Letter from Executive Director Jennifer Hanlon Wigon

Summer has arrived at Women’s Lunch Place. At the turn of the season, our guests shed their heavy boots and coats in favor of tennis shoes and ball caps. Hand warmers are swapped for sunscreen and sunglasses and the request for water rises. Your support allows us to be flexible as the seasons, and our guests’ needs, change.

As summer begins, the requests for bug spray and sun protection increase.

We have a guest named Trish* who is a rough sleeper. Bugs often crawl across the floor of her tent and keep her awake. Trish and her Advocate at WLP are working to find housing and create an individualized plan tailored to her specific needs. Your gifts can provide a guest like Trish with insect repellent and cool lightweight long pants which are essential for her to remain on her path to wellness.

When temperatures in Boston are at their highest, heat waves pose an additional risk for many of our guests.

For Tamika*, becoming overheated is extremely dangerous. Through our health care services, Tamika is now on daily medication to treat her chronic illness. However, the medication puts her at greater susceptibility for heatstroke. Your gift supplies women like Tamika with sun hats, personal fans, rain ponchos, water bottles, and most importantly an air-conditioned, safe place to rest during the day.

Late in summer, when the night air turns cool, many of our guests will need blankets and extra layers to keep warm.

One of our guests, Moriah*, is awaiting a housing voucher. Due to a traumatic experience at an overnight shelter, Moriah spends most of her nights sleeping outdoors during the fairer weather. Your gift provides women like Moriah with the necessities they need to survive as they work to address their past abuse. So many guests turn to WLP because we have a gender-specific environment free from the threat of abusers and predatory dealers.

Your gift today will enable Women’s Lunch Place to serve guests like Trish, Tamika, and Moriah in our unique, non-judgmental setting. You may also want to consider joining our Gardeners Circle, our monthly contribution society that supports our guests in every season, ensuring they have warm coats in the fall, gloves in the winter, and raincoats in the spring.

Thank you for your support and for standing beside our guests all year long.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hanlon Wigon
Executive Director
Women’s Lunch Place

P.S. Your donation to Women’s Lunch Place helps our vulnerable guests at a time when the mental health, housing, and food insecurity crises are converging. It could not be a more critical moment to focus your giving on the unique needs of women, and we are so grateful for your continued support of our programs and services.

*Trish, Tamika, and Moriah’s names have been changed to protect their privacy.