Share This Article
Can you tell us a bit about Neighbor Brigade? How did it get started and what work does it do?
Our late founder, Pam Washek along with her dear friend Jean Seiden started the Wayland Angels back in 2003. At that point it was an informal group of neighbors, run off of a spreadsheet, helping people in crises by supporting them with daily tasks so they could focus on their healing. The two women were both facing their own crises of cancer and wanted to create that network of neighbors similar to those that helped drive their young children to activities, cooked dinners for them, and drove them to their treatments. They were well aware that there was a significant difference in how people healed, grieved or recovered from crises if they had that network of support and they also noticed that people wanted to help but often didn’t know how or who needed the help.
The idea spread and soon after we had the Sudbury Angels, the Bedford Angels, the Natick Angles and many more. Jean Seiden sadly passed in 2006 but Pam was determined to continue on with their idea. The Angels concept was formalized by Pam into an official nonprofit organization, Neighbor Brigade, in 2010 and since its inception has assisted over 30,000 clients in need. Sadly Pam Washek lost her battle with cancer in December of 2012 at which point her family along with the organization initiated Pam’s Run in her honor. Pam’s Run has become one of the Wayland areas largest outdoor events and we are now in our 12th year of hosting the 5k walk and run and 10k run to remember Pam and support the nonprofit she founded. Neighbor Brigade is currently in 24 Massachusetts towns.
2 — There’s a Sudbury Chapter of Neighbor Brigade. Can you tell us a bit about their work in and around Sudbury?
Neighbor Brigade currently supports anyone in a temporary crisis. Our pool of volunteers do grocery shopping, pharmacy runs, deliver food from local food pantries and school districts that are distributing food to the community, we provide gift cards for essential items not covered by the food pantries and SNAP, we cook homemade meals that can also cater to people with strict allergies or on specific medical diets, volunteer to shovel driveways, rake leaves, take out the trash, walk dogs and help with indoor and outdoor housework and we provide transportation to critical medical appointments.
We have a wonderful, committed group of volunteers in Sudbury who are actively engaged with the community.
Our services are free and open to anyone facing a temporary crisis.
We handled over 75 activities last year, that ranged from homemade food deliveries, to food pantry pick-up, to rides into a Boston hospital. We are grateful for the support within the community.
Our biggest need right now throughout our chapters is transportation.
3 — Given the work you do, we can only imagine you’ve been in overdrive since the Covid-19 pandemic. But what are you seeing now, in 2024, as recurring needs and challenges that are showing up in the area?
Rides to critical medical appointments is our biggest need.
4 — A lot of your work depends on volunteers. What is it like to volunteer for Neighbor Brigade? What’s involved and how would someone get started?
You can pick and choose how much you want to do. New activities are posted by the chapter leader in each town and a volunteer self selects to join. Read more here: https://www.neighborbrigade.org/volunteer
5 — Do you have any upcoming initiatives, events or projects that the community should know about?
We need a new chapter leader in Sudbury. We had a wonderful volunteer for many years who was well connected to the needs of the community. She left to go back to work and we have a big gap! Reach out to [email protected] if interested.
We also recently formed a Teen Advisory Council! The Teen Advisory Council provides teenagers an opportunity to learn about our mission to assist those experiencing a temporary crisis that is not financially based (illness, cancer, death in the family, mental health event, fire). Members of our TAC engage in direct and indirect service to those in need which allows them to develop leadership skills and gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of non-profit work. The goal is that participation in the program will foster a sense of compassion for our neighbors in-need as the students learn ways to positively influence their communities.
Reach out to the above email to learn more!
6 — If someone wanted to support Neighbor Brigade and the work you do locally, what are some of the best ways for them to do so?
There are many ways to help!
- Be a chapter volunteer: https://www.neighborbrigade.org/volunteer
- Join us as a chapter leader: https://www.neighborbrigade.org/volunteer
- Give now: https://neighborbrigade.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/neighborbrigade/donation.jsp
- Share our mission: tell your family, friends and neighbors about us and the vital work we are doing.
- Volunteer to be a board member: [email protected]
