“Our guests first perceive St.Francis House as a safe harbor — a place to rest, eat a warm meal, and get clothes,” says President Karen LaFrazia. “From there, it’s our responsibility to build relationships with them and to offer them other critical resources like case management, medical and psychiatric care, vocational rehabilitation, and help with […]
Category: Guest Profile
Board Member Story: Jack Murphy
Meet Board Member Jack Murphy. Years on Board: Less than one. Jack’s start I was lucky enough to meet Karen [President & CEO] and Maggie during an event for Sail Boston. We discussed the great work that St. Francis House does: its history and future plans. I was impressed with their passion and drive, and […]
Karen: “I didn’t want to be just a one-time volunteer…I wanted to make a difference and a commitment to help turn someone’s life around.”
Karen Connor shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to her. In searching for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, I found St. Francis House on the internet. I was impressed by the range of volunteer programs they offered and flexibility of schedules. I signed up immediately. I didn’t want to be a one-time volunteer. Rather, […]
Glenn: “One reason I support St. Francis House is that the work its staff does pays off.”
Glenn, a supporter, shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to him. What’s most important to me is the spirit of the place, welcoming and accessible, where no one is rejected and many kinds of help are available. The sincere welcoming greetings I’ve observed right outside the front doors of St. Francis House […]
Fr. Weiss: “I discovered connections to St. Francis House among many of my students and friends who volunteer or serve there.”
Fr. James Weiss, Episcopal priest and professor of social justice and vocational discovery at Boston College, shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to him. I wanted to support an agency with a wide range of services for the homeless and unemployed. As I began to make donations, I discovered connections to St. […]
Jeff: “St. Francis House allows me to have hope that in some small way I may be part of providing opportunity to those in need.”
Jeff Sanford, a supporter, eagerly shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to him. My introduction to St Francis House was about 17 years ago. I was fortunate to have worked with Tim Egan (Chair of the Board of Directors) for many years. One year Tim invited me and a few coworkers to the […]
Nicole: “volunteering has taught me that happiness is often derived from the littlest things”
Nicole Guercia of South Boston shares why she is volunteering on Thanksgiving Day here at St. Francis House. I originally heard about St. Francis through Boston Cares, a volunteer agency that partners with many organizations throughout the city. I loved coming to St. Francis so much that I wanted to take on more shifts and […]
Likai: “We must take care of the common people, the poor and needy.”
Likai, a supporter, eagerly shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to him. About 8 years ago, I was helping with some office chores at my church while a staff member referred a homeless person to St. Francis House as their soup kitchen program had been discontinued some years ago due to understaffing. […]
Paula: “St. Francis House takes human beings who are struggling and makes them whole again”
Paula O’Keeffe, a supporter, eagerly shares some thoughts about what St. Francis House means to her. I first heard about St. Francis House and met President and CEO Karen LaFrazia through our shared involvement in the Midtown Park Plaza Neighborhood Association (MPPNA). I had been previously interested in homelessness because of my experience volunteering three […]
Behind the Scenes: St. Francis House Latino Support Group
St. Francis House is constantly evolving to better engage our guests. That said, our Latino Support Group is the longest running support group here at St. Francis House! This group has met weekly for the past fifteen years, working in a psychoeducation format with Spanish-speaking men who have interest in achieving or maintaining sobriety. Discover our programs. […]
