In an unassuming white house on the side of Route 3A in Marshfield, doors are opening for homeless Massachusetts families.

Carolina Hill is a transitional homeless shelter for children and their caregivers whose goal is to support families and guide them into independent living. The center houses 17 families at a time and offers them a safe haven with access to nutritious meals, adult education, financial literacy training, housing search assistance, GED support, employment search assistance, and parenting classes. Families are placed there through state agencies, following any of a myriad of crises; fire, loss of employment, flood, domestic abuse, or other emergency situations that render the families without a home.

The shelter was opened in 1988 by Elliot Binder (his son is Carolina Hill’s Executive Director today), as a respite care facility for people with developmental disabilities. It soon changed its mission to cater specifically to homeless families.

I sat down with Cindy Lanctot, Program Director; Kerry Griffin, Adult Ed Coordinator; and Stephanie MacDonald, Program Coordinator, to better understand how Carolina Hill runs on a day to day basis:

“When a family arrives here, we try to identify ‘What are your barriers?’ and then we go from there, tailoring the support we offer to match their needs.” MacDonald explained. The shelter provides each family with their own room and as many of the comforts of home as they can supply. “Families come in all shapes and sizes, “ Lanctot says. “We have two parent families, single moms and children, single dads and children, grandparents raising their grandchildren, pregnant women…we see it all.” Families spend an average of 6-8 months at Carolina Hill before moving on to their new homes. “The goal is not to stay here. The goal is to support families in establishing self-sufficiency.”

On the morning I visited, a family had just left to sign the lease for their new apartment. Lanctot smiles and recalls, “The 4 year old boy was running all over the place, then looked at just said, ‘I’m happy!’ He was snuggling the pillow and the blanket we gave him when he arrived here and he’s taking that with him to his new home. I just think, THAT’S why we’re here. That’s why we do what we do.”

“Sometimes you don’t see the payoff.” Griffin admits. “Or sometimes you do see it years down the road. We’ve had adults come back who recall their time here as children. We had a 6’ tall construction worker come by who was here as a 5 year old boy. This Christmas a woman who spent time here when her kids were young, who now owns her own salon, donated a bunch of toys. You could see how happy it made her to be able to do that – be able to give back in that way.”

Why I like this:

Most of us would say we are busy. Our lives are a constant juggle of family, work, extra-curricular activities, and home management. If you have never experienced homelessness, it may be hard to truly imagine what our lives would look like without the foundations we take for granted. Imagine your life stripped of a job, a home, food, transportation, clothing and predictability. If basic securities were our most pressing need – Carolina Hill would be a beacon of hope.

What you can do:

Carolina Hill relies heavily on community donations. They will gladly take:

· NEW bedding: sheets, pillows and bedding

· NEW clothing: socks, underwear, and slippers

· NEW toiletries: soap, body wash, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, men’s or women’s deodorant, razors, hair and skin care for people of color, diapers (especially in larger sizes), wipes, formula, female hygiene products

· Gift cards: For supermarkets, big box stores (Walmart, Target, BJs, Kohl’s, Costco, etc), as well as Uber gift cards to offset the cost to get to/from job interviews and work.

“One common misconception is that Carolina Hill is hidden away.” Lanctot explains. “We aren’t. We welcome public involvement. We have schools, hockey clubs, Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, and CCD groups coming in to offer help with projects, run penny drives in their schools, all kinds of things. We love to see our families being embraced by the community.”

Total Body Wellness means doing (and recognizing) the things in life that make us feel healthy, happy, strong, confident and safe. The sun is shining and getting your daily dose of vitamin D (with your sunscreen on, of course!) and fresh air does come with a cautionary tale: tick and mosquito awareness. Keeping your body (and those you love) safe and protected is a big part of daily wellness. Here are a few tips from our local friends at FlyFoe to help keep you, your family, and your furry friends protected this spring and summer as you get outside and enjoy the warmer weather:

– Individuals can help prevent and stop mosquito & tick-borne disease transmission by using personal protective measures and by modifying their environment to make it harder for mosquitoes to get to them. Personal protective measures include wearing DEET or other effective mosquito and tick repellents when outside, wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed top shoes when mosquitoes and ticks are present.

– Modifying a person’s environment is a little more difficult, but it is necessary in the fight against mosquito and tick-borne disease. Examples are ensuring window screens are in good repair so that mosquitoes cannot fly into their home, finding mosquito habitat in their yard and eliminating that habitat (emptying a plastic bucket of water that has mosquito larvae in it) or protecting it (adding mosquito larvae-eating fish to an ornamental pond, water trough or ensuring that rainwater collection barrels have screens over the entrances to the barrel such that mosquitoes cannot get in or out). Homeowners can also apply a barrier and inner treatment in their yard so that adult mosquitoes and ticks trying to hide in shrubbery or out-buildings die when they encounter the treatment.

– Most homeowners don’t have the time or equipment to apply barrier treatments around their home and this is where FlyFoe can help. FlyFoe wants to keep you and your yard safe and free from pesky ticks and mosquitoes. Working with entomologists keeps FlyFoe ahead of the curve in controlling mosquitoes and ticks. The goal is to help educate the public as well. FlyFoe personnel can evaluate your yard and make recommendations to help homeowners fight nuisance and vector mosquitoes and ticks. FlyFoe can control larval and adult mosquitoes, and they have the personnel, equipment, supplies, and licenses to apply barrier and inner treatments for ticks.

If you are interested in learning more about how FlyFoe can help protect you, your family, and your pets from nuisance and mosquitoes and ticks, visit FlyFoe online. To read the full blog article written by Dr. William Sames (FlyFoe Entomologist), please click HERE.

It’s hard not to get excited (and hungry) when you listen to Irene Li talk about Mei Mei, the restaurant she co-owns with her brother Andrew and her sister, Margaret. I got a real “joy hit” as she explained the siblings’ commitment to using sustainable, locally-sourced food and treating employees fairly. Intrigued, I did a little research.  Because I am such a conscientious reporter, I also forced myself to eat at Mei Mei twice. It’s a hip little counter service place located in the heart of the BU campus and the Chinese American food is absolutely delicious. I discovered that, in addition to directing operations at the restaurant, writing for WBUR’s the Artery, and promoting Mei Mei’s new cookbook, Double Awesome, hot off the press this month (and already covered in flour and sesame oil in my kitchen), Irene is very active in her community and sits on the boards of several nonprofits. Among many other honors, she was named a James Beard award semifinalist last week. Irene was generous enough to grant me an interview, paraphrased below.

KS: I hope it’s fair to say that the heart of your business model is creating great food ethically. It’s abundantly clear that responsible sourcing and fair employment practices are just as important to Mei Mei as running a profitable business, and yet it is no secret that making ends meet in Boston’s complicated restaurant world is extremely tough. What have been some major challenges you have faced in honoring your values as Mei Mei has grown?

Irene: Reconciling local sourcing of ingredients with the demands of being a food service provider has been very challenging. Thirty percent of our business is catering; unlike running a restaurant, for catering, you need to know that you will receive exactly what you ordered, and sometimes you need to be able to get ingredients on short notice. So we had to start sourcing differently to accommodate this. We try to source locally at least 6 months out of the year. That was a mindset shift. As we grow, we are hoping to get more influence over our food supply chain so that we can source whatever we want, whenever we need it – Clover is a great example of a business that has been able to do this.

The other really significant challenge has been figuring out how to pay people what they are actually worth, and this is an ongoing project. Open Book Management has really helped us demonstrate the role of pay in the context of running a restaurant overall. We know that anyone who works for us might be able to make more money somewhere else. So we are always thinking about what else we can do to make employees want to choose to work here.

KS: This is a perfect segue to my next question. Can you tell me a bit more about what you are doing to promote transparency and fairness in an industry where employees are somewhat notoriously undervalued (and underpaid)? To what extent, if any, do you think this might contribute to the restaurant’s success? (Or is it just that you make the best dumplings I’ve ever tasted?)

Irene: For us, being a good workplace is a culmination of a lot of different things . One thing we really emphasize is making sure people are not working 60-70-80 hour weeks. We refuse to treat people as dispensable. This is not necessarily the standard in our industry. One thing we do is we try to honor time off and vacation requests. We understand our staff have other passions and interests, including career development and education. We work really hard to accommodate that. Scheduling is a big challenge all the time and that probably won’t ever change. And then pay is a huge factor. We also started offering health insurance for full time employees. Finally, with our business and management training, we are really trying to create opportunity and teach skills that people can take elsewhere. Employees appreciate the value in that.

We have really loyal staff. Attracting different employees – smart, motivated people who want to learn about business – is a measure of the success of these efforts. And it’s a self-fulfilling cycle: our training helps us attract smart and interesting people and they want to stay with us.

KS: I am so impressed by what you’re doing at the restaurant around sustainability and responsible sourcing of your ingredients. I read that you lived on a farm at some point. How did that experience inform Mei Mei’s practices?

Irene: I lived on a farm for five months in high school.  We took care of animals, cut down trees, harvested crops, romantic farm stuff. I was not super interested at that time in being a farmer, but it still shaped me. I have strong memories of feeling like being part of a very closed loop at that time: the person who picked the asparagus and the guy who collected the eggs were sitting across the table at dinner. This was very formative with respect to my thinking about how the process of creating food is a real community. Not to mention that the closer you are to your food source, the better it tastes. I really only “dabbled,“ but it taught me how difficult and unglamorous a farmer’s life is, giving me a real appreciation for the people who grow our food.

KS: Your new cookbook is fabulous – so beautifully written and photographed! What an undertaking on top of running the restaurant (and taking time to talk out to unknown bloggers). I know you sit on some boards and are otherwise very active in the nonprofit world as well. Do you have any advice for would-be social entrepreneurs out there who might want to pursue a similar business model but find what Mei Mei is doing simultaneously inspirational and overwhelming?

Irene: Well, the first thing I should say is that my sister really took on the cookbook; my number one bit of advice for people is if you meet or happen to be related to someone amazing who shares your values, grab them and keep them close. I’m very sentimental about relationships and have always prioritized personality over skill. When I meet a potential hire, I think: Are they excited? Do they seem smart? Not: “Do they know how to cook?” I think this is one reason our first managers stayed five years. They were people you could rely on who knew how to think and make the kind of choices we would make. This is a real transitional challenge for small business owners. How do you delegate and trust others? I have my siblings who I trust with my life which has given me the freedom to do all these other things. I definitely have a full life, but I still watch plenty of Netflix. I love true crime. I watched the entire Ted Bundy series the day it came out. But seriously, I make time for what’s important to me, and that does not feel like “work.” For example, I do a lot of nonprofit work and rather than that feeling like more being piled on, it really helps balance me and gives context to my regular work; going to a board meeting is a welcome break from what I’m doing at the restaurant, and, at the same time, being there is a reminder of the value of my day job because it allows me to contribute in this way. Find the stuff that brings balance and fills your tank. But certainly, I’m a manic crazy person too.

KS: For readers who are inspired by what you are doing, there are some obvious and extremely pleasant ways they can support you (see below). Are there any other ways readers can show their support for your business or, beyond that, the kinds of values and practices that Mei Mei promotes?

The number one thing I would say is be selective about the restaurants where you spend your money. For example, February was the Boston Black Restaurant Challenge. That’s the only time of year we are thinking about who owns the businesses that feed us but even that is a huge improvement. It’s hard to tell if a restaurant is really doing farm to table. I love when we get challenged about fair pay, organic, etc – I want that to be a conversation we are having all the time.

I’d also add there are a ton of community organizations that need support.  For me, finding projects that I identify with most has been very fulfilling.  Especially for people my age, forming a relationship with a community organization is really valuable. There is a lot to be said for the opportunity to connect with people outside of your workplace and come together around values and concern for public issues. Pick your organizations, find your people, and that is a huge investment in your community.

Keep the Joy Coming: What YOU Can Do

Sometimes the desire to give back feels overwhelming. Where do you start? What are the local charities? Which organizations are reputable? Which ones prefer monetary contributions and which ones desire hands-on involvement? Can I involve my children?

As a mom of three young children who are growing up in the wonderful, safe, and privileged bubble of the South Shore these questions regularly rattle around in my mind. So I decided to dig deep in exploring local charitable giving opportunities.

Some may speak to you more than others and my hope is that sharing what I learn will make the places that resonate with YOU more accessible. So, for all of the busy people who want and need a go-to list of ways to become local philanthropists, here’s the first installment of your Community Giving Cliffs Notes.

Who: Rolling Wave Foundation out of Scituate, run by Rich Bonanno

Philosophy: “The best deeds are done when no one is looking.”

Five years ago, a self-employed contractor and avid surfer in Scituate named Rich Bonanno found a broken bike on the side of the road next to a “FREE” sign. He took it home, fixed it up, and gave it to a neighborhood boy. The following day he found three more broken bikes, fixed them up and gave them to three more kids. The problem is, those three kids had a fourth friend who wanted a bike. Suddenly, his happenstance became his mission. Since then, Rich has taken in over 4,000 bikes, some from the dump or free on the side of the road, some donated used or new by people who’ve learned of his generosity and have stepped in to help.

Bonanno initially gave the bikes away to neighbors’ kids and kids in neighboring towns. He then expanded his giving to a needy Boys and Girls Club he heard about in Florida. “Bikes are freedom.” Bonanno explained. “Suddenly a kid has a way to head out and goof off with his friends – to be a kid.”

From there, his giving exploded across the country. Working with Brian McGeoghegan of Mohawk Rubber Sales and The Worthwhile Life Foundation in Hingham (who ships the donations at no cost), Bonanno starting regularly shipping bikes to impoverished areas of Florida, and to homeless men and women living in a shelter in Macon, Georgia who needed to see a way out. “For some of these homeless folks, you’re giving them a ride to work. That’s the ticket to a new life for these people.”

Bonanno further expanded his giving to disaster-stricken individuals; victims of Katrina in Louisiana, earthquake victims in Haiti, family crisis centers in Massachusetts and all across the country. “People living in the worst conditions right here in our country. I mean, you just think about how much we have and how little others have and it blows your mind.” Rich assesses the needs of these people on an individual basis and now, beyond bikes, he’s started shipping giant pallets of clothing, toys, household items, and even food.

He prefers to stay anonymous to the recipients of his kindness. All he asks in return is a picture. He posts these photos to Facebook and people get to see exactly where their donations end up. “I constantly say this, and I’m serious.” Bonanno says, “I don’t do this. WE do this. The community has been so generous. I ask for anything these people need, and this community just opens up and finds it. It’s why we can make a difference.”

Rich has recently formally named his organization the Rolling Wave Foundation, “which I just think is perfect for what we do.” “Obviously, there’s the beach connection because we’re on the water here but I asked people to help come up with our name and a local woman nailed it with our mission statement. She said, ‘A single wave is strong, yet the ocean a greater power.’”

Why I like this:

The donations given by Rolling Wave Foundation provide opportunity. Quite literally, a bike can take you places.

Most of us have extra stuff. Our children, especially, seem to outgrow their belongings before they’re out of the Amazon Prime box. Facebook yard sales are inundated with coats not needed and boots barely worn. We post them hoping that someone can USE these things. Now we know, Rich can find them a grateful new owner.

How you can help:

Get your circle involved! Rather than dreading spring cleaning, think of it as an opportunity to inspire our friends and model for our children the power we have to easily help others!

Grab a bottle of wine and offer to help your friend Marie Kondo her closet one evening (then bag up the items that may be someone ELSE’S joy!)

Ransack your playroom and the kids’ dresser drawers WITH them and then help them package up toys and clothes that are no longer needed or wanted.

Monetary donations for new bikes parts and supplies can be sent via Venmo: rolling-wave foundation

Donation items can be dropped at 109 Hollett St in Scituate (please contact Rich in advance to coordinate: text at 617-281-8372 or email r.bonanno@comcast.net):

Bikes and scooters, new or used, and helmets.

Clean, sorted, and folded (this saves Rich so much time!) clothing in all sizes.

Clean, intact toys with all parts (and new batteries if needed).

Clean home goods (rugs, curtains, lamps, pillows, blankets…extras that make a house feel like a home).

We’re excited to support the South Shore Stars 6th Annual Love of Literacy Luncheon on April 2nd at Alma Nove. South Shore Stars is a not-for-profit organization providing the highest quality early education and youth development programs for the communities south of Boston. This fundraiser supports Reading is So Exciting (RISE). RISE encourages family involvement in their preschooler’s critical development of reading skills, providing training and support to parents and caregivers and creating opportunities to engage in hands-on literacy activities. Please join us!

Meet Everybody Water, The Company that Refuses to Accept the Global Water Crisis

Megan Hayes and Kimberly Reilly are reimagining the “glass is half full” concept by launching a sustainable water company that also provides people in developing countries with a new quality of life — so that Everybody has Water.

No one is ready to believe that it’s 2019. We’re one year away from 2020, and while cars aren’t (quite yet) flying, it’s only assumed technology will continue evolving at a rapid pace. While modern advances enthrall us, we haven’t always jumped at the idea of addressing basic human needs. You may be thinking, “They’re necessities. What’s there to improve if everyone has them?” In actuality, not everyone has the privilege of living with their most basic need, water. Did you know ⅕ th of the population doesn’t have clean running water? Before meeting Everybody Water, neither did I.

Imagine waking up with no clean water. No clean water to brush your teeth, rinse your face or brew a hot cup of tea or coffee. No clean water to bathe or shower after a long day. No clean water to wash your dishes or clothes. No clean water to grow food, denying animals and family members nutrients and nourishment. The only option is to walk a far distance to a highly contaminated water source and spend all day, everyday, on foot, carrying heavy buckets for every drop of water you need. And, if you’re a female or an adolescent girl, you’re denied an education or employment, as the latter is replaced by the time required for your most basic physical dependency, water.

That vision may sound absurd to you. But this scenario is a glaring reality for 20% of the world. Regardless of the articles written, environmental pacts made, and conversations held, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Communities in developing countries like Honduras and Bangladesh, although plentiful in water sources, are seriously affected by their lack of infrastructure; 1 in 5 children under the age of five dying, and women and children unable to obtain an education or spend time with their families, all for water. The dire nature of these communities’ problems aren’t something I exaggerate for effect, but state to emphasize how essential convenient, clean water and sanitation is for communities to thrive, especially women and girls…and for all of our collective future .

When Megan and Kimberly created a brand of water in a carton to raise awareness and rally consumers behind solutions for the problem at hand, I felt the need to share their selfless mission. The female entrepreneurs are running a new kind of humanitarian water company, and funding sustainable clean water and sanitation projects— and the proof of concept is in the communities they serve. See these pics of Megan and Kimberly of Everybody Water, with Water1st International, traveling to La Virtud, Honduras, to tackle their first water project, supplying 350 people with clean water, toilets and showers for the first time in their lives. The project takes a sustainable approach, ensuring communities can self-sufficiently maintain them for generations to come. The project includes the purchase of land to protect the watershed to ensure the sustainability of the water source as well. Thanks to Everybody Water, we’re learning change through compassion.

Join Everybody Water’s mission to navigate a more sustainable world by supporting #waterwithaheart. Everybody Water’s 100% recyclable 16.9 oz cartons are now available for purchase at Bloomy Rind, Daily Press Juice Bar, Green Light Hingham, Seabird Coffee, Fresh Feast, Krigsman Yoga, Quench Juicery, Juice Barn Norwell, French Memories Duxbury and more.

Author: Carly Quellman
Carly Quellman is a freelance writer who contributes short and long-form articles for multiple publications, as well as creative and social copy. Carly’s work mainly focuses on women, plant-based food, culture, and travel. New to the New York scene, you can find the Southern-California native working out of any coffee shop or café with natural light and foliage, reminiscent of long summer days in Los Angeles. If Carly’s not writing, she’s taking a hot yoga class, attending a creative event, or finding an excuse to travel. (She insists on venturing somewhere new every three months.) To learn more about Carly and view her portfolio, visit her website at carlyquellman.com. For work-related inquiries, please contact Carly at quellmancarly@gmail.com.

The No Wake lifestyle is about being where you are most comfortable. Chill vibes and a drama free zone.

CK supports spreading these good vibes in our lives, with our friends and family, and within our community.

When you’re in the No Wake mindset, it’s clear to others they should ‘Make Waves Elsewhere’.

Shop No Wake trucker hats, winter hats and hoodies HERE.

CK took over the studio – and the airwaves – with South Shore Live (95.9fm WATD) on Monday, January 9, 2019 from 8:00-9:00pm – and we had a total blast. We dished on wellness, clean eating, mapquest and the elusive 2020…

Each week Stan, Alan and Erica bring you where to go, who to know, and what to do on the South Shore. From Quincy to the Cape, from Brockton to the beaches – if its happening on the south shore they’ll tell you about it!

They go behind the scenes into restaurants, to meet the chefs, to meet biz owners and to hear the stories from authors and long time residents.

To learn more about the hosts, the program, and to stream live, visit South Shore Live online. We were honored to go on air with Grammy award-winning Steve Smith just before his acoustic performance during the Bradford Distillery lounge hour at 9pm. Steve, often seen playing locally with our friend Aldous Collins, is heading out for more big time musical adventures on tour this year and we were lucky enough to catch a few new songs before he jets off around the world.

South Shore Live is brought to you by South Shore Magazine. Missed our CK interview on Monday? Don’t worry – we have a CD you can borrow!

Please Join the W3 for a Thanksgiving Food Drive

According to The South Shore Health Compass, more than four percent of the local population in Hingham
and Cohasset live under the poverty line.

For the second year, the Women Working with Women Group
(W3), a cooperative of local and experienced professional women, will be hosting a Thanksgiving food drive at the Hingham Community Center on Wednesday, November 14 from 7-9:00 pm to benefit the South Shore Support Services, Wellspring and local food banks.

The food drive welcomes donations of non-perishable food items such as canned hams, canned food, and paper products.
W3 will gather the donations into Thanksgiving baskets, add turkeys and deliver them to wanted
organizations.

As a thank you, W3 will be serving light fare and refreshments at the center.