RICKY,Inc

  On Monday, April 7, 2025 I visited the Memory Recovery Sober Home in Billerica, MA.

I met with the owner, Richard Memory, Joel the House Manager and several residential clients. They provided me with a tour of their house and allowed me to inspect the premises in order to determine if it meets Ricky, Inc.'s new standards for participation in our Sponsorship To Recovery program. They provided me with all of the proper documentation, and I found the house to be very neat, clean and professionally operated.

We are happy to announce that Memory Recovery will be listed as one of Ricky, Inc.'s approved sober homes where future residents will be eligible to receive funding through our program.

Memory Recovery is a 12-Step Program and closely mirrors our other wonderful approved 12-Step Program Insight Recovery in Melrose.  

  On Friday, March 28th I visited ACCESS drug user health program in Central Square Cambridge.

Pictured is myself with Brian Sink, Manager/Director of ACCESS. 

We provided backpacks, underwear, t-shirts, hygiene products, hats, gloves, hand warmers and other much-needed items. 

As always, we were welcomed by Brian who has become a truly good friend to both myself and my wife. Brian‘s sincerity and kindness is so very much appreciated by both myself and my wife. He has been there for us through the hardest of times. 

Access is a wonderful program that provides much-needed services to many of whom are unhoused, need medical care, and other of the many services they provide. 

"This is truly an incredible program"

  On Friday, March 28th Brian updated us that ACCESS serves participants of 1,200 or more in their program accessing the much-needed services that the program provides. Visiting ACCESS is like visiting friends. 

The team, in particular Brian, has set up a table for those souls that have been lost due to substance use disorder related diseases or overdose. 

This table is a meaningful and respectful place for anyone that has lost someone to this insidious disease to put a remembrance personal to them in memory of their friends/beloved.

We look forward to returning to access in the summer to bring out more of what is needed geared to the summer months. 

"Thank you Brian and the ACCESS team for all you do day in and day out for the most vulnerable people in need".

  On Friday, March 28, 2025 I visited Youth On Fire in Harvard Square Cambridge.  

Pictured with me is Danny, a case manager at Y.O.F as he was accepting some of the backpacks and boxed supplies from us. It was difficult to take a picture of the Youth On Fire’s space due to the participants being there at the time of my visit. I missed visiting with Katherine Sloss-Hartman, Director of YOF as she was out on an emergency day off. We are always grateful to be able to provide much-needed items for the young people that visit Youth On Fire who provides so many important services to these young people. 

On today’s visit we provided backpacks, T-shirts, underwear, hygiene products, and many more needed items. I explained to Danny that we will be back again in the summer to provide items that are geared to the summer months. Youth On Fire is a very special program there are not many like it that we know of. They are a safe place for young people many of whom are on unhoused to have a safe place to get medical assistance, be assigned a case manager to really help with any needs they may have. The program offers this and so much more.

"Thank you to Youth On Fire for all you do and allowing us to continue our relationship with you".

  On Wednesday, March 26, 2025 I visited Andrew House Detox in Jamaica Plain. We have had a relationship with Andrew House from the beginning when we were a grassroots organization before becoming a nonprofit. Andrew House was the first organization that we visited. I met with the men at Andrew House, spoke with them for about 30 minutes and had some really meaningful conversations. As always they were so very grateful to receive the items that Ricky, Inc. was able to provide. 

Among some of the items were T-shirts, underwear, hygiene products, socks, backpacks, art supplies for the Ricky, reading room and many other items. I was greeted by the welcoming staff as always. 

In the picture from left to right is Madison, Case Manager, Jeanne an intern, Patty Sylvester, lead case manager, myself, and Rebecca Goldman, Program Director of Andrew House. 

Thank you to all of the staff at Andrew House for all you do and thank you for allowing us to continue our relationship with Andrew House and allowing us to continue to honor our son Ricky in the Ricky Memorial Reading Room. 

  On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, I visited AHOPE in Boston and PAATHS program in Boston. I delivered much-needed items backpacks, socks, underwear, T-shirts, hygiene products, and much more. 

We have built a relationship with the staff over the past six years and are grateful to be able to help them help the community that they serve many of whom are unhoused and looking for support. And/or needing a helping hand, a kind word and/or a hug. 

Pictured are left to right; Sarah Mackin, Director of AHOPE harm reduction needle exchange, Kenny Washington, Assistant Director of AHOPE, Leroy Ivey, Director of PAATHS, Rob, Balgene, and Jonathan. 

Thank you for all you do.

  Black Balloon Day, observed annually on March 6th, is a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives to overdose. The movement began in 2016, founded in Massachusetts by Diane and Lauren Hurley in memory of their loved one, Greg Tremblay. On this day, families, friends, and communities come together to honor those who have passed away from substance-related overdose. 

That’s the heart that breaks and keeps breaking until their arms are filled again with their beautiful children

A parent's Unconditional Love is given to their children every day.

Cherish every minute with them and remember that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone.

"Our Souls are tied and our endless Heartbreak is FOREVER".

 To be loved like I was by my two sons Ricky and Nicholas is a gift from God. I was so incredibly loved by them…I know not everyone receives such love. I once said our love was a love story and that it was, and no one can take that away. 

Ricky and Mum

  Thank you for such a gift. 

To be loved and to return that love and then to lose that love in the living years is the tragedy of a lifetime. 

My love and their love never ever dies. 

Nicholas and Mum

On Dec. 18, 2024, Ricky. Inc. visited the Andrew House Detox and CSS facilities to deliver winter clothing supplies as well as 41 stuffed Christmas Stockings for the men and women in both of their programs.

We were able to tour both programs under the guidance of Program Director Rebecca Goldman and her staff.

We received this beautiful letter from Rebecca Goldman and were informed that there would be a steady stream of books to keep the bookshelf in the Ricky Memorial Reading Room filled.

"Hi Bernadette,

I can't thank you enough for the amazing stockings. They are wonderful and it's clear that you put a ton of thought and effort into making them. Our clients will be so grateful, and I know their Christmas will feel a bit brighter because of them. We have been passing them out to clients who are leaving and will give the remainder out on Christmas.

I am not sure if Rich told you, but one of my staff started a book drive in her community to keep the bookshelf stocked. Above is the photo."

Dear Richie,

Honestly, I am at a loss for words. Your generosity has overwhelmed me. I'm in recovery but am still not happy with the man in the mirror if you understand. 

“I feel totally unworthy, but the funds LITERALLY are the only thing keeping me from sleeping under a bridge somewhere”. 

I have 6 kids, 5 surviving. I lost Adeline Pearl in infancy, at home. I tried very hard to get her breathing with CPR but having served my country and experienced way too much combat, I knew Adeline was gone from me because when my wife found her she wasn’t blue, she was black. I'm uncomfortable to admit, I performed infant CPR because my wife needed to see me try. Idk if that was a mistake.

I did not recover and felt incredible pain. I was raised to believe mental health, and asking for it, was a sign of weakness. I lost almost a decade self-medicating. By the end. My family was gone. Every single thing I owned was lost. I was in jail. I am an accomplished teacher of 25 years. I hold a Masters and my writing has been published. And none of that mattered. I prioritized the bottle. 

I am 4 months sober. I am actually correctly sober, meaning I work AA, and work every day on sobriety. But my entire support system is "done with me". And it’s my fault. I have no help. So since I've finished clinical treatment and got a bed at a sober house, I fear being homeless every single day. My employment prospects are excellent, and I'm getting healthier every day, but the rent piles up. “Ricky, Inc. is the difference between me and the streets”. 

I simply don't know how to say thank you other than to stay sober and help another addict. And while I do that, “I'll never forget Ricky, Inc... Complete strangers whom I've never met and who owe me nothing, took a chance and invested in me. I hope my continued recovery demonstrates that I'm worth your investment”.

If I can EVER be of service to Ricky, Inc. all you need do is ask. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

And Semper fi!

Derek C

In the months of September through December 2024 Ricky, Inc. provided eight Sponsorships to MASH certified sober living homes for both men and women, and four Uber Rides. 

Sponsorship to Recovery

9/20 The Willing House, Worcester 

10/9 Benson House, Haverhill

10/25 Sankofa Sober Living, Mattapan 

11/14 Gilly’s House, Wrentham

11/19 Miracle of Dignity, Worcester 

12/24 Upliftment Wellness – Worcester

12/24 Obtainable Sobriety – Worcester

12/30 Resurgence Recovery Home - Weymouth

Uber Transportation

10/17 Hyannis to a medical treatment 

10/21 Falmouth to Urgent Care

10/25 Quincy to Recovery Home 

11/12 Brighton to Detox

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  On Dec. 20, 2024, was our last delivery until February when we bring much needed backpacks and supplies up to Portland Maine as part of our Street-Out-Reach program that Nicholas was so very active in. 

Here I am pictured with the staff from AHOPE and PAATHS in Boston who we have been collaborating with for years. I am pictured on the left side, to the right of Sarah Mackin wearing Ricky Inc. tee shirt. I will add names later of these devoted people. But for now, I will take some well-deserved Ibuprofen, decompress and enjoy some precious time with my wife and son Christopher.

"Thank you for your expressions of appreciation and love from all of the people and programs that I visited in the last three weeks". 

Don’t worry I’ll be back. 

Rich

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  This photo depicts the end product of purchasing, storing, selecting and packaging all of the supplies and materials that were donated to BOTH Boston Public Health Commission programs, AHOPE & PAATHS.

The Ricky, Inc. van was packed and it took several staff members from both organizations a couple of trips to unload these materials into their facility.

"Thank you to all of the staff members of AHOPE & PAATHS for the great work that they do every day".

  On Dec. 18, 2024, I visited ACCESS in Cambridge, where I delivered numerous supplies and 24 backpacks for their clients at their walk-in facility in Central Square.

We have had a great working and friendly relationship with ACCESS since 2020 when we started our donation programs.

ACCESS Director Brian Sink who has become such a good friend, is always welcoming and has his staff ready for our arrival every time we show up. They do great work for the City of Cambridge and beyond and provide much needed services through their walk-in and Mobile Street-Out-Reach programs.

Pictured above L-R:

Homar Murillo, Nansi Salem, Grant Patch, Ben Adams, Rich Giacoppo, Brian Sink and Lindsey Chen

Thank you,

 Rich and Bernadette

 · 

  On Dec. 18, 2024, I visited Youth On Fire in Cambridge, where I delivered numerous supplies and 24 backpacks for their clients at their walk-in facility in Harvard Square. They do incredible work in the LGBTQ+ community and offer many valuable resources.

Youth On Fire has been a recipient of our donations since our inception in 2020 and Katherine Sloss-Hartman has always maintained a very friendly and welcoming relationship with us.

Thank you for all that you do,

 Rich, Bernadette and Ricky, Inc. team

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  On Dec. 16, 2024, I visited New Joelyn’s Home for Women, I was lucky enough to meet with 10 of the resilient women that are always so welcoming. Jay, the Resident Supervisor was there to meet me. Over the years we have met with the women of New Joelyn’s multiple times we are always so impressed by their stories, their life goals and their resilience. We are grateful that they welcome us as they do. 

Ricky, Inc. gifts are under the tree at New Joelyn’s and Ricky would be proud to be part of this, especially giving each of the women a Dunkin Donuts gift card, Ricky’s favorite treat. 

 · 

Thank you to Nicole from New Joelyn’s for making and sending this lovely bracelet home for me. 

I love the stones; they mean a lot to me. 

I hope to see you soon.
With love,
Bernadette

On Dec. 16, 2024, I visited Warren Street Victory Home for men. 

I met with Danisha Williams, Program Director, and Brenda Allerdt, Supportive Case Manager of Victory Programs. 

The men received their backpacks on Christmas. 

We have had the honor of visiting many Victory Recovery programs over the years and on many occasions met with the men and women that share their struggles, triumphs and are always appreciative and grateful.

Danisha thank you for gifting me this meaningful key chain. It says; 

"May you be proud of the work you do. The person you are, and the difference you make.”

 I have placed it on the Ricky Inc. key chain to our van with Ricky and Nicholas pictures, our beloved sons.

On Dec. 13, 2024.  Ricky Inc visited the Jamaica Plain Veterans Affairs Medical Center delivering backpacks and Narcan for the substance use disorder rehabilitation program and methadone clinic. Pictured above with me is “Damien Powell, an Air Force Veteran and TCF Intern” 

"Thank you, Damien, for your service to our country, we are indebted to you". 

Thank you to Mary Peak, of volunteer services for taking the photo and for all that you do to help our veterans.

On Dec. 7, 2024, Bernadette delivered clothing and Christmas gifts to a mother of three children who were experiencing difficulty during this holiday season.

Above is the gracious letter that she sent to us letting us know just what it meant to her and her children to have presents under the tree this Christmas.

"Ashaki, may God Bless you and your children"

On Nov. 27, 2024 Ricky Inc visited Behavioral Health Network. The moms received a backpack and gift card. Each child received new pajamas and a toy of their choice. We are grateful to support the resilient mothers and sweet children at BHN. "Thank you to Director Elizabeth James-Divens and her staff for all their good work".

“The BHN Dorchester Family Center is a residential substance use treatment program for pregnant and parenting women with children in their care up to age 18. The program provides women-centered, trauma-informed care and evidence-based substance use treatment services, with the goal of successful family reunification and long-term family stabilization. This is a closed referral program, and all referrals go through IHR.”

  On Sunday Dec. 8, 2024, we were fortunate enough to have 2 dedicated volunteers join us at Ricky, Inc. to help us pack backpacks for our winter distribution programs.

We want to thank our cousin Kelly MacDonald-Minassian and her son Jack for helping us fill “70” backpacks for men and women. We are so impressed by Jack and his meticulous backpack filling skills. 

Kelly, it was so kind of you to offer to come over and help us and we were so happy that you brought along your helper Jack. You both did a great job and your love and kindness means a lot to us.

Ricky, Inc. stores all of its materials and supplies for distribution and is carefully inventoried and restocked as needed.

The first step in the process of filling our backpacks is to organize assembly line stations like this Hygiene Kit station where our hygiene kits are pre-packaged in sealed plastic bags prior to being placed into the backpacks. 

We provide Male and Female hygiene kits that are placed into different colored backpacks for men and women.

This photo depicts a typical assembly of the interior section of the backpack which contain the following: 

Backpack, pre-packaged Hygiene Kit, Tissues, Pens, Chap Stick, Thermal Blanket, Hand Warmers, Foot Powder, Fleece Blanket, Winter Hat, Gloves, Scarf and 3-pairs of Bombas Crew Socks. 

A 2-dose kit of Narcan is added to the backpacks that are designated to go out with our Street-Outreach Team, specifically serving persons experiencing homelessness.

At the half-way point in our packing, mother and son took the time to pose for a friendly photo with the 40 Men's backpacks that they had just filled.

After their much-deserved break in the action, Kelly and Jack would fill the remaining 30 Women's backpacks.

Never once did we see either of them without a smile on their faces.

We are delighted that they are our newest members of "Team Ricky" 

These valuable backpacks will go to the Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital to their Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation floor and to their out-patient Methadone Clinic. 

Next week we will also be distributing backpacks and materials to Boston Public Health programs AHOPE & PAATHS, as well as to New Joelyn’s (a woman’s halfway house) and to a men’s halfway house run by Victory Recovery Programs.

 On Friday September 27, 2024, I drove up to Portland, Maine to honor our son Nicholas’ volunteerism over the years in the city he called home for a decade. Nicholas as we have illustrated here several times spent his time serving the unhoused, those in active addiction and those in recovery. Substance Use Disorder was an important community to him to help especially after losing his brother Ricky to an overdose in 2019. This devastated Nick…but with his open heart, kind loving soul, and knowing the importance of listening and being present one person at a time was able to do his best to channel that grief for a cause his brother would be proud of. 

Milestone Recovery HOME team who works tirelessly to serve the unhoused and suffering from SUD was a connection Nick made and began a collaboration with providing backpacks to them with winter gear and more. 

He took much pride in this and was planning on growing his presence in this community. 

In his early volunteerism he also worked with Joanne Arnold a community volunteer and artist that would fill her trunk with winter gear and go out early morning to those who were in most need. Nicholas and his brother Christopher would join Joanne Arnold to help pass out the gear and also items from Ricky, Inc. This past Friday I delivered 30 backpacks and a case of Narcan to the Home team and Executive Director Tom Doherty at the 65 India Street location.

We also visited Milestone Recovery's new detox at 10-12 Andover Road in Portland Maine. 

We provided 24 backpacks to the Detox staff and more winter gear socks, underwear in a new 5-draw bureau to the detox to be given out as they see fit within their organization. 

We also Provided a large container filled with hygiene products, socks, underwear, hats & gloves to replenish their supply when they run out. These items will be put in the bureau or sent down to the shelter or home team for distribution. 

They also have a new quiet room that we donated puzzles, art supplies, games, and many other art supplies. The bureau will be placed in the quiet room with 2 framed pictures of Nick giving out backpacks and a piece of his imaginative art with a dedication plaque. 

God bless our son Nicholas who is loved beyond measure.

During our visit to the Milestone Recovery's new detox at 10-12 Andover Road in Portland Maine; we met with Clinical Director Jayme Villanueva and her staff. 

The helpful staff was very appreciative to receive all of the materials that we donated and were very impressed with the beautiful bureau adorned with Nick's incredible artwork.

Please check out their website and see the wonderful work they are doing and the support they are providing for persons in need.

www.milestone-recovery.org 

Rich is shown here pointing to the engraved memorial plaque on the bureau that is dedicated to Nicholas and his volunteerism with Milestone Recovery

Hopefully this bureau will provide the clients with many important pieces of clothing and hygiene products, as well as keep Nicholas' name and memory alive for his dedication to helping others.

On February 22, 2022 Nicholas was gearing up with backpacks to be delivered with the Milestone Street-Outreach Team

during a cold winter day.

On Monday Sept. 16, 2024 Ricky, Inc. visited Answer House in South Boston and delivered 28 filled backpacks for the clients in recovery that reside there. Each backpack also contained a 2-dose kit of the life-saving nasal spray Narcan. We also provided the house with an additional 24 more doses of Narcan (totaling 80).

Answer House is a sober living facility that houses 28 men and is operated under the Middlesex Human Services Agency, Inc.

"Ricky, Inc. is proud to add Answer House to our list of sober homes that receive backpack and supply donations from us"

Pictured above L-R: 

Jared DeFlurin - Program Director

Rich Giacoppo - Ricky, Inc.

Joey Daponte Jr. - Counselor

Julia Means - Substance Use Counselor

Answer House

5 G Street

South Boston, MA. 02127

(617) 268-7124

Email: answerhouse@MHSAinc.org 

Website: https://www.mhsainc.org

Shortly after our visit to Answer House, we received these incredible thank you cards.

Each writing was genuine and showed their deep appreciation for Ricky, Inc.

We appreciate all of the clients and staff at Answer House and look forward to seeing them soon.

"Thank you for the beautiful cards"

Thank you cards from Answer House. 

Thank you for allowing me to meet you and hope I made a difference if not one person at a time.

Heartfelt thank you from the clients

A lasting remembrance and an inspiring story

On Wednesday Sept. 11, 2024 Ricky, Inc. delivered select furniture to Andrew House in Jamica Plain to outfit the "Ricky Giacoppo Memorial Reading Room".

The reading room had sustained a flooding problem last year and most of the original materials were destroyed.

The Giacoppo family has pledged to always keep this room outfitted and functioning in memory of their son Ricky.

Ricky, Inc. purchased all new furniture once the room was restored including a bookcase and padded rocking chair.

We filled with bookcase with several books, games, puzzles, art supplies and recovery books & information.

The original photo of Ricky and the dedication frames were saved by the staff and reinstalled in their original positions.

On top of the bookcase, we provided a lamp, plant, 2 inspirational plaques and a wooden statue.

Thank you to Andrew House and former director Maritza Castillo for dedicating this area on Dec. 9, 2020 in memory of Ricky.

We also provided a sofa/loveseat, a standup lamp and a coffee table for the clients to enjoy and relax in this special area.

On top of the coffee table is a plant, a case of markers and two 3-ring binders that contain hundreds of copies from two adult coloring books. These copies are for the clients to use at their leisure.

Ricky spent a lot of time in this room, reading and drawing

Pictured above is Rebecca Goldman (2nd from the left) and her staff with Rich. 

Rebecca is the Director of Diversionary Services and has been instrumental in restoring and rededicating the Ricky Memorial Reading Room.

Special thanks and our heartfelt appreciation go out to Rebecca for her kindness, consideration & support.