New Years backpack delivery for the veterans

Have you heard the news?

Ricky, Inc. has been selected as the beneficiary of the @StopandShop Community Bag Program!

Each time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at the Stop & Shop at 1415 Providence Highway, Norwood, MA during the month of February 2021 "OR" at any other Stop & Shop location utilizing the "Giving Tag", we will receive a $1 donation.

Please help out our mission at Ricky, Inc. to help others, and shop at the Norwood Stop & Shop during our February fundraising effort. 

Giving Tag Program

Other Stop & Shop Locations 

Every $2.50 Community Bag comes with an attached Giving Tag. 

The Giving Tag provides the opportunity for shoppers at any Stop & Shop location to send the $1 donation from the purchase of the bag to a non-profit of their choice at any time.

If you do not shop at the Norwood store you must use the Giving Tag from your Stop & Shop location to ensure your donation gets allocated to Ricky, Inc. Here's how:

How the Giving Tag Program Works

Step 1

Go to any Stop & Shop store and purchase a $2.50 Community Bag with an attached Giving Tag.

Step 2

Follow the instructions on the Giving Tag within 7 days of purchase: 

Visit MyStopandShopCause.com, enter your tag's unique scratch off code and choose your non-profit's name from the list of non-profits (Ricky, Inc.). 

If you don't see your organization listed, you can submit it right there on the form!

Ricky, Inc. very much appreciates your involvement in this additional fund raising effort.

On Thursday January 28, 2021 Ricky, Inc. visited with Boston Police Department Commissioner William G. Gross and Deputy Superintendent Michael J. Stratton. The meeting took place in the Commissioner's office with Ricky, Inc. President Rich Giacoppo and Ricky, Inc. Consultant M. Michael Giacoppo. As one of his last duties prior to his retirement, Commissioner Gross assigned Deputy Superintendent Stratton to partner with Ricky, Inc. in our community effort to help less fortunate persons suffering from homelessness, substance use disorder and mental illness. Deputy Stratton is assigned as the commander of the BPD Street Outreach Unit, which is a great community based unit to help persons in need from homelessness, substance use, mental illness and other recovery issues. Commissioner Gross & Deputy Superintendent Stratton are pictured above holding their new Ricky, Inc. t-shirts and displaying our logo and motto.

After meeting with us and discussing our organization and its programs, Deputy Stratton informed Ricky, Inc. that it will be a pleasure to partner with us and he very much looks forward to our first community venture together, hopefully within the next several weeks. He was presented with a Ricky, Inc. fully loaded backpack and was impressed with it's contents and especially the extensive Resource Booklet that we designed. Deputy Stratton shares our commitment to help every person in need that we possibly can and to try to make a difference in peoples lives that are in crisis.

Commissioner Gross stated " I will continue to support and work in partnership with Ricky, Inc. and the Boston Police Department in an effort to help members of our community".   He also stated "what you're doing is such great work and something that is badly needed; I'm so happy that you're doing all of this and keeping Ricky's memory alive" . Commissioner Gross wishes to be notified of our activities together in Boston and would like to join us in our community events as a volunteer. 

Congratulations to Commissioner Gross who has retired after 37 years of outstanding service to the City Of Boston, the Boston Police Department and it's citizens. 

Enjoy the time off my friend, you've earned it!

On Mon February 1, 2021, Ricky, Inc. delivered 28 more filled backpacks to the Andrew House - Boston Detox facility along with 20 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies (donated by Ricky's Grandfather Mike Giacoppo) for the clients.  We also donated a few dozen books and games for the Ricky Memorial Reading Room. The staff was gracious enough to allow me to visit my son's memorial reading room and I was extremely impressed at what a nice location it is. I know Ricky would have been using that room all day if it was there when he was. Pictured above in the reading room and accepting the Ricky, Inc. Certificate Of Appreciation for all of the great work that they do, is Cherelle Ball Case Aide Manager for the program. We extend our sincerest thanks for all of the staff members at Andrew House for the fantastic work that they do to help people in need. 

On Feb. 24, 2021 Bernadette & Rich Giacoppo delivered 18 draw-string style backpacks to PAATHS - Boston and their staff. Each of these stylish backpacks contained the exact same contents as the regular backpacks that we distribute. We look forward to returning to PAATHS for our now "Annual Spring Backpack Distribution". 

On Feb. 26, 2021 and March 4, 2021 Nick Giacoppo and his fiance' Virgina Norton were at it again and made backpack deliveries to Milestone Recovery. During 2 separate distribution efforts, they were able to deliver 26 loaded backpacks and Maine Resource Booklets to the Milestone Outreach Team.

On March 5, 2021 Bernadette and Rich returned to AHOPE - Boston and delivered 19 draw-string style backpacks filled with the usual personal needs items and resource booklets. Sarah and her staff were delighted to accept these donated backpacks and were thrilled to meet Ricky, Inc's mascot / dog Roxy during our outdoor delivery per Covid-19 precautions procedures. 

We also look forward to returning to AHOPE for our "Annual Spring Backpack Distribution" with the hopes that we may be able to go inside and actually once again meet the recipients of the backpacks.  

Since it's inception, Ricky, Inc. has distributed 839 filled backpacks to people in need in memory of our son, Ricky Giacoppo.

We are starting our Spring backpack distribution in the next few weeks. Our plan is to provide over 200 backpacks to recovery homes, Detox programs, Department of Public Health programs that serve those with substance use disorder, and street outreach in the Mass Ave Boston area. Since we started this program in March 2020, we have been able to distribute over 850 filled backpacks to persons in need due to the kindness, compassion  and generosity of people like you.

We are in the process of developing a partnership with a recovery home in which we will sponsor one person who has been accepted at the recovery home and provide their first month rent, a food store card, and backpack.  

Once someone is released from detox, the next step is to enter a recovery home. Most people in this position cannot afford the first months’ rent in order to get accepted into the house in the first place. With our assistance they can have a place to call home for a month while they pursue employment so that they can pay their own rent and rebuild their lives. 

This is our first step in expanding our service to those with SUD seeking recovery. At this time our plan is to sponsor one male and one female per year. With enough support, we will be able to offer more persons seeking recovery opportunities each year.

We would greatly appreciate donations towards our current goals of helping as many persons in need as possible. 

Please visit the Help Our Cause link on this website Rickyinc.org. 

Donations can be made from there either through PayPal, visiting our Amazon wish list, or sending a monetary donation to our PO Box. Please make out checks to Ricky, Inc.

"Make a difference is someones life."

Thank you in the name of our beloved son Ricky 

Two years ago today (May 11, 2019) we lost our precious son Ricky. Pictured above as a young boy on a rock jetty on Cape Cod. he enjoyed fishing and swimming with his brothers Christopher and Nicholas here in Hyannis, MA. We spent many years on this jetty and it's beach during his youth and it was a spot that brought us all comfort and joy. The boys would catch fish, collect shells, swim all day and then go home and make sea shell necklaces with Mom & Dad. 

Ricky is missed every minute of every day by all of us and God has truly robbed us of his incredible personality, unwavering loyalty and heart warming presence. 

We love you and miss you every second of our lives,

Mom, Dad, Chris & Nick