Thanks to the generosity of several North Enders and North End agencies, $1,150 in donations was secured to help with the holiday celebration for Back on My Feet to combat homelessness.
A big thank you goes out to the North End Athletic Association (NEAA), John & Patricia Romano, Robert Dello Russo, Michael Giannasoli, North End Against Drugs (NEAD), and the Nazzaro Community Center Council. Also a special thanks to all who participated in the Patriots Pool which raised $500 of the total amount.
The event will take place at the Nazzaro Center on Saturday, December 14. Back on My Feet will do a community-run and then gather for lunch. There will be raffle items (mostly gift cards) and each member will receive a gift. The majority of the Back on My Feet group members do not have family with whom to celebrate the holidays, so this event is very special to them.
This organization works with people who are homeless or in recovery. The program starts with a commitment to running with us three days a week, and then transitions into job readiness workshops and a variety of other community supports to help our members get sustainable employment, housing and, literally, back on their feet. We work with places like the Vets Center, recovery programs, and a variety of other transitional housing facilities to serve their clients.
Thank you also to Gary Forziati from Mangia Mangia for connecting me with Program Director Jennifer Hyde.