Hingham Residents Inducted Into Volunteer Hall of Fame

From Interfaith Social Services:

On Thursday August 4th thirty-six local volunteers were inducted into Interfaith Social Services’ Volunteer Hall of Fame. The evening featured food, fun and recognition for some very deserving individuals.

Hingham’s Sons of Italy Hall hosted this year’s annual event. Guests enjoyed a dinner catered by Fasanos of Braintree followed by an array of desserts prepared by Interfaith’s staff and board members. Since 1947 Interfaith Social Services has been a safety net for thousands of children and families from the South Shore who are struggling to make ends meet. They operate one of Greater Boston’s largest emergency food pantries, a mental health counseling center, homelessness prevention program, budget counseling services, Thrift Shop and they provide free professional attire to low income job seekers.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization,” said Rick Doane Interfaith’s executive director. “Each week over 100 volunteers serve within Interfaith’s programs, in addition to over 700 corporate and civic volunteers from our partners in the community who serve annually. Last year these volunteers gave 23,349 hours in donated time serving Interfaith’s clients. That is incredible! Our volunteers continually amaze me.”

The focal point of the evening was the induction ceremony into Interfaith’s Volunteer Hall of Fame. The Matti Lang Volunteer Hall of Fame is named after one of Interfaith’s most dedicated volunteers who gave decades of his life selflessly serving Interfaith’s clients. The honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame is bestowed upon those volunteers who have been serving within the organization regularly for at least one year. Their names are inscribed on a plaque which hangs in Interfaith’s foyer.

Cara Hafferty a Braintree resident and Owner of Bin Ends Wine was one of the volunteers honored at the event. “It is a pleasure to work with an organization that does such vital work right in my neighborhood and I am so honored to have been recognized at this year's volunteer appreciation dinner.”

With hundreds of individuals volunteering alongside civic, religious and corporate groups Interfaith Social Services has become one of the South Shore’s most popular centers for volunteerism and community engagement. Interfaith’s volunteers commit to at least one three-hour shift each week, some fulfill multiple time slots. Morning, afternoon and evening shifts are available Monday– Friday. Volunteers work in the food pantry, thrift shop, front desk, or Career Closet. Serving in the food pantry includes assembling grocery orders for clients, restocking shelves and sorting food donations. Volunteering at the thrift shop is similar to working in a retail store. Volunteers sort through donations of clothing and household goods. They assist customers, fold cloths and organize merchandise for sale.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Interfaith Social Services is encouraged to contact volunteer coordinator Paula Daniels at617-773-6203 ext. 28 or via email pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.

This year the following thirty six individuals were inducted into Interfaith Social Services’ Volunteer Hall of Fame: Braintree residents; Alicia Soriano, Barbara Betzger, Cara Hafferty and Cathy Conley. Cohasset residents: Kara Bianchi, Karen Partridge, Patrick and Tanya Buchanan. Quincy residents: Anita Riley, Christine Hurley, David and Liz Powers, Angela Johnson, Ellen Richman, Graeme and Priscilla Marsden, Harriet Barrett, Karen Stapleton, Kelsey Rochleau, Larry Reardon, Stephen and Linda Greene, Pat Murphy, Peter Griswold, Robert McEvoy and Seerena Huxley. Maura O'Brien of Scituate, Jarrod Rotondo of Stoughton. Kristen Koch of Brighton. Patty Horne of Duxbury. Colleen Bolger of Hanover. Russell Goodman of Hingham. Bill Turpie of Hull. Hannah Bornstein and Jennifer Reidy of Norwell. William Swanson of Pembroke.

Photo Caption: (Photo Credit Christine Hurley)
On Thursday August 4, dozens of local volunteers were inducted into Interfaith Social Services’ Volunteer Hall of Fame including these South Shore residents. Back row: Barbara Betzger (Braintree), Jennifer Reidy (Norwell), Angela Johnson (Quincy), Peter Griswold (Quincy), Graeme Marsden (Quincy), Russell Goodman (Hingham), Patrick Buchanan (Cohasset), Stephen Greene (Quincy) 2nd row: Patty Horne (Duxbury), Paula Daniels (Norton), Tanya Buchanan (Cohasset), Priscilla Marsden (Quincy), Linda Greene (Quincy), Cara Hafferty (Braintree) Front row: Robert McEvoy (Quincy), Ellen Richman (Quincy), Rick Doane (Randolph), Christine Hurley (Quincy)