TESTIMONIALS 2019 & 2020

Boston Comfort Station 

Thank you for helping us arrange to bring out socks, underwear and masks for the men and women you support. Your staff was kind and helpful and we appreciate all you do. It is seventeen months today that we lost our beloved son Ricky. We miss him every second of everyday. We will plan to come out again in two weeks with hats and gloves. Again, thank you for your kindness.

Bernadette, Ricky's mum and Rich

Rickyinc.org

You’re very welcome. Your help is a true blessing. 

Our guests truly appreciated your blessings. 

You are welcome any time to come by and share your blessings. 

Joseph Phoenix

Boston Public Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Dear Ricky, Inc.,

On behalf of the West Roxbury-VA Boston HCS patients and staff, we would like to extend our appreciation to you for your donation of backpacks that contain toiletries, hats, scarves and resource materials to support people in need.

It is through the efforts of community partners like you that allow us to continue the quality of care and services that we seek to provide our deserving Veterans. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you again for future events.

Thank you for your continued support.

Jason V. Gray

Chief, Voluntary Service & Recreation Therapy

VA Boston Healthcare System

Hello Bernadette and Rich, 

The clients really loved and appreciated the back packs. Many of them loved the sunglasses as well. We look forward to hearing from you in the fall. 

Kayla gave me your son's picture. Once we get the wall set up we will send you some pictures so you are able to see it. 

Thank you for your donations over the years.

Maritza Castillo,MSW

Program Director 

Andrew House Boston 

Bay Cove Human Services 

“Thank you for keeping Ricky’s memory alive, for us and for our clients”
-Danny, AHOPE
 

“ You don’t even know what this bag means to me. I lost my bag and all of my belongings last night and didn’t know what I was going to do. Sometimes it feels like no one is on your side and then stuff like this happens and it just means a lot to know that people care.”
-AHOPE Client

“Rich and Bernadette,
Thank you so much for everything that you have done for our clients. I cannot express to you how much of an impact your love, care and compassion has for our folks. A parent’s love for their child is something that is truly unmatched in this world and through your work I know that Ricky was loved beyond measure. Sharing the love you hold for your son with others struggling with substance use is an act of grace and has a special power to reach the hearts of clients and of the AHOPE team.

The generous backpack donations were thoughtfully put together and are truly designed with AHOPE clients in mind. As COVID continues to have a massive destabilizing impact on our community, and many programs are not able to offer their usual services, many of our people are unable to get clothing, masks, hand sanitizer and hygiene products. The backpacks go a long way towards offering dignity and respect during a time when living on the street is even more difficult. What an incredible way to honor Ricky’s memory.”

-Clare, AHOPE

“Wow, thank you so much! I knew Ricky and he was always the nicest guy. Even if he was having a bad day he would share whatever he had with someone who was having a worse day. This bag is going to be a huge help for me. Thank you man, seriously.”
-AHOPE Client

If I haven’t told you guys yet, the RickyInc website is BEAUTIFUL. I continue to be blown away by your support and dedication.
 

All the best,
Clare

Clare Schmidt, MPH

Program Coordinator

AHOPE Harm Reduction Services

Boston Public Health Commission

(617)534-7424

Bernadette & Rich,

We have just one backpack left! They went over really well. 

Participants were thrilled to receive them and most of them were given them prior to going to treatment. We hear again and again that showing up to treatment with nothing due to being homeless in this area is a shaming experience. It’s the stigma of homelessness compounded with the stigma addiction. 

Especially not having the basics like clean socks and underwear and not being able to do laundry right away makes folks feel really self-conscious. Being able to bring a bag of your own belongings makes a huge difference and participants are so grateful.

Theresa Young, LCSW

Program Director 

PAATHS Program 

Bureau of Recovery Services

Boston Public Health Commission 

617.534.7730/855.494.4057

tyoung@bphc.org

  From Theresa, Program Director, PAATHS Program 

Hi Bernadette & Rich,

First and foremost I wanted to say that I can only imagine how difficult the anniversary of Ricky’s passing has been and I am thinking of you and your family. We certainly miss him at PAATHS and want to thank you for continuing his legacy in such a thoughtful and kind way by giving back to other people that are struggling. I think what you are including in the care packages is perfect. 

From Sarah, Program Director AHOPE 

I’m happy to hear from you guys and hope you both are staying safe and are healthy. I’m so happy and excited to hear you are moving ever closer to creating a non-profit in Ricky’s memory. The love and dedication you guys have for our folks and all the folks who are struggling with substance use and homelessness is a healing force in an otherwise crazy world.

From Maritza, Program Director Andrew House 

Hello Bernadette, We appreciate you and your husband for doing this in Honor of Ricky for the patients we serve. Yesterday had a huge impact on many of the patients and they were very much appreciative. 

We are in the process of redecorating the unit to make it more cozy for the patients and after you left yesterday the staff and I thought while we are redecorating we can have a wall dedicated to your son with his picture on it but wanted to see if that was ok with you first of course. 

From the director as a result from our first backpack delivery to PAATHS a DPH

program on 12/8/19.

"Hi Bernadette and Rich,

Just wanted to let you know we gave out all of the backpacks. Our people were extremely grateful. For some of them it made the difference of deciding to go to treatment because they had the toiletries they needed and for others it meant they got to clean up and have better self-esteem— and many knew Ricky. It also boosted the morale of the team to be able to provide these things.

Thought I would just share that and thank you again for your thoughtfulness and generosity."

From the director of AHOPE a DPH program 

"Hi Bernadette and Rich,

Thank YOU for spending the morning with us, and for putting together all of those backpacks for our folks. I know there were many people in line who knew Ricky well, and I can’t imagine what an exhausting, emotional toll that took on both of you. Please know that for days afterward, we were approached by people (who received backpacks and also those who didn’t) who wanted to express their amazement and gratitude for the love and kindness you showed folks. As someone who’s been doing this kind of work for close to 15 years, I can attest to the transformative power that love has on people who are so marginalized and stigmatized by society writ-large.

We’ve put up the keychains of Ricky’s photo in the drop in and in some of our offices. It’s a reminder of the love he showed others even in the midst of his own pain and suffering. We are grateful for you and for the love you’ve shown to the people we serve. Please stay in touch." 

We received a text from a young man that was a friend of Ricky’s describing how he felt when receiving a backpack while in treatment in honor of his friend. He shared how it made him cry that a total stranger cared enough about people they didn’t even know, and how it impacted him as he showed up at the program with nothing except the clothes he had on.

“I just want to tell you that was such an act of love and caring which is something a lot of us addicts have given up on ever feeling again.”

A letter we received from a grateful parent.

Hello, 

I would first like to say I am sorry for your loss. I am also a parent. I will not sit and pretend I know what you are going through. I can't even imagine. However these acts of kindness are so needed everyday. These things are not done enough. Your story has touched me in a big way. Thank you so very much. It is people like you that outshine these big corporations that are starting to profit off the misery, broken hearts and tears of people like you. My goal is to join your effort and spread the love and basic needs to our population of people. 

Thank you, 

Michael A.