Week 12 of #52weeksofgiving - Rosie’s Place - Boston, MA
As we continue to honor Women’s History Month, we are excited to feature and contribute to Rosie’s Place in Boston, MA, a multi-service community center for women, as our week 12 #52weeksofgiving organization. Established in 1974 by social justice advocate Kip Tiernan, this dynamic organization was the first women-only shelter in the United States.
Today, Rosie’s Place provides crucial assistance to the growing population of poor, homeless, and near homeless women as the pandemic continues to have devastating consequences for many. Read on to learn more about their programs, mission, and who they help.
More Than a Women’s Shelter
Rosie’s Place is not just a Boston women’s shelter—the community center serves 12,000 poor and homeless women a year through their numerous programs! Emergency support includes:
Daily year-round meals
A food pantry stocked with non-perishable items and fresh produce
Showers
Laundry
Lockers
Overnight beds for up to 21 days
Basic health and wellness care
Additionally, their Multi-lingual Advocates can assist guests with ongoing support in many areas, including:
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Legal services
Recovery Support Navigator
Mental health
Housing and job search services
Literacy and computer classes
Rosie’s Place aims to equip women with the support, knowledge, and resources they need to get the second chance they deserve. There are even unique programs like the Women’s Craft Cooperative, which hires guests to craft gifts and jewelry. All proceeds from the Cooperative support their efforts.
Who Rosie’s Place Serves
Rosie’s Place acts as a safety net for women who need various types of support. This includes women and LGBTQIA+ women between 18 and 80 and people of many different ethnicities and backgrounds. Many of these women are:
Working but struggling to make ends meet.
Homeless, some recently displaced, and others who have lived on the streets for years.
Accompanied by their children (a third of their guests).
Suffering from serious health issues or hidden disabilities, such as substance abuse disorder or mental illness.
Unique Philosophy & Approach
Rosie’s Place is different not only in how much they offer but in how they operate. Their team calls every woman a guest. They understand where she is at when she arrives and acknowledge that it is not easy for her to seek help.
Each guest is treated with dignity and respect, as Rosie’s Place conveys that “every woman is a resilient and resourceful individual.” As Rosie’s Place supports and guides women toward restoring their agency, they remind guests that their past and present situation does not need to limit them. The organization also understands that solutions and making a difference take time, which is why Rosie’s Place provides long-term support.
How You Can Get Involved
To ensure independence from outside demands, policies, or prejudices, Rosie’s Place does not accept funding from the city, state, or federal governments. This means they rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers to help them fulfill their mission.
Plus, 86 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to their programs and services!
So, how can you help? The simplest way is by giving. Rosie’s Place offers several ways to give for both individuals and organizations:
Online Giving: Set up a monthly donation, make a tribute gift, or simply send a check.
Tax-Advantaged Giving: Donate gifts of stock or other securities, give through a donor-advised fund, or set up a planned giving (i.e., legacy giving).
Workplace Giving: Set up a corporate giving program or matching gifts.
Other ways to get involved include:
Young Professionals Network: Join this membership-based group of people under 40 who donate $100 annually and organize fun opportunities for members to learn more about Rosie’s Place while networking with like-minded professionals in Boston.
Donation Drives: Coordinate with Rosie’s Place to hold a virtual food drive and more.
Host, Sponsor or Attend an Event: Attend one of their fun-filled annual fundraising events or host one to help raise funds and awareness.
Join the Action Network: Stay updated on Rosie’s Place’s public policy work and join them in taking action.
Learn more about Rosie’s Place and how you can help and like them on Facebook, or follow them on Instagram @rosies_place. You can also support this outstanding organization as they continue making an impact in the Greater Boston area by sharing it with your friends, family, and Massachusetts businesses that would like to get involved.
And if there is a special organization you care about, please share them with us to nominate them for our #52weeksofgiving challenge! Contact us today and tell us who they are, what they do, and what they mean to you.
