HANOVER, MA – APRIL 7, 2021: A year ago, when COVID-19 caused our world to come to an abrupt stop, our community rallied, helping the South Shore YMCA to raise money used to help local restaurants by hiring them to prepare hundreds of meals that fed our homeless shelter guests, isolated seniors in local housing, emergency childcare teachers and children, and neighbors visiting our food pantry.
One year later, brighter days seem to be ahead, but COVID-19 has left many seniors still feeling isolated, and restaurant owners, like Brian Houlihan of Eat Local, are working harder than ever to rebuild their businesses.
Thanks to a generous donor, the South Shore YMCA was recently able to hire Houlihan and his team at The Tinkers Son in Norwell to prepare 140 meals for seniors and neighbors at Cushing Residence in Hanover.
“It all started while I was talking to an Emilson Y member who lived in local senior housing,” said South Shore YMCA Vice President of Development, Mary Orne. “She said how isolated and ‘locked down’ the seniors felt due to the pandemic, and how some were struggling with food insecurity.”
Upon discovering that the member lived at Cushing Residence, where other seniors and disabled adults were also facing food insecurity and feelings of isolation, Orne and the team at the South Shore Y sought to find a donor who could help.
“We wanted to let these residents know that their community cares about them,” said Orne.
The Y matched a generous donor who offered to pay for a special meal to be prepared and purchased from the Tinker’s Son, and the team from the South Shore YMCA’s Emilson branch in Hanover picked up and delivered the meals to some very happy neighbors.
“Having this today brought people together for pretty much the first time in a year as we’re still not allowed to go into our community room, library or computer room, even at a safe distance,” said Donna Howard, who lives at Cushing Residence and is a member of the Emilson YMCA. “So, this gave tenants a much-needed lift in spirit.”
Throughout the pandemic, the Y continuously raised funds to help sustain local restaurants, like the Tinker’s Son, who have supported the Y at their annual Taste of the South Shore signature fundraiser. These donations are used to hire these partnering restaurants to prepare meals for the community, which the Y then distributes.
“The residents were very happy and raved about the food,” said Doreen Blake, Resident Services Coordinator for Cushing Residence. “It has certainly helped me to better serve our residents, especially during these trying times.”
“Strengthening community is what the Y is all about,” said Dan Berry, Executive Director of the Emilson YMCA branch in Hanover. “Today was a great opportunity to reach out to our
community members and let them know that the Y is here to help – providing programs and services to keep everyone healthy, while supporting our local restaurants.”
Through the South Shore YMCA food pantry in Quincy, the Y has also raised funds to provide meals and groceries to residents of the Bethany apartments and the Rehoboth house.
To help us feed more neighbors through meal deliveries and our food pantry, visit ssymca.org/donate or contact Mary Orne at morne@ssymca.org
