A Volunteer Christian Ministry
Our Mission
November 2008
To Bring the Love and Hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
We deliver furniture, household items and food free of charge to those who seek assistance.
There are no prerequisites for service.
“We’re just the delivery people, this is the person who sent you the furniture.”
A Letter from a Mom in Need . . .
The Sacr i f ice of Her Child Teaches the Privilege of Giving
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I’m inquiring about the best time to call for Christmas help. Unfortunately I was in financial straits last
Christmas as well. I must share the hardest moment to hold back the tears last year was when I had to tell my daughter that we
couldn’t take an ornament or two from our church’s Giving Tree. “Mommy just can’t do it this year,” I told her. “I’m sorry.”
My daughter’s big excited smile standing in front of the tree was immediately gone. This has always been a favorite time of
ours—the true spirit of Christmas if you will. Well the next words from her, at 10 years old, were, “What if instead of giving
me a present we take a tag to give to someone more in need?”
“Praise God,” I said in my heart as my eyes were glued to the Tabernacle. That in itself was the best gift I could have received
as a parent. If you could be so kind as to let me know when your program starts for my daughter, I would be so grateful. May
our Lord continue to bless you and all the volunteers at My Brother’s Keeper for the wonderful service you provide in His name.
Patricia
Our staff was deeply humbled by the letter above from Patricia
whose 10-year old daughter so clearly understands the privilege
of giving and the meaning of the word ‘sacrifice’… ‘what if
instead of giving me a present we take a tag to give to someone
more in need?’
What a beautiful child! What a joy it will be to serve her!
To do the best job possible, My Brother’s Keeper began accepting
Christmas requests like this in September, our earliest start-date
ever. Over the past two months, we’ve taken a tremendous
number of calls from first-time families. Struggling parents like
Patricia who were once ‘givers’ are now ‘receivers.’
This is not unexpected given the current state of our economy.
We all recognize this will be a very difficult Christmas and
winter for many of our more humble brothers and sisters.
What this means for us, the community of My Brother’s Keeper,
is that Christ is counting on us more than ever. At My Brother’s
Keeper, we view this call to action not as an obligation but as a
privilege which God generously affords us. This privilege—so
cherished by Patricia’s daughter—may be the most important
gift we give our own children this Christmas.
Last year, with your help, My Brother’s Keeper served a record
1,836 families—4,814 children and 2,412 adults—living in 59
towns and communities between Boston, Fall River and the
Cape. We need your help again this year, perhaps more than ever!
We invite you and your family to be a part of our 2008
Christmas effort by returning the enclosed cards for our Adopt-AFamily Gift Program and our Loaves and Fishes Food
Program.
A special reminder…the Christmas effort starts each year, in
prayer, with our Annual Gratitude Mass always the Friday
night after Thanksgiving at 7:00 PM (see below). Many have
made this Mass a wonderful family tradition. Last year we had
a record 500 people present. We hope you can join us.
My Brother’s Keeper
Annual Gratitude Mass
“We come together in family and community to thank God
and ask His blessing on this year’s Christmas effort.”
Start a Family Tradition! Kids all ages welcome!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28th
7:00 P.M.
at MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
Principal Celebrant
Rev. James M. Mahoney
Pastor, St. Bridget Parish, Abington
Reception following Mass
Priests & Deacons, please bring alb & stole to concelebrate
Volunteer service is often a family affair at My Brother’s Keeper. In a ‘hands-on’ environment, many
parents use our ministry as a vehicle to teach their children about the Christian values of love of
God and love of neighbor.
A good example of one family’s commitment to service is the Lane family of Easton: Donna,
Jim, 12 year-old James, and nine-year-old, Jacob, all of whom support the work of My Brother’s
Keeper in their own way. The articles below talk about the recent efforts of Donna and Jacob.
A Mother’s Example. . . By Donna Lane, Development Board member
I recently had the privilege of spending the day serving at My Brother’s Keeper. My family and I have volunteered many years at
Christmas and with special fundraising events, but it was my first time personally making deliveries.
Our first stop was delivering furniture to a young woman and her two year-old son in Brockton. So off I went with Ryan Thorley
(Staff/Logistics Manager), Joe Kennedy (W. Bridgewater), John Pesente (Whitman), and John Shaw (Easton). When we
arrived at Larissa’s apartment we were greeted by her son, Isaiah, with a big smile and bigger thumbs up! He scampered up the
stairs to show us where everything was to be delivered.
Ryan told me they’d moved into the apartment a few weeks ago, but as I looked around I thought to myself, “They must be living
somewhere else because the apartment is virtually empty.” As Ryan chatted with Larissa about where things would go, I noticed dishes
drying in the kitchen and a cooler out on the deck. My heart sank because I realized they’d been living there for several weeks
without a bed, furniture or even a refrigerator.
We were able to deliver two beds, dressers, a couch, end tables, linens, lamps, a dinette set, dishes, a refrigerator and bookcase.
While the guys were bringing up the heavy stuff, I had a moment to play with Isaiah and talk to Larissa. She was especially
thrilled about the bookcase because Isaiah loves to read. Once everything was in place it really looked like a home. That was when
Ryan presented Larissa with the crucifix and told her, “We’re just the delivery people. This is the man who sent you the furniture.”
Larissa’s eyes welled up with tears and so did mine.
In the afternoon I had the privilege of making 10 food deliveries to families in Brockton with Ryan, Joan Burke (Easton), and
Tom Lozier, a Stonehill student. One delivery was to Laura who lived in a Senior Citizens building. She welcomed us into her
spotless apartment and was so happy to see us. Joan asked if there was anything she’d like us to pray for. Laura smiled, opened
her arms and gave us a big hug. At that moment I realized the food we delivered will nourish Laura’s body but I could see with
my own eyes how the hope and love we brought will nourish her soul—and mine too!
I’ve read the My Brother’s Keeper Prayer (back page) many times, but after spending the day with Ryan and seeing what he and the
other staff do everyday, the Prayer has a deeper meaning. The first two lines read, “Lord, when I have food, help me to remember
the hungry. When I lie in bed, help me to remember those who sleep on the floor.” The last lines read, “Make me concerned enough to
act in your name, to help those that cry out to you for that which I so often take for granted.”
Although I was exhausted from the day, I didn’t sleep very well that night as my mind replayed the day’s powerful events. I lay
awake thinking of little Isaiah finally sleeping in a bed. I thought of the families we helped in a small but important way with
the food deliveries. I thought of the simple things I take for granted, and I said a prayer of thanksgiving that My Brother’s Keeper
is part of my family’s life.
. . . A Son’s Follow Through
By Vince Shea, Mission Advancement Director
While helping his mother and others organize the silent auction table at this year’s Hole-inOne Shootout, nine-year-old Jacob envisioned a fund raising opportunity of his own. He
came up with a gem of an idea to make beaded ‘Mission’ bracelets which include the words
‘Love’ and ‘Hope’ along with a cross.
Enlisting the help of his friend, Ari Riske of
Stoughton, the project was soon up and
running. Sales of the bracelet were brisk throughout the three-day event with
proceeds from Ari and Jacob’s labors totaling over $500.00. Recognizing a quick
study, one local businessman quipped, “I’ve got a sales territory I’d like to talk to
Jacob about!”
Jacob has learned first-hand that serving the needs of others in God’s name is both
a privilege and a joy. As a result of Jacob’s initiative, ten children now sleep comfortably in a warm bed. Affirming his parent’s teaching, this young boy has already
answered Cain’s age-old question: “yes, I am My Brother’s Keeper.”
Note of Thanks
from a Parent who will receive
Christmas Help this year
I just wanted to say thank you in
advance for My Brother’s Keeper’s
help. I cannot express to you
enough what a burden I feel has
been lifted from my shoulders.
I like to pride myself on being able
to provide for my kids and I know
I work hard to do it. It’s just this
year has been more difficult than
any other to date. I was already in ‘panic mode’
about providing for my kids this Christmas.
The fact that I know now that I have some relief…
well, I just can’t explain how much it means to me!
I cried happy-tears which was a change of pace for
me lately!
I hope some day I am in a position to pay it forward
and be a contributor to My Brother’s Keeper rather
than a recipient.
In a most grateful way,
Julia / Mansfield
“His Soul Smiled”
…The experience of a first-time volunteer…
By Cathy Shaw, Westwood
One Thursday, we made a delivery to Lewis,
his wife, and their little 11-month old son.
When we entered the apartment, we saw a nicesized kitchen, one bedroom, and a bathroom.
There was ample space for the furniture we
were bringing because the family only had a
blow-up plastic mattress and a small television
in the bedroom.
Lewis and his wife were very quiet and somewhat somber. It
was obviously difficult to be receiving help from strangers.
They offered to help in any way possible but we assured
them it was under control and we brought in a new crib, a
full-sized bed, and a couple of other bedroom pieces.
Never having done a delivery before, I was very interested in
the emotions and feelings recipients showed… or didn’t
show.
We saw a couple of smiles and heard ‘thank yous.’ But was
what almost a shocking experience to me was when Ryan
presented the family with a crucifix and explained, “The
furniture’s not from us, but from God. This is the man who
sent you the furniture.”
For the first time, Lewis smiled comfortably at us and seemed
to light up from within. It seemed to me, at that moment,
that his soul smiled. And it was a wonderful experience!
TheJoy of Service Ahead of Us. . .
The Gratitude Mass & Christmas!!!
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
P.O. Box 338, Easton, MA 02356-0338
www.mybrotherskeeper.org
Officers
James H. Orcutt, Sr., President
Theresa Orcutt, Secretary
John C. Danehy, C.P.A., Treasurer
Executive Director
Erich E. Miller
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
P.O. Box 338, Easton, MA 02356-0338
Furniture Assistance . . . 508-238-4416
Donations / Business 508-238-7512 – Fax 508-238-3613
(501 (c) (3) tax-exempt)
www.mybrotherskeeper.org
Development Board
Mission Advancement Director
Vincent F. Shea
Board of Directors
Deacon Daniel F. Sullivan,
Chairman
Rev. John F. Denning, C.S.C.
Jacques B. Dunn
Mary McDonough Lombardi
Virginia E. Motta
Luzann Noonan
James H. Orcutt, Jr.
Michael G. Sites
Brendan M. Sullivan
Brian P. Concannon, Chairman
Chief Operating Officer
Haemonetics
Robert B. Barry, President
Bostonian Cleaning &
Restoration, Inc.
Nancy J. Buckley, Audit Supervisor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Lori A. Grant
My Brother’s Keeper Volunteer
Donna B. Lane, Senior Manager
Kevin P. Martin & Associates, P.C.
Rev. William R. McCarthy
Father Bill’s Place
Thomas P. McDonald, President
Thomas P. McDonald Insurance
Agency, Inc.
Timothy J. McMullen, President
Prospect Hill Company
Leo J. Morrissey, ChFC
Retirement Asset Planning Systems
CenturyPlus Club
Joyce M. Donadio, Co-Chair
Senior Vice President
Putnam Investments
Peter S. Donadio, Co-Chair
Chartered Financial Consultant
Business Planning Associates
My Brother’s Keeper Prayer
Lord . . .
When I have food, Help me to remember the hungry.
When I lie in my bed, Help me to remember those who sleep on the floor.
When I have a warm home, Help me to remember the homeless.
When I have work, Help me to remember those without jobs.
When I experience the joy of giving to my children,
Help me to remember the agony of those who must watch their children go without.
By remembering, Help me to destroy my indifference and arouse my compassion.
Make me concerned enough to act in your name, to help those who cry out to you
for that which I so often take for granted.