn Abbot. Linn Abbot, welcome to night Side.
You're with a group called Salt Water Initiative, and I
know we talked a little bit about it. It's a
fascinating group, uh, and a fascinating project. And tell us
a little bit more about it.
Speaker 12 (12:35):
Okay, sure, thank.
Speaker 13 (12:38):
You very much for having us on. I really appreciate
the opportunity to spread the word about what we do.
We are a nonprofit that provides vacations for families that
have autistic children and limited financial means to take their
own vacation. So we provide these vacations on Cape Cod
in the spring and in the fall, and we give
(12:59):
the families a weekend away and we give them one
hundred dollars to a restaurant that's near the resort, or
if the hotel or resort has their own restaurant, we
give it to that restaurant and the families get to
have some time together and hopefully get out in nature
and just have a weekend out of their home and
away from all their doctor's appointments and you know, all
(13:21):
the other activities that keep every family busy and running around,
but especially families that have children on the autism spectrum,
there's just more that goes along with that, and you know,
they just really deserve a break and they need a rest.
And it's been going really well, and we serviced sixty
(13:42):
families last year and we're hoping to do more this year.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
So, Lynn, how long have you been around and how
did you first get involved in this initiative. There's always
a story, there's always sort of a backstory.
Speaker 13 (13:54):
Yes, well, we were formed three years ago. The first
year we sent seven families away, and then the next
year we had forty four families. As I said, last
year we had sixty. I started it because I'm fortunate
enough to have a cape house and I teach, so
I can be there all summer. My kids could be
there all summer, and I would see a lot of
(14:15):
the houses that were right on my street and in
my neighborhood on the Cape just sit vacant, and I
was like, this is a crime. They should be filled
with families and they should have people in them. So
I tried initially to have people donate their home and
we could get families in that needed a vacation that
couldn't afford a vacation that way, but insurance companies did
(14:36):
not like that idea, so we had to pivot, and
so that's why we started working with the hotels and
the resorts, and it works out great. I think that
summer on the Cape as wonderful and as it is,
you know, everything's so crazy, and the beaches are crowded
and the restaurants are crowded. So really, I think that
honing in on the spring and in the fall, where
(14:56):
the weather is still great but the cape isn't quite
as crazy, has worked out even better than what I
could imagine. And the hotels all have indoor pools, so
even if the weather isn't fabulous, you know they have
some something fun to do and something to look forward to.
And who doesn't love a great indoor pool, So it's
it's it's been great.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Well, that's great, And how could folks support you, give
us a good website or how they can best get
in touch with you.
Speaker 13 (15:24):
Yeah, they can go right to Saltwater Initiative dot org
and find out all about us there. We have a
lot of family testimonials and pictures of all the families
we've sent and I think that would really be beneficial
for anybody that's interested in what we do to take
a look at, because the impact we make on the
families is you know, just a week and away for
(15:45):
a lot of us doesn't sound that that desirable, but
for families that don't get the opportunity, it means the world.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
It's so important. Absolutely, Lynn Abbitt, thank you very much
the Salt Water Initiative, but salt.
Speaker 13 (15:58):
Or thanks Lynn, Thanks so much, Dan, thank you, thank
for having us.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
Take care.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Okay, we're going to go next and speak with a
representative of Project Bread, Raina Sears Sabanda. Is Have I
got that name correctly, Reina.
Speaker 14 (16:17):
Oh, Raina sarl Sabanda, Hi, Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
You're the assistant director of Communications. I wasn't sure of
the pronunciations there, but you're with Project Bread. I think
everybody knows a lot about Project Bread, but tell us
about the history. How long has Project Bread been around
and tell us some a little bit how you got involved.
Speaker 14 (16:41):
Yeah, so Project Card actually started as the Walk for
Hunger in nineteen sixty nine, So you know, there was
a really pastiate group of people who wanted to find
a way to tackle hunger in their community and came
up with this way. They were walking twenty miles fundraising
and it has lasted for nearly sixty years. But from
(17:07):
the Wall for Hunger, what has grown out around that
is an organization that is focused on systemic change on
fighting hunger through different avenues like education and healthcare. And
I joined the team as part of our communications about
four years ago, going on five years, and have been
(17:28):
really enjoying my time. I've been a part of our
campaign for free school meals statewide and have gotten to
see so much incredible work happening just from the last
few years.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So Project Bread, it obviously sounds like a very basic organization.
There's nothing nothing more fundamental to a diet than bread. Obviously, people,
it's so so important in so many ways historically et cetera.
(18:03):
Is do you do any sort of providing actual food
stuffs through food pantries or is it more of an
advocacy organization. I'm just trying to make sure I can
understand it fully.
Speaker 14 (18:18):
Yeah, and that's a great question that we do get
a lot. We are not providing food, but we do
is take a really radical approach to solving hunger. And
so while we do run our Foods for US hotline
that connects thousands of residents every year with food and
resources like where your emergency food system supports like food pantries,
(18:41):
can we get you connected to snack and we make
sure that you can purchase your own groceries every month?
What other resources are available to you if you don't
have that option, So we take the time to walk
people through that. But we're also doing a ton of advocacy,
so we're not just getting people signed up, but we
also want to make sure that SNAP, which is the
(19:03):
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is able to get people the
grocery benefits that they need. So we're advocating in the
state house and on the federal level to make sure
that these are really robust programs that remain strong and
that are able to help people when they're in need.
And then we also just work in schools and with
(19:25):
healthcare centers to connect people to the different food refos
that are available through those avenues. So in the education space,
I mentioned our free school Meals for All campaign ensuring
that all K through twelve students can have free breakfast
and free lunch for the last five years in schools
and continuing on and then also our work with healthcare
(19:48):
centers means that we are connecting with patients on a
regular basis. We have connected with over five thousand patients
just this year, and these are people who are experiencing
food and security, but also trying to manage different health
conditions like diabetes or heart conditions, so they have Let
me just jump in.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
For a second. If someone is out there tonight and
they feel that they need some help, I'm assuming that
there must be a way in which they could contact
your organization. So, depending upon where they live and depending
upon their circumstance, they could find out what programs they
might be eligible for. So what is the best way
(20:30):
that individuals out there who right now are struggling can
get in touch with you and with your organises.
Speaker 14 (20:37):
Absolutely, our Frustace hotline is really the best touch point
for that any Massachusetts resident can call in at one
eight hundred six four five eight three three three and
they'll be connected to one of our Hotlight counselors who
is trained in giving expert assistance and can get them
connected to whatever good resources they need in are eligible.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Sounds great? Okay, thank you so much, Project Bread and
it has a website, I assume as well, said projectbread
dot dot org.
Speaker 14 (21:10):
Yeah, Project bread dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Perfect. Okay, Rata, thank you very much for your time tonight.
Appreciate it very much. We have a break coming up
here on news Break and we will be back right
after the news at eleven thirty and we will finish
up this edition of the thirteenth annual Nightside Charity Combine.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
We are joined by Kathy Milbury, she of the famous
Milbury clan here in Massachusetts. Her brother played some hockey.
I'm glad you spotted the phone. We had you plugged
a little earlier tonight, but I do want you to
know I'm looking at your book, My Place by the
Sea of Slice of Heaven. Kathy Milbury, this is a
(22:04):
book that you and Barbersterophropolis and Nick Haffey along with
Amy Allen, who put together which is to benefit the
Jimmy Fund. You have an amazing restaurant in Rockport called
My Place by the Sea. Tell me about the tell
us about the restaurant first quickly, and then I want
to talk about this great cookbook that people can buy
(22:25):
to benefit the Jimmy Fund.
Speaker 12 (22:27):
Well, thanks for having me on, Dan and I'm sorry
I missed the phone. I don't know what happened there,
but anyway, we are My Place by the Sea. We're
located at the very end of Bearskin Neck and we
call it a slice of heaven because we're surrounded by water.
And for whatever reason, people in the medical field, either
(22:49):
patients that are going through treatments or people that are
working in the medical field have found their way to
My Place by the Sea as a respite. And we
decided we wanted to do a cookbook after thirty years
of being there, and we wanted to donate the proceeds
all to the Dana Farber Jimmy Fund, and in particular
(23:12):
a special focus on something called diamond black fan anemia.
And so we decided to write the cookbook and have
all the proceeds go to the Dana Farber and it's
been a great success. People have been very, very receptive
with it.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Well, it's a fabulous book. I mean, I am not,
like you, a chef, but I love food and it
was just to read the recipes and to look at
the pictures of the area of Rockport, the restaurant My
Place by the Sea, a slice of Heaven. This is
(23:49):
amazing to look at this and to realize the cookbook
is available. What's the easiest way for people to get it?
By the way, this is a cook look that everyone
should have in their kitchen if they're a New England
in particularly because there are so many great recipes in here.
But there is obviously a lot of fish recipes and
(24:10):
lobster recipes. Well, there were a.
Speaker 12 (24:12):
Lot of stories, but I hesitate to call it just
a cookbook because it is a third stories. After being
there for thirty years, a little bit of history with
getting liquor passed in Rockport. It was a dry town
for one hundred and fifty seven years. There's been some
interesting visits from Mike Milbery, my brother who brought the
(24:36):
Stanley cup ring there, and so there's a whole collage
of pictures with people with the Stanley cup rings. So
it is it's more than just a recipe. It's it's
a little bit of everything, and it's really you know,
the fact that this time of the year you can,
you know, give it as a present. You feel good
that the proceeds one percent of the proceeds are going
(24:59):
to the Data FI. You know, it's a win win
for everybody. And the cover of the book is a
beautiful painting by a very well known artist by the
name of Judy Rotenberg. So it is all around just
a win win for everybody. Dan, you can find us
on my place by the seed dot org. You can
(25:21):
order the book there. It's being carried in local bookstores
in Gloucester, Beverly Farms, a place leuis pantry right here
in Rockport, and we will take you know, if someone
wanted to donate, make donations of two hundred and fifty
dollars or more on our website, we'd be happy to
(25:42):
send them a signed copy of the cookbook.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Sounds great, sounds great, Kathy. It's an amazing effort. It's
a great cause. Jimmy Fund Again. They should go to
my place by the Sea dot Org. I don't know
if you can get a reservation there, folks, but you
can get the cookbook. So Kathy, thanks very much. I'm
so glad we persisted and we got you tonight. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 12 (26:04):
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and all your listeners.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Yes, thanks so much. I want to go next to
Vinnie Hart. Vinnie is with a wonderful organization down on
the South Shore called well Spring, the well Spring Multi
Service Center. He is also a great friend of a
mutual friend of ours, Jack Dougherty. VINNI heart, welcome to
night Side. He's the president and CEO of the well
(26:28):
Spring Multi Service Center. Tell us the geographic area where
folks are served by well Spring. Vinnie tell us a
little bit about the service center itself.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Sure, and thanks for having me. It's a good thing
you do and good thing WBZ does to put such
a spotlight on so many good organizations. Well Spring is
where we just passed out fortieth year. We were founded
in Hull. We were in the Hull for forty years,
still are but we just recently expanded into Weymouth, so
we have two sites Hall in Weymouth. Our mission is
(27:03):
to provide support and skills to people facing challenges to
their wellbeing, everything aimed at helping them achieve independence and
self sufficiency. We have those two sites, but we don't
have any geographic boundaries in terms of where people can
come from. We serve anybody that comes to us. We
have excuse me, we have a food pantry, we have
(27:24):
a thrift shop. In both spaces, we have social services
like legal advocacy, case management, community outreach. We have a
social worker who does some counseling, and we have a wonderful,
just a fantastic adult education program where we get people
their high school credential. But while we're getting them the credential,
(27:47):
we're working on what's next in terms of are they
going to go to college or are they going to
get into the work world, And then we help them
with job skills and job placement as well. So we
try to do everything through a case management system that
no matter where you enter our services, we're going to
give you a wrap around approach. So if someone comes
in and says, you know, all I need is some
(28:08):
food and I'll be fine, well that's probably not true.
So we'll get you the food, but maybe we'll get
you the legal advocacy you need to avoid problems. Maybe
we can get you on to snap A, fuel assistance applications,
help you with social security and disability applications. So we
try to do everything with case management and a full
wrap around approach.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
How many people during the course of a year do you,
in some way some form of fashion.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Help over a thousand households, which translates to about eight
thousand people or so over the course of the year.
It's funny we get that question a lot, and I
think a lot of people you talk to tonight do
that too. Just wrote a piece the other day in
our inner Report that you know, we get We talk
a lot about the numbers, but then we try to
remember each individual, each individual's story and organizations that you've
(28:56):
had on tonight can really be boiled down to those
those one ones and that there was one success story
at a time. But we're over a thousand households each year.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Unbelievable. I'm looking at the website adulta education, community outreach,
counseling services, elder services, emergency services, food security and nutrition,
housing assistance, legal advocacy, thrift shop, transportation. You literally do
it all, and you serve a lot of people, and
(29:29):
I just want to thank you for what you do. Also,
I want to thank you for staying up late with
us tonight. But again, the easiest way to find you
or to get more information, I assume is the website.
Yeah well all one World, Wellspring multi service dot org.
And by the way, folks, Rob when he posts these
(29:53):
two hours, he will have information associated with each of
the charities on the web site, which is Nightside on
Demand dot com. Benny Hart, thank you very much for
what you do.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
My pleasure Christmas.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Right back at you, Vinnie, Happy Merry Christmas. We are
going to talk now with David mc isaac. David is
with an organization that's called Mission of Deeds. It's a
five oh one C three uh. David mciaac, welcome to Nightside.
Tell us about Mission of Deeds.
Speaker 7 (30:28):
Thanks so much, Dan for the opportunity and for shining
a light on all the local nonprofits. As you said,
I'm with the Mission of Deeds. We are a five
oh one C three located in Reading and we've been
for three decades, believe it or not, providing gently use furniture,
(30:48):
brand new beds, kitchen essentials and household goods to people
in need, and those people could be moving out of homelessness,
transitioning to homelessness please domestic violence. Maybe they've had a fire.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Or a flood.
Speaker 7 (31:03):
It's really one of the lowest moments of their life
when they walk through our doors, and we tried to
pick them up and help them out by providing that
furniture in brand new beds to give them some dignity
and some hope.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
The thing that is amazing about your group is that
your organization mission. Indeed, you said thirty years you currently
serve more than eighty five cities and towns. That's about
twenty five percent of the cormwealth of Massachusetts. Because we
only have three hundred and fifty one cities in towns
(31:39):
and you have served it says you serve more than
nine hundred households a year. This has to be an
incredible organization to geographically how many people, how far you reach.
This is a big organization. It I the more I
(32:02):
heard about it and learned about it, David, we got
to get we got to get the name of this
organization out there. Mission of Deeds all one word dot org.
How did you yourself get involved? If I could ask.
Speaker 7 (32:16):
Yes, I always wanted to be a nonprofit work. I
wanted to give back. I grew up in reading and
this nonprofit in reading. It is a great fit and
mission of Deed's going to get more direct service in
the nonprofit world. We take in furniture from the local community.
(32:37):
We pick up for free in eleven towns and cities
near us, and we give that directly back to people
in need. The best part is when our truck pulls
up into our parking lot and a client is visiting
at the same time. They might take a couch or
a kitchen table right off our truck. I mean, that's
as direct as you can get. If I can tell
(32:59):
you a quick story, worry about a single mother we
helped recently. She was here with her young child and
it was the first time her child would have a
brand new bed of their own.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
And we gave this child some dinosaur sheets, just live
it up and give that new bed just that feeling
of his own. And at the end of the visit,
he remarked, today's Christmas, and we try to make every
day Christmas and mission of Deeds and that's why I
(33:31):
love working here.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Well a great answer, David McIsaac Mission of Deeds dot org.
If you need any help, you want to check it out.
Eighty five cities and towns middlesex Essex County, as well
as Suffolk County communities of Chelsea, Revere, and Winter. David,
thank you very much for what you do.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Thank you so much. Dan, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
You're very welcome. We have two more charities coming up.
On the other side of this break will wrap up
the thirteenth annual Nightside Charity Combine. I'm so proud of
the people tonight. They're amazing, each and every one of them.
Back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
All right, we're wrapping up year thirteen of the annual,
the thirteenth annual Nightside Combine. With us is Justin Green.
Justin is with a group called Minis with a Mission.
Justin tell us about Minis with a Mission. How long
has it been around and what you do?
Speaker 6 (34:33):
Yeah, thank you for letting me tell you about Mini's
with a Mission. It started with Marian Hartman in twenty
seventeen with the thought that everyone loves miniature horses, and
in twenty twenty she teamed up with Glory Lowe and
they combined miniature horses and miniature donkeys. And it used
(34:54):
to be mainly like a Penning zoo atmosphere, which there's
a lot of fun. But now we're changing to people
helping people with the power of donkeys as the workshops.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Okay, so tell us do me a favor, justin cut
to the chase. Tell me what minis with a mission does.
The history is interesting, but tell me what it does
for people.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Yeah, it helps people. Donkeys used a lot of medical
worlds because they're very nurturing and they can use people's cues,
so they help people with autism, and they help veterans
with PTSD and recovery victims. They have workshops and people
(35:41):
spend the day with donkeys and it's very enriching for them.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
So you bring let me tell you what you do.
You take these little mini donkeys to nursing homes as
I understand that, correct me if I'm wrong? Is that
not what you do? You make? You make this? These
are available to help people, right.
Speaker 6 (36:02):
Yes, but now we're also doing programs like the Farm
where people that are recovering addicts. Okay, you can help
the knife skills with the help of donkeys.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Okay, so how can you how can people get in
touch with you justin if they'd like to take advantage
of the program.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
Miniswithimission dot com. Is the website perfecte user friendly and
it has the contact information all there.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Oh, perfect perfect justin. Thank you. I got to get
one more person in. Hey, thanks, thank you, very welcome. Okay, Last,
but not least, Haidi Omera. Hidi is with the Special
Needs Arts Programs Incorporated. Haidi, the question tell us what
your organization does for people? Heidi, welcome to night Side.
Speaker 15 (36:53):
Thank you so much, stand for this opportunity to talk
to your listeners. Special Needs Art Programs we provide programs
for individuals with special needs and art and music to
express to artistic talents and abilities and cultivate friendships. An
important part of our mission is to raise awareness of
how much people with special needs contribute to the cultural
(37:17):
richness of our community, and we do this through our
own concert, community performances and art installation. So SNAP programs
offer opportunities for creative expression, personal growth, a sense of
purpose and self empowerment. And Dan, I know you are
aware that we have an epidemic of loneliness in this country,
(37:37):
and it can be significantly more difficult for people with
special needs to create and maintain friendship. And our SNAP
programs run weekly and year round, so our programs provide
continuity and community for our singers and artists and they
make lasting friendships. And that is so important.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And so not only do you incorporate people in your
programs and you help them become part of something, but
then you bring them out and they appear and they perform,
if I.
Speaker 15 (38:10):
Understand it correctly, exactly right, Dan. We have our own
performances that we hold, and then we also go out
in the tunity and we perform at different public venues.
We go to assisted living centers, we install art installations
all over Suffolk Middlesex County. Really in an effort to
(38:33):
make the community aware of just all the contributions and
the abilities and talent of the special needs tunity. It's
really important.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Now you're based in Lexington, correct, yes, okay, but you
serve surrounding communities as well.
Speaker 15 (38:48):
Correct, Yes, we serve over thirty cities and towns come
to our programs. Our programs run out of the Lexington
Community Center and also lex Art, which is in Lexington,
but you certainly don't need to live in lexin King
to participate in our programs. Anyone can come to our
programs if you identify with us you're a special needs person,
(39:10):
we identify with you.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
That is great. So what is the easiest way for
either of people who want to guide someone who has
special needs to work with you? Folks or organizations and
groups within the area of Lexington who would like to
have your your organization come and put on a performance, Well,
(39:35):
the best thing.
Speaker 15 (39:36):
To do is to go and visit our website, and
our website is snaparts dot org so s n A
P A r P s dot org and you can
find out all types of information about our programs, our events,
(39:56):
our volunteer opportunities. If any businesses or corporations would like
to be a sponsor for our programs or our concerts
and our installations, we are always looking for sponsors.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
All right, all right, Heidi, thank you for what you do.
Heidi Omera, the executive director of the Special Needs Arts
Program Incorporated snap Arts s napart s dot org. Heidi,
thank you very much.
Speaker 15 (40:26):
Thank you so much, Dan, and have a very merried Christmas,
Happy New Year.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
You too, you too, right back at you. Okay, folks,
we have come to the end of another Nightside charity combine.
I want to thank all of the groups who provided information.
I hope some of you will take advantage to support
them participate in their programs. I want to thank Rob
for another great year of Nightside, our producer Marita aka Lightning,
(40:52):
and also Karen Bussemi. But most importantly, I want to
thank all of you who listen to the program devotedly
and who called the program frequently. We as always want
to remind you that all dogs, all cats, all pets
do go to heaven. That is where Mike Pelle Charlie Ray,
who passed fifteen years ago on February is and that's
(41:13):
where all your pets are. They loved you and you
love them, and I do believe you'll see them again. Hoope,
see again on Nightside in early January. I'm off for
a few nights. I want to wish all of you
Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Thanks so much for
being a part of this program and a part of
my life. Dan Ray for Nightside. I'll be on Facebook
Nightside with Dan Ray in just a minute or two
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