Quick Bites: Fall 2023
Home Delivery: Bringing Groceries to Those in Need
Between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023, our FSC volunteer teams completed 984 home deliveries, providing 38,868 pounds of food to 87 households. One of our long-standing home delivery clients sums it up best, saying:
“I am so thankful to FSC for this program. Even though I can’t get out and shop, I am still able to get the groceries I need, and I especially love the home cooked meals and baked goods.”
2023 FSC Community Services Scholarship Awarded
The Falmouth Service Center is pleased to introduce Caroline Sullivan, the recipient of the $2,500 scholarship in honor of Brenda Swain. This scholarship was introduced in 2021 to recognize students who embody Brenda's values of leadership, inclusiveness, respect and compassion, and is awarded to a FHS senior going into human services or education related fields.
Caroline demonstrated these values through her four years of service as Class President, and other volunteer work.
We wish Caroline the very best as a first-year student at the University of Richmond.
Children Get a Fresh Start
268 children went back to school this year with new backpacks filled with school supplies. Our Fresh Start back-to-school program helps families ease children into their new school year with excitement and a ‘fresh start.’
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our annual back-to-school program.
“Eight Cousins Books partnered with FSC to offer a selection of books to Fresh Start families.”
A Warm Goodbye to Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Howard
Volunteers have always been the heart and soul of the Falmouth Service Center and a key component of what makes us so successful. When we moved into our building on Gifford Street in 2001, we had just 35 volunteers. By 2014, we had grown to the point where we could no longer operate with a 'volunteer' Volunteer Coordinator and we made the decision to hire our first Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Howard. That proved to be an excellent decision, as we have grown to over 650 volunteers in 2 locations, supporting multiple programs!
Sharon recently retired, after over 8 years at FSC, and will be missed. Her exceptional leadership, compassion, thoughtfulness and organizational skills have set us on a course for success in the future. We have accomplished so much more since she joined FSC, and together with our leadership team, she has helped to set the tone of warmth & kindness with staff, volunteers and clients.
“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.”
Farming Falmouth: Growing Food to Help End Hunger
We are incredibly grateful to have the support of Farming Falmouth, winners of a Martha's Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation Community Impact Grant. With the awarded funds, the support of Geoff Andrews and numerous volunteer gardeners, Farming Falmouth built a new service garden at Andrews Farm and donates the garden's bounty to FSC. Clients relish the array of freshly picked produce each week.
Running to Help Our Neighbors in Need: Falmouth Road Race
Team FSC fielded 26 runners this year, with 12 returning runners and 14 new runners. Our amazing 2023 team raised more than $35,000 to support our many clientcentered service programs.