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RICKY, Inc
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Our Sponsors
  • Help Our Cause
  • Contact Us
  • Board of Directors Staff
  • Resources
  • Travelling T-Shirt
  • Grief
  • Past Events 2024
  • Past Events 2023 -2
  • Past Events 2023
  • Past Events 2022 - 1
  • Past Events 2022
  • Past Events 2021
  • Past Events 2021 - 2
  • Past Events 2020 - 2
  • Past Events 2020
  • Past Events 2019
  • Photo Gallery
  • Testimonials 2024
  • Testimonials 2023
  • Testimonials 2022
  • Testimonials 2021
  • Testimonials 2019 & 2020
  • In Memoriam
  • Shared Thoughts

AHOPE, PAATHS, ANDREW HOUSE BOSTON & ANDREW HOUSE STOUGHTON

BACKPACKS, BOOKS, SOCKS, SNACKS & JUICE BOXES

On Thursday August 26, 2021 Ricky, Inc. visited AHOPE & PAATHS in Boston. They were distributed 10 draw-string backpacks, snacks and juice boxes each. The staff at both of these Boston Public Health Organizations are so very dedicated to the wonderful work that they do. We thank them for dedication to not only their jobs but to the less fortune souls that they provide services too. They are truly working in the trenches......... great job !


We then went to Andrew House - Boston and delivered some care packages of a couple of dozen pairs of socks, boxes of snacks and boxes of juice boxes for the men in Detox. We also delivered more books to be placed in the Ricky Giacoppo Memorial Reading Room.


On Thursday Sept. 2, 2021 we visited Andrew House in Stoughton and made a delivery of two dozen pairs of socks, boxes of snacks and boxes of juice boxes. We were able to meet with the male clients in detox and speak with them about our organization.  A few of them knew Ricky and shared some memories of him with us. It was very emotional but also very helpful as we love to meet people who knew him and have them share their stories with us.


On Sunday Sept. 5, 2021 we brought back some more supplies to Stoughton like books and calendars that some of the residents had requested.

national drug epidemic event

deawaa

On Saturday Sept. 25, 2021 Ricky, Inc. participated in the National Drug Epidemic Awareness Walk Across America in Portland Maine. This was sponsored by the Northeast Chapter of Mother's Against Drugs (M.A.D.) 

"A Story Told is a Life Saved"


Participants walked together holding their banners, showing the unity of the organization and supporting the message of "You Never Walk Alone"


https://momsagainstdrugs.com/home-1

interview on wgme news - Maine

MGME news reporter Megan Willgoos featured a lead story on the drug overdose epidemic. To view the Channel 13 news video footage of the event click on the below link, then click on the arrow prompt and also read the attached article below the video 


https://wgme.com/news/local/i-knew-i-had-to-do-something-parents-raise-awareness-on-drug-epidemic-in-maine

see the good in us all

DEAWAA's message is about seeing the good in us all and show's the faces of those lost to the opiate crisis.

There were several banners with hundreds of faces of lost loved one's with the title of "Can You See Me Now". A reference to societies stigma about substance use disorder and it's lack of recognition that it is an illness and not a choice.

Legislative support is badly needed across the country to combat this epidemic.

End the stigma

Ricky, Inc. was well represented in Portland by Virginia, Nicholas, Rich, Bernadette & Roxy Giacoppo seen above displaying the banner used at all events.

This local event was organized by 

Susan Lamoureux of the Learn from Lexi Foundation & was held at Ft. Allen Park on the Eastern Prom  


http://www.learnfromlexi.org

ricky, inc. resource table

Ricky, Inc.'s Board of Director Bernadette Giacoppo works the resource table providing information about treatment, recovery and grief help.  Pictured in the foreground is Nick and his big brother Ricky on a beach in Aruba.

lost loved one's

Pictured above (L-R)


Lexi Lamoureux, 

Lost Sept. 21, 2017


Ricky Giacoppo, 

Lost May 11, 2019


These photos were two of the many photos displayed on the Portland Lost Loved One's Blanket that was custom made for this event by Susan Lamoureux and other local Maine families that still endure the pain of losing a loved one to this insidious disease.

ricky, inc. supports family restored fundraiser event

resource table

remembering those we lost

remembering those we lost

On Saturday  October 16, 2021, Bernadette mans the Ricky, Inc. resource table on a windy day during the Family Restored 5k Memorial Walk/Run fund raising event. We distributed resource information booklets and 2 backpacks to a Boston area woman's sober house.

remembering those we lost

remembering those we lost

remembering those we lost

Substance Use Disorder is a disease that doesn't discriminate.

Names will continue to be added to this list year after year until we start treating SUD like the disease and illness that it is.

It's NOT A CHOICE - It's an illness

Let's start treating it like it is!

winter 21-22 backpack distributions begin

andrew house jp - ricky memorial READING room

On Monday Nov. 15, 2021 Rich Giacoppo & Jimmy Maroney delivered 64 backpacks to the clients at the Andrew House detox facilities in Jamaica Plain & Stoughton. They were able to meet and speak with the men regarding Ricky, Inc's programs and personally distributed individual backpacks to the men at the Jamaica Plain program. Each of the program's received 32 backpacks for their clients.


Rich & Jimmy also delivered 11 books and 2 jigsaw puzzles and placed them on the bookshelves in the Ricky Memorial Reading Room in Jamaica Plain pictured above. 


During our interaction with the men in both programs, several were able to share fond memories of Ricky including one man who shared that he was on the verge of suicide and Ricky stayed with him and actually talked him out of it. Another man stated that he was with Ricky and his bag was torn to shreds, so Ricky emptied his own backpack out and gave him his and told him that he would just get another one. We thank those men for sharing their stories and wish all of the clients at both Andrew House facilities the best of luck in their recovery. 


We would like to extend our thanks for making this distribution possible to Shawna Smith, Cherelle Ball & Stefanie from Jamaica Plain and Maritza Castillo, Tori, Patty, Yleis & Robert from Stoughton.


Also, a very special thanks goes out to Jimmy Maroney for working so hard on his day off from his full time job and unselfishly assisting in Ricky Inc's backpack distribution. 

team ricky packs 160 backpacks in one night

team ricky

2-sided tee shirts

On Tuesday Oct. 26, 2021, Team Ricky came together to fill 160 backpacks for our Annual Winter Distribution.

(L-R) Jim & Joanne Hurst, Mike Fitzgibbon, Mary & Beverly Rukauskas, 

Bernadette Giacoppo, Lisa Fitzgibbon, 

Jimmy Maroney & Sue Barron. 

Team members not in photo are 

Chrissy Winslow & Rich Giacoppo

2-sided tee shirts

2-sided tee shirts

The Team proudly displays the Ricky acronym across the back of each tee shirt, Respecting Individuals with Care & Kindness You matter. Our team proves that all people matter regardless of their difficult life crisis situation. 

It takes the caring and love of people like our team to make a real difference in this world.

1 step, 1 day and 1 person at a time.

We do make a difference

organized assembly

Team members systematically fill the personal hygiene packages prior to placing them into the backpacks

assembly line

The assembly line manned by Mary, Bev, Sue & Joanne with Mike Fitzgibbon and Jimmy Hurst in the foreground

overseeing the operation

CONSTRUCTING HYGIENE PACKAGES

Packing Supervisors Jimmy Maroney and Bernadette Giacoppo maintain quality control of the entire operation 

CONSTRUCTING HYGIENE PACKAGES

CONSTRUCTING HYGIENE PACKAGES

Bev, Mary & Sue doing the tedious work of putting together the women's hygiene packages

a quick break for good friends

a quick break for good friends

a quick break for good friends

During the long hard night of working on backpacks, close friends Bernadette and Sue Barron took a quick break to pose for a photo. They became very close friends while working together as Social Workers at the Massachusetts Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children MSPCC

labor of love

a quick break for good friends

a quick break for good friends

Mary & Bev Rukauskas were two of Ricky's very best friends. 

He spent so much time together with the two sisters that he often referred to them as his second family.

They stated that they would love to do anything to honor Ricky and have pledged to continue supporting Ricky, Inc.

nice reunion

a quick break for good friends

planning a distribution

Chrissy Winslow was also one of Ricky's very best friends and was considered by him as a family member. It's been a long time since Bernadette has seen Chrissy  and the two shared a warm embrace.

Chrissy said that she was privileged to help keep Ricky's memory alive in any way that she can and wants to continue working to help Ricky, Inc. grow.

planning a distribution

planning a distribution

planning a distribution

Jimmy Maroney and Bernadette Giacoppo share a private moment to discuss the need for the backpacks.

Jim is scheduled to accompany us on a one-day, two program backpack distribution in November at the Andrew House Detox facilities in Jamaica Plain and Stoughton, MA., where we estimate that we will deliver over 60 backpacks to men in recovery treatment.

waiting their turn

planning a distribution

waiting their turn

Joanne Hurst and Lisa Fitzgibbon patiently wait their turn in the staging line as Jimmy and Bev hustle through the packing stations.

Due to the dedication and tireless work of all of the members of Team Ricky, we were able to pack a new one-night packing record of 160 fulled loaded backpacks for our Winter 2021 distribution.

norwood boy scout troop 42 always prepared to help

troop 42 equipment trailer

On Sunday Dec. 5, 2021 Norwood Boy Scout Troop 42 Scoutmaster Tom McClintock arrived at Ricky, Inc. in Norwood with his trailer in tow. We loaded the trailer up with materials for the backpacks and transported them to the parking lot of the First Congregational Church in Norwood for assembly.

scoutmaster mCclintock

Once in the parking lot, Scoutmaster McClintock organized several tables for the assembly line for the scouts to use to fill the backpacks

SCOUTS WORKING THE LINE

SANTA MAKES A SURPRISE VISIT TO HELP PACK A FEW BACKPACKS

The Scouts of Troop 42 and a few adults were very conscientious and took their time to fill each backpack in the proper manner in which they were instructed. 

SANTA MAKES A SURPRISE VISIT TO HELP PACK A FEW BACKPACKS

SANTA MAKES A SURPRISE VISIT TO HELP PACK A FEW BACKPACKS

Everyone got a special surprise when Santa Claus appeared out of nowhere and starting helping the Scouts with the filling of the backpacks.

Good ole St. Nick had some encouraging words for the kids and wished them well before he and Mrs. Claus were off to another surprise visit.

ADULTS & KIDS WORKING TOGeTHER to provide a degree of relief for those in need

It takes a community to make a difference of this size, and all of the Scouts worked side-by-side in unison with several adults to complete the project at hand......

"building backpacks for people less fortunate, suffering from homelessness, substance use disorder and in crisis"

strong LEADERSHIP SKILLS were on display throughout the day

Many times during the day I witnessed several of the older Scouts being very patient and teaching some of the younger Scouts the proper way to pack the backpacks.

I was so very proud to see every one of the Scouts taking their time and placing each item in it's designated spot.

Troop 42 was EXCELLENT at their jobs.

The level of discipline that they exhibited was far beyond their young years.

THE ASSEMBLY LINE

131 filled backpacks

131 filled backpacks

With the open space, numerous tables and many volunteers, the assembly line worked to perfection.

After the hard work of packing backpacks was done, everyone was treated to some Domino's Pizza inside the church.

Thank you to Pastor Michelle Allen for the use of the parking lot and the church hall.

131 filled backpacks

131 filled backpacks

131 filled backpacks

Thanks to all of the Scouts from Troop 42, Scoutmaster McClintock and the adult volunteers, we were able to fill and make ready for distribution 131 backpacks to continue our 

Ricky, Inc. 

Winter 2021-2022 

Backpack Distribution Program.

2021 comes to an end as we reach 1,300 backpacks delivered

BEHAVIORAL health network

On Monday Dec. 20, 2021 we delivered 14 backpacks and 14 toys to the female residents of the Behavioral Health Network facility in Dorchester, MA. This great program (formerly know as Phoenix House) reunites mothers in recovery with their children.


BHN will distribute the backpacks and the toys on Christmas morning so the mothers and their children will have presents to open. We were given the ages of the children and Bernadette made sure to provide age-appropriate toys for each child.


Pictured above with Rich are Denise Jones, Clinical Director of the BHN program and current resident Cassandra who will be reuniting with her child for Christmas

ahope & paaths

Our second delivery on Monday was to the Boston Public Health Commissions programs in Boston at AHOPE & PAATHS.


We delivered at total of 80 backpacks, 2 cases of juice boxes and 2 cases of cookies to these programs who serve all walk-in clients and provide access to valuable services for people in crisis.


Each program received 25 men's backpacks, 15 women's backpacks and a case of juice and cookies each.


Pictured above with Bernadette & Rich are Tyesha Kincade LCSW from PAATHS & Sarah Macklin of AHOPE and her staff, in front of the items that will be given out to the many persons seeking relief from homelessness and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). 


Also included in these winter backpacks along with our standard winter hats, gloves, neck warmer, socks and scarfs are a fleece throw blanket and a thermal blanket in preparation for the upcoming cold temperatures.

 

women's recovery home receives 24 backpacks

new joelyn's home

On Wednesday December 15, 2021 three members of Ricky, Inc. delivered 24 fully loaded backpacks to the female residents of New Joelyn's Recovery Home for Women in Roxbury. We were invited by Program Director Walter Kikuchi to tour the facility and speak with the women about the mission of Ricky, Inc. and our programs. We spoke with the women for about 45 minutes, detailed Ricky's story and the importance of eliminating the stigma of addiction and identified it as an illness, Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Almost all of the women asked questions and shared the story of their journey into recovery. They were proud to partner with Ricky, Inc. and all of the residents were amazed by the contents and were very appreciative and thankful to receive their colorful backpacks.


New Joelyn's Home is a beautiful Victorian Home used as a state-of-the-art women's residential recovery program and is part of the Victory Programs. 


Pictured above with the members of New Joelyn's House are Ricky, Inc's President Rich Giacoppo and Secretary Lisa Fitzgibbon, who is seen here holding a picture of Ricky. Not pictured above is Ricky, Inc. Team Member Michael Fitzgibbon who is not only a valuable asset to our nonprofit organization but he acted as photographer for the evening and helped us deliver and give out the backpacks to the women.


To learn more about this valuable program, click on the link below;

  

https://www.vpi.org/victory/news-events/new-joelyns-home/


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