eat LUNCH give MAY 19TH, 2021 | VIRTUAL 12:00PM - 1:00PM
eat LUNCH give Resilience. Community. Hope.
Welcome Welcome to the 10th annual eat LUNCH give! Thank you for joining us once again for our virtual event. It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since we had to switch from an in-person celebration to a remote one in response to the ongoing health crisis. No one could have predicted the life-altering magnitude that COVID-19 would have on our community. The strength, flexibility, and persistence of our guests and staff throughout this past year have truly been inspiring to witness. Not only has our community stayed strong, but we have also thrived by putting our guests‘ needs first and remaining flexible on the delivery of our services.
Kay Calvert WLP Board Chair
We are pleased that, in early April, we were able to return to our signature restaurant-style meal service and welcome a limited number of women back into our dining room. The road to this moment was long and challenging, and we look forward to restoring our full in-person community at Women’s Lunch Place. Today, we will celebrate our successes as we set our sights on this return. We begin by presenting this year’s Women Who Give award to Chef Ana Sortun. This award is given to a local woman who embodies our mission and works tirelessly to strengthen those around her. Like many leaders in the food industry, Chef Sortun has seen massive challenges over the past year. While many other businesses closed their doors, Ana made tough decisions and shifted her operations. She prioritized her staff and her customers over profit and exemplified the core values of Women’s Lunch Place in doing so. We will also recognize our donors and supporters, without whom our work would not be possible. For the past 10 years, we have gathered annually to eat, to give, and to honor the work of Women’s Lunch Place. Thank you for joining us for this program today as we reflect on community, resilience, and healing.
In gratitude,
Kay Calvert Chair of the Board
Program Introduction Co-chair Welcome Shelter Updates from WLP Staff Women Who Give Award Spotlight Roundtable Discussion Guest Feature Fund-a-Need Conclusion
Visit womenslunchplace.org/elg to stream the program. Scan the QR codes below to take action during today’s event!
Fund-a-Need
Pick-a-Prize
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Sponsors Saffron Mary & Brian Carty* Michele & Howard Kessler
Allspice Kay Calvert & Jim Manzi*
Coriander Anonymous Donor Wendy & Sean Cassity
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WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
Nutmeg
Paprika
Janine Danielson*
Debra & William Bulkeley
Eileen Hsü-Balzer*
Donna and Steve Fessler*
The McGee Family*
Theresa and Michael Hluchyj
Derri Shtasel & Gary Gottlieb*
Estrellita Karsh
Jean C. Tempel
Joyce Kosofsky* and Kenneth Gloss
Polly and Ming Tsai
Patti and Jonathan Kraft Christine Letts Chris Malloy*
Event Committee Pamela Abeiga*, Co-chair
Sherry Hughes*
Lillian Tsinikas*, Co-chair
Chris Malloy Diane McDermott*
Ann Austin*
Mary Moscato*
Hillary Burr
Glenn Quirion*
Donna Fessler*
Suzanne Schultz
Jennifer & James Hill*
Whitney Sharpe
*Board of Directors
*Advisory Committee
*WLP Young Professionals
*Volunteer
*Staff 7
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Pick-a-Prize Packages #1 Sortun Family Bundle
#2 Back Bay Date Night
Enjoy the best of Chef Sortun’s cooking with a gift certificate to Oleana, a signed book, and a Peak Season CSA Box Subscription from her family’s farm, Siena Farms.
Get stylish with a new ‘do from Salon Acote, then enjoy a summer dining experience at Deuxave with your luxurious Ralph Lauren Eyelet Leather Bellport Tote in medium and Bobbles & Lace jewelry gift box.
Donated by: Siena Farms, underwriting funds from Laura Imperatore & Samuel Gaudet Value: $837
Donated by: Ralph Lauren, Women of Wolf & Company, Salon Acote, Bobbles & Lace Value: $1,338
#3 Just Add Flights
#4 Treat Her!
Pack your bags, pick up some Cafe Landwer takeout, and head down to sunny South Carolina for a three-night stay in a beautifully-appointed 2Br/2B condo. Enjoy the amenities and scenery of the Myrtlewood Golf Resort – tee up for some golf or head to the beach for some relaxing sea breeze!
Treat your significant other to local restaurant Asta’s eclectic tasting menu, an overnight at XV Beacon with breakfast for two at Moo..., and top it off with FRAME Boston’s Les Second Mini Handbag, featuring chic noir leather exterior and microsuede interior.
Donated by: Pamela Abeiga, Anonymous Donor
Donated by: XV Beacon, Women of Wolf & Company, FRAME Boston
Value: $800
Value: $1,375
#5 Tee Off & Taste Away
#6 Sox Game Next Week?
Tee off with two of your buds and Michael Dunn at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham (and grab some lunch while you’re at it!), then head back into the city to enjoy a delectable tasting menu dinner at local gem, Asta.
What are you doing next Wednesday? If your answer was “I’m taking three of my closest friends to watch the Sox crush the Braves, then dining at Deuxave, of course!” then this package is for you. Complete with four Boston sports-themed snapback hats.
Donated by: Michael Dunn (C&W Services), Women of Wolf & Company Value: $1,100
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Donated by: Moriarty Troyer & Malloy, LLC, Women of Wolf & Company, Boston Snapback Company
Value: $644
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
#7 Quarantine Hobbies 2.0 Sourdough starters are so 2020...upgrade your socially-distanced hobbies with class certificates to Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and Brookline Arts Center. Then, use your new skills to make some savory creations with a gift certificate to Newburyport Fish, two produce deliveries from Boston Organics, and a foursome of French sea salts from Louis Sel. Donated by: Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Brookline Arts Center, Newburyport Fish, Boston Organics, Louis Sel Value: $899
#8 Hostess with the Mostess Bring the “mostess” back to your hostess game with this package. Treat yourself to a HydraFacial and Laser Hair Removal treatment from Forever Slender MedSpa. Then, adorn your home with an arrangement from Rouvalis Flowers, get your pup in tip-top shape with a training session from The Perfect Walk, and pick up some take-out from Sweet Basil to enjoy at home with friends. Prefer to keep the Sweet Tooth Boston cakes-for-a-year and Effie’s Homemade biscuits all to yourself? We won’t tell!
Donated by: Forever Slender MedSpa, Sweet Tooth Boston, The Perfect Walk, Sweet Basil, Rouvalis Flowers, Effie’s Homemade
Value: $1,714
#9 Maine Adventure Pack
#10 Escape to the Cape
Enjoy the great outdoors this summer with two white water rafting passes from North County Rivers in Maine. Lacking an adventure wardrobe? Goodies from FjallRaven and Faherty Brands should solve that quickly!
Skip town early to enjoy a long weekend on the Cape in October at this charming 3Br/2.5B cottage in Orleans. Complete with a custommonogrammed Italian leather travel case set from Cuyana and a fun and chic bracelet and earring trip from April Soderstrom Jewelry. Need I say more?
Donated by: FjallRaven, North County Rivers, Faherty Brands Value: $974
Donated by: Lillian Tsinikas, Cuyana, April Soderstrom Jewelry Value: $2,851
#11 Vineyard Vacay Martha’s Vineyard, anyone? Treat yourself to the ultimate summer vacay with two round-trip ferry passes to the Vineyard and a gift certificate to local gem, Hotel Ginger. Top it off with a Bobbles & Lace gift box, new shades from Warby Parker, and a $150 gift certificate to Barre Groove.
Scan me to Pick-a-Prize!
Donated by: Hotel Ginger, Hy-line Cruises, Bobbles & Lace, Barre Groove, Warby Parker Value: $844 9
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Pick-a-Prize Sponsors
Pamela Abeiga | Michael Dunn | Lillian Tsinikas Women of Wolf & Company
Pick-a-Prize Donors
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Women Who Give Award The Women Who Give Award recognizes and honors a woman who embraces the mission of Women’s Lunch Place and supports the advancement of women through leadership and philanthropy.
2021 Award Recipient: Chef Ana Sortun We are proud to announce that this year’s Women Who Give Award recipient is Ana Sortun, Executive Chef and Owner of beloved local restaurants Oleana, Sofra Bakery & Cafe, and Sarma. Throughout the pandemic, Ana has shown strength, resilience, and creativity in shifting her restaurant operations so that her team of staffers remains safely employed.
Roundtable Speakers Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, WLP Jennifer is the Executive Director at Women’s Lunch Place. She provides strategic leadership and management, oversees day-to-day operations, leads the development and implementation of the strategic vision, executes the agency’s mission, ensures continued alignment of its programs, and advances fundraising efforts.
Dr. Jessie Gaeta, BHCHP Jessie M. Gaeta, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she has practiced Internal Medicine since 2002. She oversees the clinical practice of this unique community health center that serves 11,000 people annually across dozens of clinical sites, including homeless shelters, the street, and one of the first medical respite programs in the country. 11
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Restaurant Partners Take-out, Watch Together While we can’t be physically together for our event this year, we are happy to have five fantastic restaurant partners to provide attendees with delicious take-out lunches. We hope you can join our “virtual table” and enjoy your meal while you watch the program with us on Wednesday, May 19th. Want to show off your meal? Snap a pic, tag @WLPBoston, and use #ELG2021 to spread the word.
Juniper
Little Donkey
Porto
13 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02482
505 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
1 Ring Road Boston, MA 02199
Lentil soup with miso glazed mushrooms
Your choice of:
Spring green salad - radish, parmesan, asparagus, snap peas, lemon vinaigrette
Squishy pita with muhummara And your choice of: Entrée #1: Lamb bolognese Entrée #2: Farro risotto with roasted carrots and cashew “cheese”
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Entrée #1: Chicken curry over rice, onsen egg & choi sum Entrée #2: Spring vegetable fried rice - firm tofu, brown rice, spring vegetables & Thai basil
Entrée #1: Fried chicken sandwich: bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, yogurt herb sauce Porto chocolate chip cookie
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
Sarma
Ristorante Fiore
249 Pearl Street Somerville, MA 02145
250 Hanover Street Boston, MA 02113
Black Sea cornbread
Rucola insalate – baby arugula, fennel, pear, tomato, lemon and olive oil
Sarma’s famous tahini chocolate chip cookies And your choice of: Entrée #1: Sesame fried chicken with garlicky greens, salad, remoulade, and pickles Entrée #2: Green pea falafel with potato hummus, salad, tzatziki, and pickles
And your choice of: Entrée #1: Gnocchi con salsicce – ground Italian sausage, assorted imported mushrooms, olive oil, cherry tomato, homemade sage and potato gnocchi, white wine, parmigiano and pecorino cheeses Entrée #2: Tagliatelle al pomodoro e basilico – homemade tagliatelle pasta tossed with fresh tomato sauce and fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil
A Look Back
A NOTE FROM CHEF SHERRY
There is nothing better than sharing a beautiful meal with those we care about. In 2020, we had to move quickly to transition our in-person event to a virtual one. That was at the very beginning of the pandemic, so everyone was on a huge learning curve. We created a menu based on the principles of Menus of Change and sent recipe cards to attendees so that folks at home could make and enjoy the food we were serving to our ladies on the day of the event. This year, we are, thankfully, able to engage so many wonderful restaurants to participate. Attendees will be able to grab lunch at a variety of excellent eateries. Next year, I hope we can all share a meal together (in the same place) to celebrate this amazing event. 13
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Fund-a-Need $5,000
Provides 1,200 meals for women who are food insecure and ensures that our Healthy Meals program can meet the increased demand and continue to provide sustenance
$2,500
Covers a guest’s first and last month’s rent, enabling our advocates to continue navigating the many barriers that prevent guests from having a stable home
$1,000
Connects our Direct Care team with the essentials to meet guests’ basic needs as they build trusting relationships
Any amount Supports the work WLP does very day to enrich our community by uplifting women who have been denied their voice. For example...
$500 provides groceries and essentials for three elderly, isolated woman $150 stocks our kitchen with fresh produce for the day $50 allows us to purchase new shoes and a backpack for a guest without housing Please consider making a gift of any size to support women in need. Scan the QR code to visit our secure online giving portal or visit womenslunchplace.org/donate-fan. Thank you for supporting Women’s Lunch Place. If you prefer to donate another way: By mail: Women’s Lunch Place, P.O. Box 170900, Boston, MA 02117 By phone: Miriam Cai, 617-449-7200 14
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
Valeria’s Story ONE WLP GUEST’S JOURNEY NAVIGATING HUNGER, HEALTH CARE, & HOUSING. GUEST NAME AND PHOTO HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR PRIVACY.
Valeria, a 49-year-old single mother from Colombia, came to WLP last year seeking legal assistance in order to divorce her estranged husband. In June 2020, Valeria had a double mastectomy at Boston Medical Center. On January 5, 2021, she was scheduled for further reconstruction of her breasts but was unable to have surgery due to having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Even after Valeria’s initial breast cancer diagnosis, she continued to work and support her family as a full-time prep cook. When the Governor issued the State of Emergency, her employer closed their doors, and Valeria started to fall behind on her rent payments. Due to her immigration status, Valeria was disqualified from accessing pandemic-related unemployment benefits, as well as the Federal Relief Stimulus. During these long and uncertain months, Valeria relied on weekly food boxes and toiletries from Women’s Lunch Place to meet her basic needs. Facing eviction, divorce, and cancer remission, she turned to WLP for specialized help.
Our Advocates were up to the challenge. They assisted Valeria with a referral to the Greater Boston Legal Services and helped her file for divorce, supporting her throughout the process. Additionally, they raised funds to cover the entirety of Valeria’s late rent payments––well over $10,000 in total. Through her collaboration with WLP,
Valeria has been able to return to work and create a clearer outlook for the months to come. Unfortunately, her story is not an exception. The demand for our services continues to rise, and we see more and more women like Valeria seeking our help as they navigate the direst of circumstances. Our team will not turn them away.
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All in This Together HOW THE PANDEMIC’S EBBS AND FLOWS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY LED TO THE ONBOARDING OF TWO SPECTACULAR MEMBERS OF OUR KITCHEN STAFF
could no longer support due to the pandemic ravaging their profit margins. WLP was able to preempt their release and hire them to work as full-time, benefiteligible employees. Edgar Morales and Melina Arias joined the WLP Kitchen in April of 2020. “They hit the ground running and never stopped,” said Chef Sherry, remarking on how seamlessly Edgar and Melina were able to transition into life at 67 Newbury. “They are hardworking and pleasant and kind, and they know their way around a kitchen so well.”
Before the pandemic, the WLP Kitchen thrived on volunteer help. On any given day, up to 20 different volunteers would assist shelter staff in the kitchen, Welcome Center, and Resource Center. Chef Sherry Hughes and her two-shift team would prep, cook, plate, and serve the day’s meals, maintaining a spotless workspace in the process. Once COVID-19 hit Boston, the team was faced with two problems. In-person volunteers were unable to come into the shelter, and two out of the four full-time Kitchen staffers had to leave WLP for safety reasons. With only Chef Sherry and Stacey left in the Kitchen, administrative staff began pulling shifts to ensure that we could continue to meet our community’s needs through our curbside and delivery meals. In search of new staff members, Sherry reached out to Porto Boston, a restaurant partner of WLP. The timing was ideal––Porto’s head chef was struggling to avoid laying off two respected employees that the business
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More than a year after being hired, Edgar and Melina still operate in fast-motion around our kitchen. As we thoughtfully transition back into normalcy at the shelter, they are starting to experience the shelter as it once was - a humming, welcoming place with staff, volunteers, and guests building community together. Thank you, Edgar and Melina!
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
Brian and Mary Carty are proud to support the critical work of Women’s Lunch Place.
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2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Michele and Howard Kessler thank the dedicated volunteers of Women’s Lunch Place.
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WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
Flowers on the Table
AFTER OVER A YEAR OF CURBSIDE PICK-UP AND DELIVERY-ONLY MEALS, WLP GUESTS AND STAFF CELEBRATE A RETURN TO NORMALCY
On April 6, 2021, guests began dining in the community hall at Women’s Lunch Place for the first time since the pandemic struck last year. This marks an exciting and significant step toward our goal of operating a full-capacity community and traditional services at our shelter and advocacy center. WLP is prioritizing the most vulnerable guests as we continue to scale up occupancy inside the building while ensuring that everyone remains safe. Additionally, curbside and delivery meals are still being provided to those who need them. Inside the dining room, two-person tables with plexiglass separators are temporarily replacing our traditional group seating. Guests are required to wear their masks except when eating or drinking, and all others are required to keep their masks on at all times. Yet, even with these necessary limitations, the excitement is palpable. Through their masks, we can see the smiles on our guests’
faces as they once again sit together to share a warm meal. “Our community, and the hospitality of our restaurant-style service, is fundamental to restoring dignity and self-worth to the women who utilize our meals and support services,” said Director of Operations Nancy Armstrong. “It was quite moving to see women once again enjoying being in the shelter.” As remains tradition at Women’s Lunch Place, guests are dining at tables set with flowers (donated from Encore Boston Harbor) and being served a variety of inventive and nutritious meals, scratchprepared by Chef Sherry and the Kitchen crew. Last week, a hearty lunch of baked haddock with Israeli couscous and herbed veggies was clearly a crowd favorite. Along with our partners in the homeless service sector, WLP is delighted to see the high level of vaccination rates among the community of women we serve. Recently, we were able to add to that number when we teamed up with
our partners at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program and hosted a vaccination clinic on-site at 67 Newbury St. In addition to a proliferation of vaccination programs, it is also encouraging to see the COVID hospitalization rate for people experiencing homelessness hover near 0% since the beginning of March. “We are so thrilled to start welcoming our guests back inside the community dining room, especially considering that many of them have had to brave absolutely horrific conditions over the past year,” said Shelter Manager, Rachel Klein. “Seeing the ladies enjoying fresh food, a cup of coffee, and some conversation has re-energized the shelter. We look forward to continuing to serve our community by offering a safe, daytime space, expert guidance, and holistic programming.” 19
2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
is a proud sponsor of Women’s Lunch Place’s eat LUNCH give
PSG is a growth equity firm that partners with middle-market software and technology-enabled service companies to help them navigate transformational growth, capitalize on strategic opportunities and build strong teams.
BOSTON | KANSAS CITY | LONDON psgequity.com
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WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
We continue to support the mission and extraordinary work of WLP.
2020 was a terribly challenging year for the
organization and the guests it serves, yet WLP never wavered in its delivery of food and services to those in need.
They have our utmost respect and admiration for a job well done.
Kay Calvert and Jim Manzi
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2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
Wendy & Sean Cassity
are proud to support the WLP community.
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WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
WLP’s Sweet Tooth member and owner of local Sweet Tooth Boston, Glenn Quirion.
Anyone who has seen a Women’s Lunch Place meal knows that our dishes come packed with fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains. We emphasize fresh ingredients, utilize spices to add flavor, and source inspiration from cultures all over the world. That being said, we have been known to slide a decadent slice of cake in the menu for our monthly birthday celebrations. These are no ordinary cakes--they’re masterfully crafted creations from WLP Board
You might have seen one of his towering cakes at Spaghetti Dinner. Or in one of our social media pics from a Birthday Friday. Nevertheless, when we transitioned to take-out only last March, Glenn and Chef Sherry (who are both on this year’s ELG event committee) knew they had to continue the tradition.
month. Many women who come to WLP often feel isolated and alone-these simple birthday celebrations bring joy to our community and allow our guests to know we care about each and every one of them. We are so thankful for the dedication, attention to detail, and generosity Glenn has shown our community. Thank you!
Glenn switched the monthly donation from a multi-tiered, decorated cake to a sheet cake (which was still amazingly delicious). He even individually wrapped each slice so they could be added into WLP‘s take-out meals. Fast forward a year later--we have resumed indoor dining and will be having our first indoor Birthday Friday since February 2020 next
Glenn whipped up these cupcakes for our Mother’s Day brunch on May 9th -- yum!
Give us a like!
We love sharing the amazing stories, pictures, and mission moments we encounter on a daily basis at 67 Newbury Street (and beyond). Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop and see what your support does for our guests.
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2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
GOOD
EMPOWERS Eastern Bank is committed to recognizing the good in our communities and celebrating the work of the
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
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We proudly support the ANNUAL EAT LUNCH GIVE VIRTUAL LUNCHEON Congratulations to Ana Sortun
Member FDIC
With gratitude to everyone at Women’s Lunch Place who comes together to work so tirelessly for our community. There is no greater calling than to help others in a time of need. Cheers to all of you!
Sarah & Walter Donovan 24
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
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2021 EAT LUNCH GIVE
YP Revamp
WLP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS UNVEIL NEW ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
A virtual yoga class. A discussion on Matthew Desmond’s Evicted. Remote volunteering. When WLP Young Professionals hosted their Spring social last year in February, no one could imagine it would be over a year until they would meet again.
The group, WLP YP for short, is comprised of upand-coming professionals in the Boston area who are passionate about giving back to the community and supporting the mission of Women’s Lunch Place.
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Their seven-member committee, many of whom were onboarded during the pandemic, have taken the pause on in-person events to restructure and come back with a renewed spirit post-COVID. They have already launched their new model, complete with a monthly newsletter, designated committee roles, and an engagement calendar with at least one event per month - those events falling under one of four categories: social (happy hours, restaurant nights), wellness (hikes, yoga), volunteering (shelter shifts, community events), and activism (book club, speakers). They are looking forward to their June event, an outdoor picnic, which will kick off a transition period of hybrid events. Visit womenslunchplace.org/youngprofessionals to learn more, connect on LinkedIn, or become a member!
Get Engaged
WOMEN’S LUNCH PLACE
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING EAT LUNCH GIVE - PLEASE STAY CONNECTED! BELOW ARE A LIST OF WAYS TO GET ENGAGED AND CONTINUE FUELING OUR MISSION
Host a Fundraiser Our greatest, most urgent need is funding – during an uncertain time, general funds allow us to be nimble and adapt. Host a Facebook Fundraiser or send an email to your friends and family. Or simply spread the word by telling your community about WLP and why you support our mission, and asking them to join you in helping us meet the need.
Use Amazon Smile If you haven’t already, please add us as your preferred Amazon Smile Charity and shop through Amazon Smile (all purchases count and it really adds up!) Bookmark Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.com) so you remember to shop through that link instead of the regular Amazon website. We only get proceeds when you shop through that link.
Set Up Monthly Giving Want to provide critical funds to WLP on a regular basis? Become a recurring donor to give weekly, monthly, or annually. Recurring donations are a perfect way to provide consistent support so our team can continue to connect women with the services they need to survive. To sign up, simply check, “Make this a recurring gift” on our general donation page!
Volunteer Opportunities We rely on the hard work, dedication, and spirit of volunteers who contribute to every aspect of WLP’s programs. If you are interested in volunteering, we’d love to hear from you! While our in-person opportunities are limited to promote social distancing, please check our website, which is updated frequently with new opportunities. 27
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!
Join us at noon. Stream the program by visiting: womenslunchplace.org/elg Questions? Contact Chloe at 617-383-7271 or chloe@womenslunchplace.org