[SOUTH SHORE, APRIL 23, 2020] As part of the Y’s weekly COVID-19 Community Support Challenge to raise money to feed shelter guests, emergency childcare kids and seniors, this week the South Shore YMCA turned to Eat Local’s Brian Houlihan, owner of restaurants Bia Bistro in Cohasset, The Parrot in Hull, Trident in Hingham, Galley in Scituate and The Tinker’s Son in Norwell.
To brighten spirits for guests at the Quincy YMCA temporary emergency shelter, the Y hired Chef Houlihan and his team to prepare shepherd’s pie for guests and staff, delivering them personally to the Y via his Hank’s Clam Shack food truck.
From there, Houlihan and his Eat Local crew moved to the South Shore YMCA’s two emergency childcare sites in North Quincy and Hanover, where they served mac and cheese and cookies from The Tinker’s Son to children of first responders, medical workers and essential employees. The children created a giant thank you card to show their appreciation.
“We’ve been doing the Taste of the South Shore for years,” said Houlihan. “It’s a great way to get involved and support the Y, and we are thankful that the Y and community are now supporting us through this challenge.”
“It’s been really, really tough times for restaurants,” continued Houlihan. “We’ve had to close restaurants and furlough some of our staff, and we hope to get them back soon. We are just trying to weather the storm until we can re-open. While we are closed, we are proud to step up and feed those in need with the Y.”
“I cannot tell you how much this means to me,” said Houlihan. “We support lots of charities, but only the Y is supporting us during this crisis.”
On Thursday, April 24, the South Shore Y team picked up 300 additional shepherds pies and cookies prepared by The Tinker’s Son and delivered them to seniors living in isolation in area senior living.
“Working with partners like The Tinker’s Son is amazing,” said Quincy YMCA senior executive director, Patrick Murphy. “Just to see the generosity that is out there and the willingness to help. We know that all the recipients are going to greatly appreciate the meals that are coming their way.”
“It’s just another addition to the food service that we are doing throughout the week,” added Murphy. “Along with our Germantown Neighborhood Center food pantry and our weekly mobile food pantry, we are up to about 14,000 pounds of food serving about 1000 individuals now. We know that we are making an impact in the community, and without partners like the Tinker’s Son we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Since the South Shore Y had to close its doors to membership and program operation due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic in March, most of its staff has been furloughed. The remaining team of 40-50 employees remains to focus on the Y’s mission-critical work to support and strengthen communities in times of crisis.
“It’s truly great to be tapped into the mission of the Y and to do this kind of work,” said Dan Berry, Executive Director of Emilson YMCA in Hanover. “Each time we go out to do these deliveries the generosity and appreciation from everyone we are serving is inspiring.”
South Shore YMCA Vice President of Development, Mary Orne, says donors are what makes it all possible. “It is because of the generosity of our members and donors that we are able to pay for these meals from our great restaurants and partners and deliver them to our seniors, to our homeless shelter, and to our childcare centers. You are making a difference every single day, and the good work we are doing in the community is thanks to you.”
For more information on the challenge and how you can help the South Shore YMCA support our most vulnerable neighbors during this crisis, contact Mary Orne, morne@ssymca.org , 781-264-9453, or visit ssymca.org/covid19support to support the challenge through a tax-deductible donation.
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About the South Shore YMCA
The South Shore YMCA is a leading charitable organization dedicated to strengthening community. Since 1892, the Y has served communities across the South Shore of Massachusetts and beyond, engaging over 60,000 adults, children, families and seniors each day through membership, critical social services, and programs that support a healthy spirit, mind and body. The Y empowers everyone by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from all backgrounds, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections throughout our community. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA and our causes, visit ssymca.org. The Better You Belongs Here.
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