Spring Appeal: Standing With the Guests of Women's Lunch Place
This past winter, Boston experienced a cold weather emergency. For the first time in over 60 years, the City of Boston recorded negative double-digit temperatures. Mayor Wu warned residents to take precautions, protect themselves, and check in on the elderly and those experiencing homelessness.
During this cold snap, many homeless women came to Women’s Lunch Place for a safe place to warm up after enduring the frigid temperatures on the coldest night of the year. Immediately, Direct Care staff and Advocates noticed that two of our guests, Ricki* and Tia*, were suffering from frostbite on their hands. Acting quickly, we worked together to treat the affected areas.
Having reviewed frostbite protocols the day prior, our team followed a regimen of soaking Ricki and Tia’s hands in warm water for 30 minutes and then using cotton balls to dry them off, carefully attending to the gaps between their fingers. The frostbite began to subside, but our guests were still in pain.
Because of negative experiences in the past, Ricki and Tia were untrusting of hospitals and scared to go to the emergency room alone. A Women’s Lunch Place Advocate accompanied each to a local hospital where they could get the care that they needed. Hours passed, but our Advocates remained at the guests’ sides until their release. A nurse mentioned that, had it not been for the quick action of our team, Ricki and Tia could have experienced long-lasting, even permanent effects from frostbite.
For the past 40 years, support from our community has allowed Women’s Lunch Place to focus on designing our services to address the unique needs of women. Decades of experience and available research have shown us that:
The predominant entry point to homelessness for women is violence.
Among those living in poverty, 70% are women and children yet only 1.6% of philanthropic giving goes toward nonprofits helping women and girls.
Women struggling with homelessness are far more likely to be sexually assaulted and trafficked.
Homeless women are also more likely to have diagnosed mental health issues, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and adverse childhood trauma.
At Women’s Lunch Place, we offer programming that improves women’s physical and mental health, while also helping our guests find dignified housing. Every year, gifts from donors like you help us remain flexible so we can address the ever-changing needs of the vulnerable women who walk through our door.
Please renew your support with a gift today. Your donation will allow guests like Ricki and Tia to find the support and care they need at Women’s Lunch Place.
On behalf of the women we serve, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanlon Wigon
Executive Director
P.S. Your donation will provide a woman in need with nutritious, healthy meals, hot showers, laundry, quality healthcare, and an individualized plan for success. You can make an immediate difference in a woman’s life with a gift to Women’s Lunch Place today.