During the Season of Giving, Serve a Neighbor in Need.
Haley House is a South Boston institution, beloved by many for breaking down barriers that separate people in our increasingly polarized society (and also for their delicious baked goods…). Always local in its focus, Haley House has developed organically in response to those most vulnerable to the harshest effects of social inequality.
In 1996, men from the Soup Kitchen began the Bakery Training Program, learning how to bake bread and selling it to our South End neighbors, gaining invaluable practical skills and employment experience while bolstering the neighborhood community. Support was strong, and the Bakery Training Program quickly outgrew its home at the Soup Kitchen. In 2005, Haley House took the bold step of opening Haley House Bakery Café in nearby Dudley Square.
Haley House Bakery Café has continued to blossom into a celebrated community hub. In addition to offering healthful, delicious food and a vibrant gathering space, the café continues to succeed in offering opportunities for economic independence for people with limited employment opportunities (especially those transitioning out of incarceration, through our Transitional Employment Program), culinary education for underserved youth (Take Back the Kitchen), and a forum for cultural and arts events (Arts & Cultural Programming).
Haley House has been dedicated to seeing people as people and treating them with dignity and respect for years — since 1966 to be exact. They have developed innovative, up-stream solutions to public health problems in our own backyard, and they’ve done it really well. And now we have two opportunities to give back meaningfully to an organization that couldn’t deserve our support more.
Winter Gear During The Holidays
Each year, the Live-In Community distributes gifts of NEW winter hats, gloves, scarves, and socks to guests in the soup kitchen on Christmas morning, and we need your help to make this happen! Can you organize a group of friends or family from your school, place of worship, neighborhood, or workplace to help us collect these items over the coming weeks?
Haley House will host special holiday wrapping and card-making events in the Soup Kitchen at 23 Dartmouth Street on Wednesday, December 5th (1-4pm) and Saturday, December 15th (10-3pm). Bring donations from drives to wrap, help to make cards, prep food, and enjoy the holiday cheer in the community. If you’re interested in organizing a clothing drive (independently or with a group), please fill out this form to sign up.
They are accepting in-kind donations year round to keep their clothing room stocked, their new residents settled, and their soup kitchen guests warm and healthy. Some examples of helpful items are travel-sized toiletries, sleeping bags, and men’s shoes and clothing (especially new socks and underwear), bedding for twin-sized beds, pots and pans, and gift cards for grocery/clothing stores. For more information about in-kind giving and to sign up for these special events, email Rachel.
Helping Hands Wanted in Fall & Winter
Haley House needs all hands on deck! They have lots of shifts surrounding the holidays through mid-January that need extra volunteer support, especially while their student interns are away on break. Shifts are available at their Soup Kitchen and their Bakery Cafe, so you’ll be able to get an inside look at lots of different programs.
In the first couple weeks of January, Haley House will even have some extra volunteer opportunities for small groups in the soup kitchen (which are otherwise few and far between). If you’re able to help out (independently or with a group) during this busy time these next couple of months, please sign up to volunteer here.
There are many additional opportunities to give back to Haley House.