A welcome departure from the standard gala fare of vulcanized chicken, the Spaghetti Dinner for the Women’s Lunch Place was held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza and featured a lively cocktail party with a massive silent auction in the Venetian Room, followed by a delicious, family-style Italian dinner in the Grand Ballroom.
Tatiana Stridh has an accent, but with dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, she feels right at home in Boston. The 51-year-old fled Russia to the U.S. but fell on hard times in 2024.
For Karyn M.,clutching the keys to her own room for the first time brought on a strange combination of grief over her past and gratitude for what’s next.
Since being evicted from her apartment in July 2024, the 57-year-old had spent months living in Boston shelters. She had been trying to find some semblance of the stability she had beforeher life began to unravel — before she losther job, her housing, and much of her belongings.
The first time Schaida Colon walked into her new two-bedroom apartment in Jamaica Plain in early December, she felt emotional. After five years of homelessness and living in shelters, the 23-year-old and her 9-month-old son finally have a place to call their own.
Since the 1980's, demand has been growing for the comprehensive assistance that Women's Lunch Place on Newbury Street in Boston offers women experiencing homelessness. As more and more women find themselves without a place to call home, the day shelter opens its doors to offer a warm meal, clean clothes, a fresh shower, and much more.
