With help from dozens of local businesses and individuals this fall, Interfaith Social Services was able to surprise hundreds of local children in need with Halloween “Boo Buckets” during the month of October.
Interfaith, a local agency that provides South Shore families with emergency food, mental health counseling and homelessness prevention services, typically hosts a Halloween costume drive and giveaway for the children of its food pantry clients each year. “With the pandemic this year, we knew that the need for social distancing wouldn’t allow us to hold our annual costume giveaway,” said Emily Ryan, Interfaith’s Family and Children Program Coordinator. “We serve a lot of children that are living in tough situations and one of our goals is to provide a little joy for these families. The ‘Boo Bucket’ idea that we came up with for this year lets children celebrate Halloween with some pumpkin carving, treats, and fun.”
Volunteers from Blue Cross Blue Shield and Quincy’s Cub Scout Pack 42 assembled the 450 buckets in September. Each Boo Bucket contained a small pumpkin and carving kit, a face painting set, sweet treats and small toys. Stop & Shop facilitated the donation of the sugar pumpkins from farmer Wally Czjakowski at Plainville Farms and Retail Business Services donated the colorful buckets. Monetary donations from Interfaith’s generous supporters provided for the rest of the supplies.
Interfaith is a multiservice agency that has been serving families and individuals on the South Shore for more than 70 years. Their programs include one of the largest food pantries in greater Boston, a mental health counseling center, and homelessness prevention services. Interfaith also coordinates a number of initiatives focused on bringing joy to children served by the organization’s programs, including Bunny Baskets, a backpack and school supply drive and the Help for the Holidays holiday gift program.
For more information about Interfaith’s seasonal programs, please contact Family and Children Program Coordinator Emily Ryan at eryan@interfaithsocialservices.org.
About Interfaith Social Services
Founded in 1947, Interfaith Social Services’ mission is to improve life for South Shore families and individuals in need. Programs include one of the largest food pantries in Greater Boston; budget counseling and homelessness prevention; The New Directions Counseling center, community gardening; free professional attire for job interviews, life skills workshops, and The Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop - operated entirely by volunteers with all sales benefiting Interfaith’s programs. Clothing and food donations from the community are always welcome. For more information, or to inquire about volunteering with Interfaith, please visit: www.InterfaithSocialServices.org.
