Kathy Hassey

Kathy - Volunteer of the Month

There are many people trying to make a difference who rarely receive the attention they deserve. Kathy is one of those people. Kathy is the very dedicated and much-loved manager of the FNSP Clothing Closet. She works tirelessly to better the lives of our guests, working behind the scenes and at our Friday dinner service, not only facilitating donations of essential clothing, hygiene and toiletries, shoes and coats but also connecting deeply with each guest. Kathy puts her heart and soul into identifying individual needs and then finding those items.

For example, one of our regular guests, a very big man well over six feet tall, was braving the impending wintery chill of October with little more than a sweatshirt when he asked Kathy for a coat. After trying on a few, none of the coats in our closet were large enough to fit him. Kathy went to work to find him the warmest winter coat she could and offered it to him the very next Friday. In this case like so many others, Kathy's kindness was quiet and dependable...and it very well may have saved a life.

For FNSP guests living on the street, finding food and a safe place to sleep is a daily challenge. Other more fortunate guests have secured a room through the City of Boston's initiative to end chronic homelessness. Regardless of where our guests come from or where they are going, Kathy's passion and kindness provides them with basic essentials and a big self-esteem boost.

Kathy began her work with FNSP almost a decade ago through her work with Dignity Boston, one of our founding organizations. She soon became a regular volunteer, later a board member, and after a while found the perfect place to make her mark in our clothing closet. The closet has prospered under her leadership, attracting donations of all kinds and ensuring an efficient process each week that provides adequate clothing and personal care items for all who need them. Kathy has also helped to raise thousands of dollars for the most in demand items, like socks and underwear, by directing matched dollars to FNSP from her employer?

We are so grateful to have Kathy as a member of our Friday Night Supper family.