Mother's Day on the Ave

This Sunday, Berk, Davy, Jack, Jeff, Jennifer, and Ronnie were joined by three wonderful new volunteers: Alix, Ellie, and Shifra. We were so grateful to have them with us, bringing fresh energy and heartfelt kindness to our friends on the streets.

Mother’s Day can be a complicated and emotional time on Mass Ave. Many women we meet are separated from their children, and that pain runs deep. At Boston Recovery Foundation, we approach this day with care and compassion. We strive to honor mothers gently and respectfully—never assuming, but always listening.

This year, we delivered beautiful donated bouquets to Rosie's Place, a women’s shelter in Boston. On the street, we discreetly offered a few gift bags to mothers who brought up the holiday themselves. Their reactions were deeply moving; small gestures can mean so much when they're rooted in love and respect.

Throughout the day, we connected with over 100 people. The strawberries and grapes were a hit, but it was the conversations that truly nourished everyone. We listened to stories of motherhood—some joyful, others heart-wrenching—as well as stories of immigration, relapse, and hope for better days in the future.

We had a special Mother’s Day blessing today! Ellie and Davy baked a whopping 200 cookies, and they were absolutely scrumptious! The volunteers were put to the test today because it was hard to resist munching on all those delicious treats before we could share them on the streets. Homemade cookies have this magical way of making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and they definitely light up people’s days.

We also celebrated Ronnie starting a new job tomorrow! Ronnie has been an absolute rockstar on our team, and he’s got this incredible gift for speaking the language of healing, hope, and resilience. He’s the embodiment of recovery and the reason behind our work.

This was also the last week that we'll have Jack with us until the fall. The warmth and love Jack brings has been an inspiration for our whole team. He has built strong relationships on the Ave, including helping people get to treatment. We wish him the best on his summer internship in London!

A huge shoutout to Jeff and Jennifer for getting lunch for all the volunteers. Thanks to the incredible people who choose to make the world a better place, one sandwich at a time, one strawberry at a time, and one smile at a time.

Just last week, a man named Mikey opened up to us on the Ave. At first, he didn’t want to stop and talk, but the warmth of our volunteers drew him in. On Wednesday, Mikey reached out, ready to take a step forward. We were able to place him in a detox program in Falmouth, where he's now receiving treatment.

We hope the connections we made this Sunday lead others to feel the same spark of worthiness and possibility. Each conversation, each act of kindness, can be a step toward healing.