My Brother's Keeper Newsletter


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			My Brother's Keeper Newsletter My Brother's Keeper has published a newsletter since November 1991. This newsletter details our experiences, progress, and joy of spreading the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve. An excerpt from our April 2009 newsletter: "A New Seat for Anne" By Josh Smith, My Brother's Keeper Staff ‘Downsizing’ is all around us. At My Brother’s Keeper, we see signs of this phenomenon everywhere. Many furniture donors are taking advantage of the current economic crisis as an opportunity to simplify their lives. Of course, downsizing often isn’t done by choice. Many who have lost their jobs are moving to smaller, more affordable places. Anne was downsizing for another reason entirely: she’d been extremely sick. At age 78, Anne’s illness had landed her in a nursing home for six months. With little hope of her returning to her house, her furniture had been cleared out (with the exception of her beloved cat, who would be returned to her shortly.) Fortunately, Anne turned a corner and was able to secure a new apartment in Whitman. Volunteers Mary Jo Darcy, Dennis Murphy, and Bob Hughes were with me for this memorable delivery. When we arrived at Anne’s apartment it took her a few minutes to get to the door. “I’m sorry to make you wait,” were her first words to us. “I’ve been sitting on the toilet all morning.” I tried to lighten the awkwardness of the moment by saying we were sorry to hear that she wasn’t feeling well, only to discover it wasn’t sickness that had her sitting on the toilet but a total lack of furniture! Anne still hadn’t regained all her strength and needed a walker to get around the apartment. Unable to stand and wait for us, she went for the toilet, the only available seat in the house. It was a pretty sobering sight: a 78 year-old woman not having a single piece of furniture in her apartment. So we set right into filling the place up with everything she needed... Please click here to continue reading this article in our April newsletter. An excerpt from our November 2008 newsletter: "A Mother's Example..." By Donna Lane, Development Board Member I recently had the privilege of spending the day serving at My Brother’s Keeper. My family and I have volunteered many years at Christmas and with special fundraising events, but it was my first time personally making deliveries. Our first stop was delivering furniture to a young woman and her two year-old son in Brockton. So off I went with Ryan Thorley (Staff/Logistics Manager), Joe Kennedy (W. Bridgewater), John Pesente (Whitman), and John Shaw (Easton). When we arrived at Larissa’s apartment we were greeted by her son, Isaiah, with a big smile and bigger thumbs up! He scampered up the stairs to show us where everything was to be delivered. Ryan told me they’d moved into the apartment a few weeks ago, but as I looked around I thought to myself, “They must be living somewhere else because the apartment is virtually empty.” As Ryan chatted with Larissa about where things would go, I noticed dishes drying in the kitchen and a cooler out on the deck. My heart sank because I realized they’d been living there for several weeks without a bed, furniture or even a refrigerator. We were able to deliver two beds, dressers, a couch, end tables, linens, lamps, a dinette set, dishes, a refrigerator and bookcase. While the guys were bringing up the heavy stuff, I had a moment to play with Isaiah and talk to Larissa. She was especially thrilled about the bookcase because Isaiah loves to read. Once everything was in place it really looked like a home. That was whenRyan presented Larissa with the crucifix and told her, “We’re just the delivery people. This is the man who sent you the furniture.” Larissa’s eyes welled up with tears and so did mine... Please click here to continue reading this article in our November newsletter. An excerpt from our September 2008 newsletter: *“I just want to provide for my children .”* By Ryan Thorley, My Brother's Keeper staff I was joined on a recent delivery by Laurie Bourikas (Braintree), her son Harry (BC High), Andrew Cantillion (BC High) and Joe Hubbard (Weymouth High). When we pulled up to the house in Whitman, we were greeted by Sarah and her four smiling children. Before we brought a single item into her house, Sarah told us, “Thank you so much for helping us. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means.” We quickly got to work setting up beds for Sarah and her kids—all of them had been sleeping on the floor. Sarah told us the kids would be starting their first day of school the next day so we were happy to help begin their new academic year with a good night’s sleep. Sarah shared with us she’d also be starting classes soon at the local community college. “It’s going to be difficult balancing school, work, and taking care of the kids, but I just want to provide for my children.” We put the finishing touches on the beds and made sure everything looked just the way Sarah wanted. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she gave Laurie—the other mother present—a powerful, long hug... Please click here to continue reading this article in our September newsletter. An excerpt from our July 2008 newsletter: *“This is just what I need right now.”* By Beth Sheehan, My Brother's Keeper staff It was our last stop on Friday after a tiring week making extra deliveries. Chris Ezepik, a sophomore at Stonehill and David Campo, a sophomore at BC High, had joined me in my truck. Each of us was exhausted and soaked with sweat from head to toe after the work we’d done at the two stops before. This last delivery was to a woman named, Gina. Chris, David, and I were all very glad to see the only item on the delivery slip was a twin bed, compared to the two larger deliveries we’d just completed on such a hot, humid day. Gina was looking out her window, waiting for us to arrive. When she brought us to the stairway leading up to her apartment, she quickly tucked a wheelchair behind the front door to clear the way for us to carry the bed in. We brought Gina a brand new mattress and boxspring, still in its packaging. As simple as her home was, she had a beautiful view of Quincy Shore from her 2nd floor apartment and we spent a few minutes talking with her and meeting her friendly dog. This is the part of the delivery where the mission begins to be accomplished... Please click here to continue reading this article in our July newsletter. An excerpt from our April 2008 newsletter: "Nice and quiet, thank God" By Josh Smith, My Brother's Keeper staff It was a beautiful Thursday morning when Bob Souza (Brockton), George Comeaux (Easton), Chris Ezepik (Stonehill College), and I pulled up to a modest white duplex on a side street in Quincy. The family we were delivering to—John, Jenny, and their four children—had been living in Boston a couple of months ago when crime began to take over their lives. The final straw was when their oldest daughter managed to fight off an attack from a stranger, the second in as many months. John and Jenny moved out of the apartment in an effort to protect their children… but had nowhere to go. Soon the family was homeless, with the six of them living out of their car. Moving into this apartment in Quincy was a godsend for them, even though they had been forced to leave their furniture behind. When we arrived it had been a full month since the family had moved in and still all they had was a couple of air mattresses and a rickety table they’d pulled from a dumpster. John was an incredibly polite man, introducing us to his family and giving us a tour of the apartment. I asked how the neighborhood seemed so far, to which John replied, “Nice and quiet, thank God.” It wasn’t a minute later that the commuter rail tore past—no more than 25 feet behind the house—but I knew exactly what he meant... Please click here to continue reading this article in our April newsletter. An excerpt from our November 2007 newsletter: "A Gift from God...To Us" By Josh Smith, My Brother's Keeper staff Before we even parked the truck, I knew our delivery in Brockton would be a special one. And it truly was…but not for any of the reasons I’d expected! Joe Kennedy (W. Bridgewater), Doug Mullen (Easton), Erich Miller, and I were there to make a delivery to Denise, whom I’d met the previous week when we’d brought furniture to her neighbors across the hall. Denise had come over to help, anxious to hear when we’d be able to deliver her own furniture. Today it was her turn so I was surprised to be greeted not by Denise, but by workers from the phone and gas company who couldn’t gain entry to the apartment. We, of course, wouldn’t take “no” for an answer quite so easily. We found a back entrance to the apartment and knocked loudly a few times before we heard a feeble “Come in” from the other side. We entered to find a bedridden, nearly unresponsive, elderly man inside. After a series of questions we pieced together that this was Denise’s Uncle Sherman, whom she’d left behind to meet us and the utility men while she was at court for her brother. Obviously Sherman was struggling with even this simple task—he was shaking, barely coherent, and seemed to have trouble seeing. It turned out that he’d just been released from the hospital after spending most of the past seven months there with serious stomach problems. Denise had generously agreed to let him live with her until he started to feel better... Please click here to continue reading this article in our November newsletter. An excerpt from our September 2007 newsletter: “We may not always see the poor around us—He does.” By Brian Galvin, Summer Service Intern, Boston College High School When we think about ‘the poor’, the image of a homeless man pushing a shopping cart often comes to mind. Through My Brother’s Keeper, I’ve learned a more accurate picture of poverty is much bigger but at the same time less visible. People in need are often part of our everyday lives much more than we realize. Recently, I went out on a delivery with Ryan Thorley, Ron Pagliarani (Scituate), Staci McMenimon (Univ. of St. Thomas), Kara Shipkin (Oliver Ames High), and Dan Carvalho (Cardinal Spellman). We were helping David and Pauline in Mansfield, a town we don’t normally associate with poverty and need. As we turned onto to David and Pauline’s street, all we saw were large houses until we got to their address—a small two-family house located on a little farm. I was amazed to see a family in need mixed right in with the upper-middle class. David was working that day—he works in the stockroom of a local company—so Pauline was home to meet us. Their house was totally empty besides a TV, the blankets they were sleeping on, a folding table borrowed from friends, and an ice chest. We brought them a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a matching couch and chair, and a TV stand which was a perfect fit for their TV. Please click here to continue reading this article in our September newsletter An excerpt from our April 2007 newsletter: “She couldn’t stop smiling and neither could we.” By Stonehill College students Nicole Landry and Margaret Bouffard The greatest thing about volunteering at My Brother’s Keeper is knowing that each delivery is meaningful in its own way. One recent delivery was to Lynne, a mother of three children living in Brockton who received four beds, three dressers, living room furniture and a desk. Lynne excitedly welcomed us when we arrived and was anxious to show us where the new furniture would be going. Her children were in school at the time of the delivery so Lynne said, “They’re going to be so psyched when they get home!” Please click here to continue reading this article in our April newsletter An excerpt from our January 2007 newsletter: “Today I Know My Prayers Are Answered” By Brian Concannon, Norwell Chairman, My Brother’s Keeper Development Board It is Christmas morning and I cannot help but reflect on how fortunate I am. I have just finished opening presents with my family and I think about how many others do not get the chance to share this joy. And these thoughts bring me back to Christmas Eve—a special day I spent at My Brother’s Keeper. You see, this year was a bit different for me. The pressures of work and the hustle and bustle of daily life had kept me from spending any time at ‘The Keeper’ this Christmas season. So in my mind, this day of service was as much for me as it was for those we have the privilege to serve. I arrived with my brothers-in-law, Bob and Ed Barry, around 9:30 AM. We were greeted by Erich Miller who asked if we would be willing to help with an emergency furniture delivery—Mary and her three children had just moved into Brockton and had no furniture. They would be forced to sleep on the floor on Christmas Eve without the help My Brother’s Keeper provides... Please click here to continue reading this article in our January newsletter TOP \| HOME "Whatever you do for the most humble of my people, you do for me." Matthew 25:40