2022 - The backpacks keep rolling out for people in need

On Monday January 10, 2022 Maine Street Outreach Coordinators Nicholas & Virginia Giacoppo delivered 12 backpacks to Milestone Recovery in Portland Maine.

Nick & Virginia are newlyweds and are two of Ricky, Inc's three Maine Street Outreach Coordinators.

On Saturday January 15, 2022 Ricky Inc. Maine Street Outreach Coordinator Christopher Giacoppo delivered backpacks to random homeless persons in Portland Maine. Chris took his loaded backpacks out on a very cold day and found homeless individuals on the street who were in need of help. Chris spoke with them and referred them to the Maine Resource Manual that is inside of every Ricky, Inc. backpack and that they could get more help just by using their new resource manual.

On Wednesday Jan. 26, 2022 Bernadette & Rich Giacoppo of Ricky, Inc delivered 45 backpacks to the Youth On Fire Program in Harvard Square. On hand to receive the backpacks were Site Coordinator Katherine Sloss-Hartman and her coworker. 

Y.O.F. is a great non-judgmental program welcoming homeless and street-involved youth and providing dozens of valuable services to the community

Also on Wednesday Jan. 26, 2022 Bernadette & Rich Giacoppo of Ricky, Inc delivered 45 backpacks to the Access Harm Reduction  Program in Central Square. 

The Access program is a great harm reduction organization that is a substance use disease health program and is associated with Fenway Health and the Aids Action Committee

Pictured above with the backpacks are Bernadette Giacoppo and Jessica Alpert - Harm Reduction Case Manager for Access.

On Friday Jan. 28, 2022 Ricky, Inc delivered 50 backpacks to the New England Center and Home For Veterans on Court Street in Boston near Government Center. 

We were greeted by Andrienne Kaplowitz, Community Engagement Officer and Nicholas Feeko, a Communications Associate. They wheeled 2 large plastic buckets to transport the backpacks to their storage area.

Pictured above is Bernadette, Adrienne and Rich

The NECHV is located on 17 Court Street in Boston's Government Center. It is difficult to park in this area, but Adrienne and Nicholas made sure that our backpack delivery would be smooth, and we were able to park at the front door in a coned-off area.

This location is good for homeless Veterans as it is central to Boston and is near bus and train stations.

Attendance at this Center is accounted for by using military style dog tags on a wooden America Flag.

Veterans using the Center can take advantage of many programs such as education, counseling, job opportunities and housing.

On Friday Jan. 28, 2022 Bernadette & Rich Giacoppo of Ricky, Inc. delivered 9 sleeping bags to AHOPE & PAATHS to distribute to their homeless clients. These sleeping bags were generously donated by the Norwood Boy Scout Troop 42. Some were brand new and others were in great shape.

We also donated dozens of pairs of brand new men's & women's underwear of various sizes to be distributed to the clients.

After receiving these items Sara Macklin stated "You guys are the Santa Claus of Harm Reduction"

We also made sure to present both organizations with our framed Ricky, Inc. Certificate Of Appreciation for their valuable service and dedication to providing services to those in need.

Receiving these certificates were 

Sara Macklin of AHOPE  

Eugenia Wright, Clinical Director of PAATHS

On Thursday February 10, 2022 Mary Guardabascio donated and delivered 12 handmade masks to Ricky, Inc. to be placed inside of our backpacks.

Mary made sure to represent at least 3 of Boston's Professional Sports teams; The Celtics, Patriots & Red Sox.

These beautiful masks are made of cotton and her new masks (future donations) will all have 100 % Polypropylene filters, which is water resistant and found in the highly regarded N95 masks.

Her mask making skills and her compassion for those in crisis are certainly traits to be admired

We thank Mary for her generosity, kindness and thoughtfulness in helping us with our mission to help those in need.

On Wednesday February 9, 2022 Ricky, Inc. was fortunate enough to receive a $200.00 gift card and a "Close to Our Heart" certificate from the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation.

Ricky, Inc. is proud to have been chosen by the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation as a recipient of this donation and to be recognized in our community with the wonderful certificate.

In the coming weeks we will be back at OSJL with our gift card and we will be shopping for materials to be placed inside of our backpacks for our Spring 2022 Backpack Distribution.

We are extremely thankful for this recognition and the donation that will help many persons in need of assistance.

The name of this certificate is exactly what everyone involved with Ricky, Inc feels about our mission and Ricky himself. 

We always keep him Close to Our Hearts.

The presentation was made in the Norwood, Ma. store under the supervision of Store Manager Hilario Galvao.

Pictured above are Ocean State Job Lot's Roxi & Becky with Ricky, Inc.'s President Rich Giacoppo accepting the gift card, certificate and holding a photo of Ricky.

On Tuesday February 22, 2022 Ricky, Inc delivered 17 loaded backpacks to AHOPE in Boston for immediate distribution to their walk-in clients. We were pleased to be met by the "always helpful and gracious" AHOPE staff members. This Boston Public Health Commission Program is an invaluable asset to all persons in crisis in this area. They provide many helpful services including our donated backpacks which greatly help the homeless, mentally ill and persons suffering from substance use disorder.

We also donated several dozen sets of handmade woolen winter hats, gloves, mittens and scarfs all personally made by Catholic Nun, Sister Katherine.

We were also honored to meet Christina (Teena) Hallett who will be another important contact for Ricky, Inc. with AHOPE.

Pictured above is Bernadette and the AHOPE Staff with the backpacks; Rich is holding some of the woolen hats and a scarf and Teena is pictured in the lower right of the photo kneeling behind the backpacks.

This puts Ricky, Inc.'s total backpack distribution since its inception in March of 2020 at 1,512 backpacks.

On Thursday February 24, 2022 we visited the Boston Engagement Center 112 R Southampton Street. We were able to meet with Joe Phoenix who is the Program Manager for Outreach Recovery Services for the Engagement Center. Joe provided us with a tour of the new facility, which is a beautiful new building and opened in December 2021.

We donated 1 case of hand warmers, 1 case of cookies, 1 case of juice boxes and 25 winter packets to the center which included a winter hat, gloves, scarf, hand warmers and a letter from Ricky, Inc. referring them to further helpful resources and contacts. 

While we were on our tour, we were able to distribute some the packets to the men & women inside the center, all of whom were very grateful to receive these items during this current cold weather season.

As we prepare for our 2022 Spring/Summer Backpack distribution program, it seems like we're running out of storage room. The garage is filled with numerous items that need to be separated, accounted for, and placed into the appropriate bins to be added to our assembly line.

"If" you have been thinking of making a donation to a worthwhile nonprofit, right now Ricky, Inc. has purchased materials for well over 200 backpacks and our current funding is getting low with more materials to purchase for this season.

Any amount is appreciated and is tax deductible. 

With deliveries coming every day, we are still short on the projected amount of backpacks and materials needed to be distributed this Spring/Summer season to those persons in crisis.

On Thursday April 21, 2022 Ricky, Inc visited the Behavioral Health Network Family Center in Dorchester. We delivered 9 laundry baskets filled with the same materials that are inside of our backpacks and more. Each basket was personalized to the female recipients and their children. The baskets contained an age appropriate toy for the age of the child we were given, towel, laundry detergent, a small stuffed animal and more.

The BHN program aims to successfully reunify mothers with their children and hope for a long-term family stabilization.

Great work is being done at BHN

The very appreciative BHN staff was on hand and posed with Bernadette in front of one of the laundry baskets.

Pictured (L-R)

Denise Jones Clinical Supervisor

Vernice Johnson Family Specialist

Crystal Sanborn Counselor

Bernadette Giacoppo Ricky, Inc.

Desiree Rivera-Decoo Director of Clinical & Operations

Elizabeth James Program Director

It is always gratifying when we visit these programs and donate these great, very much needed products. We have been to BHN a few times to make deliveries and also came many times before when it was the Phoenix House.

We look forward to returning to BHN and seeing our friendly staff during our next visit.  

On Saturday April 30, 2022 the next stage of the backpack assembly began with the all-female team spending hours doing the tedious work of packaging the hygiene products inside a sealed 1-gallon plastic bag. The male products are pictured on the left side of the table and the female products on the right. This photo was taken at the halfway point in the packing process and at the end of the day there were over 300 packages made by this incredible team of Ricky, Inc. volunteers. 

Pictured from L-R: Bernadette, Cathy, Bev & Sue.

At the beginning of the process, with an unopened bag to the left is Sue Barron, as she prepares to deposit the first item in her bag.

To the right foreground is one of Ricky's BFF's, Bev Rukauskas who is collecting additional items to fill her hygiene bag.

Working tirelessly in the background is Cathy Mahar who is also a dedicated Ricky, Inc. Board member.

On Sunday May 1, 2022, nine very close friends joined us to assemble and pack 268 backpacks for our Annual Spring/Summer Backpack Distribution. 

Seen here in the foreground, packing male backpacks, on the left is Dave Kuphal, a Ricky, Inc. volunteer and a longtime donor and contributor. Across from him is Jimmy Hurst seen placing the summer sunglasses into his backpack. Jim is also a Ricky, Inc. volunteer, donor & contributor. 

Making it a family event and packaging the female backpacks seen in the background on the left is Sue Kuphal and on the right is Joanne Hurst.

Thank you to Lisa Fitzgibbon (Director) Joanne Hurst, Chrissy Winslow, Deb McAuliffe, Sue Kuphal, David Kuphal, Michael Fitzgibbon, Jimmy Hurst, and Joe McAuliffe who filled the 268 male & female backpacks. 

We appreciate their kindness and friendship deeply and are grateful for all their help. This team of selfless volunteers worked for over 4 hours filling these bags for our cause. These backpacks will be distributed this Spring and early Summer to those facing homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health disorders. 

So much thoughtfulness and so much love is being shown to us during these events from our & Ricky's friends.

Always in the name of our beautiful boy Ricky whom we miss and love every second of every day. 

On Wednesday May 11, 2022, Ricky's Mom & Dad delivered 25 backpacks to the residential clients of Andrew House Boston, 

We also delivered men's underwear, juice boxes, snacks and books for the Ricky Reading Room.

Today was the third year of Ricky's passing and we were graciously allowed to post a picture frame reminding all who use this room that it was dedicated in Ricky's name on Dec. 9, 2020 by Maritza Castillo.

Upon that dedication day, we donated a 6' bookshelf, numerous books and a couple of puzzles. Upon every return visit we always donate more books, puzzles and some framed blank artist canvasses for the clients to draw/paint on.

Thank you very much to the dedicated staff at Andrew House (both past & present) for the amazing work that you do to help these men in their recovery.

God Bless 

On Thursday June 9, 2022 Ricky, Inc. delivered 35 backpacks to the staff of Youth On Fire in Harvard Square.

YOF is a program of the Aids Action Committee and is a drop-in center for homeless and street involved youth. Young people in need can receive on-site behavioral health and medical care along with hot meals, shower, laundry and many more valuable resources that we all take for granted every day.

We have been to YOF many times and are always greeted by the friendly and appreciative staff that distribute the Ricky, Inc backpacks as well as the Trevor Project booklets that we provided them with.

Pictured L-R; Katherine Sloss-Hartman YOF Site Coordinator, Summer Interns Giovanni & Ed next to Bernadette.

Also on Thursday June 9, 2022, Ricky, Inc. delivered 35 backpacks to the Access Drug User Health Program in Central Square. 

Access is part of Fenway Health Systems and the Aids Action Committee and provides numerous resources for its clients, including harm reduction, overdose prevention, medical attention by an on-site doctor and HIV/HCV/STI testing and much more.

We were given a tour of the facility by Brian who is an Outreach Coordinator and Overdose Aftercare Specialist. We were extremely impressed with the amount of services that they provide, the medical care space and the incredible staff.

Pictured above L-R; Mars, Bryan, Rich, Bernadette, Brian, Sonya and Jive (holding the stuffed Teddy Bear).