I've been working with City Mission Society for several months as the Seminarian in the City. This program has provided me with many valuable, hands-on, practical learning experiences. CMS does incredible work within the city of Boston with projects that benefit the community as well as the volunteers. It is inspiring to be working with such passionate people committed to empowering others and transforming lives! I know that the skills and experiences I am gaining here will continue to help me throughout my career.
I have been serving on the Board of Directors for over a year now. The staff and volunteers are both extremely dedicated and passionate about the communities CMS serves! I feel very honored to have the opportunity to work with CMS and I look forward to seeing it grows as the organization moves toward its 200th anniversary!
I started volunteering at City Mission Society eight years ago. I kept coming back because I loved the people there, both co-workers and the people we serve. I feel that I am part of a dedicated group of people who exemplify openness, understanding, acceptance and compassion. I admire them as adjunct angels, here on earth to make the world a better place. I am honored that they have welcomed me in. They inspire me.,
I've done everything from licking and stamping envelopes, to cleaning out the supply closet, archiving original records related to CMS going back to 1816, making picture boards for public events, framing and arranging art donated by caring artists, arranging for donated food from local restaurants for a reception of 70 people, buying hundreds of coats for our annual coat drive, now helping to organize our annual Christmas Shop serving more that 4,000 low income and homeless people, families living in shelters, low income elderly folks.
When archiving, I discovered that City Mission Society has changed its focus, but not its mission, over time, to address the changing needs of immigrant groups and the various differing reasons for poverty, from a sagging economy, to decentralized mental health services, substance abuse, history of incarceration, institutionalized racism, regardless of race or belief system. I understand the world we live in more clearly now that ever before in my 66 years.
CMS has been a quiet presence in the city of Boston for close to 200 years. Hopefully it will be around until its mission becomes obsolete.
I have been volunteering at City Mission Society of Boston for a year, and will continue to do so. City Mission Society has a very dedicated staff and makes a positive impact on the community.
I run a teen summer service-learning program at Brandeis University. For the past 5 years we have worked with City Mission Society and Carl McDonald in various capacities. CMS offers my teens a unique opportunity for real encounter and dialogue with people who have experienced homelessness. The program with CMS is always the most highly-rated part of our summer program.
It is obvious that a ton of good is accomplished through the various ways in which CMS reaches out to those in need. In addition, by bringing young people into direct contact with poverty and homelessness, they are doing crucial work in spreading awareness and unity, not just in the Boston community, but in communities nationwide.
Participating in the MLK Day of Service is always inspiring. The coat drive provides wonderful support to the community.
I've been volunteering with City Mission's Coat Boston event for a few years now. It's amazing to experience the results of such a dedicated and hard working organization. When I see the smile on a child's face after receiving a brand new winter coat -- or the relief on Mom's face because her child will be able to go to school in warmth -- it makes me so happy to be able to help and be part of this team -- and that's what keeps me coming back!
I am the volunteer coordinator at Boston Rescue Mission and can't express enough how grateful we are to have City Mission Society as our community partner to help serve over 2,000 meals a week to those in need. We could not do it without the volunteers and City Mission has provided us with many groups from all over the country and state throughout the years. Thank you Carl for all your help and efforts to serve thousands of people in our city.
I'm glad to be serving a second term on the board of City Mission Society of Boston. I recently had the chance to hear the testimonies of graduates of A Lift Up, on of CMS's programs. These women spoke to the support they received, and to the sense of empowerment they have toward creating a better future for their families. I've also had the privilege to volunteer for several years at the Christmas Shops. Every year I'm reminded of how broad CMS's reach is within Boston. Truly, June, Paul, Carl and the entire staff are compassionate, creative and well networked. Boston is blessed by City Mission Society!
For the past 6 or 7 years our church has been involved with volunteering with City Mission. Our confirmation goes into the city each year for a weekend to both volunteer and to also be educated to the plight of the homeless. It has been a life changing experience for many of our youth as they experience faith in action. Our youth group has also volunteered at the Christmas Shop sponsored by City Mission. Carl McDonald has be an incredible link as Director of Boston Urban Outreach. He has come to our church several times to share the work of City Mission as well as provide hands on activities, even for adults, which helped us to better understand homelessness and poverty. Recently about 25 people from our church, adults and older youth, spent a day distributing sandwiches and socks on the Common, built a path through a garden at a school in Dorchester, and prepared and served a community meal at Pilgrim Church in Dorchester. It has had an amazing impact on our church as people returned and shared their experiences. Mission and outreach has become real for us in this small central Massachusetts town thanks to the connection with City Mission and the leadership of Carl McDonald.
I have been privileged to work with the dedicated and tireless staff of City Mission Society for over six years. I have personally witnessed the joy and hope that they bring to the needy in the Boston area. Their good works inspire me to continue supporting this exceptional organization.
I've worked with CITY MISSION SOCIETY OF BOSTON for months. Overall, it's a fantastic charity which helps prevent homeless as well as encourages lots of potential teenagers who just need some helps and warmth. CMS Boston holds meaningful events on MKL Day and Xmas for years. It has good reputations and great objectives. If you have time, come and see. You'll know what CMS is and you'll love it.
BTW, all the employees I met there are so nice :)
City Mission of Boston has developed, coordinated and faciliated meaningful, large scale volunteer opportunities for People to People Ambassador Programs since 2010. They understand and are committed to making the projects meaningful and engaging for the youth participants. I value working with them because they're great at matching our students with impactful projects that give the students a real sense of accomplishment and new-found awareness.
We had a team from City Mission Society come spend a day at Pilgrim Congregational Church in North Weymouth, Masschusetts. The whole experience was terrific!
Carl McDonald was very responsive to Pilgrim's request for assistance and he planned the event with one of our Trustees. Carl was very clear about what we needed to provide (and in fact, helped to obtain some of the materials that we didn't have).
The mission team arrived on time and worked hard; cleaning pews, stocking our pew backs with visitor and business cards, painting outdoor rails, and yellow lines on steps. We're a growing church and to have this assistance was truly a blessing!
The group was wonderful. The two trustees who oversaw the work were so impressed with the volunteers' work ethic that they said they would be glad to work with City Mission Society any time!
Being a volunteer for a few months, I can honestly say that City Mission has already provided me with useful skill-sets that will help me as an administrator in the near future. The staff dynamic is well rounded in being friendly, professional, warm, and well-informed about their work. Everyone at City Mission is dedicated to the organizations' mission and I am glad that I can help them serve the Greater Boston area.
I have been a volunteer at City Mission for a few months now and have had a fabulous experience here. Each employee is very experienced, knowledgable and willing to do whatever's needed to make a difference in the community. This organization is very special as it is the oldest organization in New England. The staff and other volunteers has encouraged me that there are good people in the world and that I can help make a difference.