Grantee Partner Spotlight:
Mercy Meals & More
Before the sun comes up every morning, volunteers at Mercy Meals & More are busy preparing pastries, cereal, coffee, and juice for up to 75 of their New Bedford neighbors. And while most of us are hitting the snooze button, they’re laying out a hot breakfast buffet with home fries and eggs — all of which is cleaned up and ready for the next day before normal working hours have even begun.
Behind the scenes is Program Director David Motta, who rises at 4:00 a.m. to lead this all-volunteer crew in serving more than 22,000 meals a year, six days a week, to South Coast low-income and homeless men, women, and children.
“They’re the best volunteers in the world,” David says, referring not only to those who prepare the food, but also the many others who donate items, serve on the board, and raise the $80,000 a year required to keep the hotcakes coming. David, a part-time employee, is the only paid staff member at Mercy Meals & More (MMM). The rest of the planning, organizing, cooking, and cleaning is managed by volunteers who collectively donate over 7,000 hours a year.
“Several of us come from the same neighborhood,” says Board Treasurer and Secretary Chad Freitas. “Although the organization was founded through the Pilgrim United Church of Christ (PUCC), our current board was formed by recruiting friends and family. We’ve been working to recruit board members from other walks of life, but it’s a long, slow process. We’ve essentially been rebuilding the organization since 2020, with a focus on sustainability. Few of us have nonprofit experience, so we’ve been getting guidance from the Lenny Zakim Fund and others, and learning as we go.”
Chad and his fellow board members have had to be quick learners in the face of recent challenges. Food and housing insecurity are at a high right now, and extreme rent hikes of $500 are not uncommon, leaving many MMM patrons in crisis, particularly some of those dependent upon disability or EBT/SNAP benefits. This past year, they had to replace an oven, griddle, freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, and flooring in the downtown building they use which is owned by PUCC. And even a seemingly small setback, such as the recent egg shortage caused by avian flu, becomes dire when your meal plan calls for 90 dozen eggs a week.
MMM has weathered it all while managing to extend their reach at the same time. In the past year, they saw a 37 percent increase in new donors, 24 percent increase in volunteer hours, and 33 percent increase in their budget. 2023 was the strongest year ever for donations in terms of dollars, number of donors, and number of donations. Chad credits the creative, can-do attitude of board members, who like to host themed fundraisers, such as their spring comedy show, and who continually seek out other opportunities, like volunteering at road races and other events that will donate money for each hour they work.
The road races have proven to be a great way to get the word out in the community, too. Last year, at the Pilgrimman Triathlon, Chad and David met Kolby Emken, who was so enthusiastic about MMM’s mission that he decided to run for 12 hours in one day, asking friends to donate for each mile he ran. An astonishing 52 miles later, Kolby had raised over $5,300 to help MMM meet that year’s budget.
“Each supporter and volunteer adds their own talents and inspiration to our team,” says David. “For example, longtime volunteer Angie Vargas has a knack for finding and befriending homeless people in encampments in the woods and around the city. Once she’s located them, she brings them clothes and plates of food. And of course she invites them to come to Mercy Meals & More for a hearty breakfast if they can — and many do.”
Meanwhile, David is often out picking up donations, like the nine bags of sneakers recently donated from Dr. Doug Fogg, the retired general surgeon who has run MMM’s successful Sole Foot Clinic for more than a decade. The clinic is open each Thursday, and volunteer nursing students from UMass Dartmouth check patrons’ vital signs in addition to providing a warm foot bath and comprehensive foot care, plus an offer of fresh socks and a gently worn pair of shoes to take with them.
“We meet the needs of this community — health care, food, and clothing — in a welcoming environment where people are treated with dignity and respect,” says Chad. “But we can’t do anything without our compassionate volunteers, who do everything. They’re the heart of the Mercy Meals & More mission.”
Current needs at Mercy Meals & More include donations of food, supplies, books, and clothing as well as dedicated volunteers and general funds. MMM is also seeking collaborative South Coast-area organizations or programs, such as vaccination clinics, veterans’ services, and homeless service providers, who might want to partner to better serve the community. If you can help, please contact David Motta at david.motta@mercymealsandmore.com or (508) 264-8183.