Social services nonprofit Citizens Inn is hosting its annual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Boston Marriott Peabody from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. which will see the presentation of two awards.
In addition to giving the Corporate Partner of the Year Award to M&T Banks and the Volunteer of the Year Award to Shore Collaborative’s Community Based Day Supports Program, the event will feature the honored speaker Destinie, a former participant in the organization’s shelter program.
Also in attendance will be distinguished guest Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll who will offer a few words
“She’s going to share her story with people, so that people can hear directly from somebody who was in a shelter at one point with her child and is now in a position where they have a home with a cat and a dog, and her son has his own room,” said Citizens Inn Executive Director Melissa Gonzalez.
Besides giving Citizens Inn the opportunity to recognize the people and organizations who have made an impact on their mission of helping the hungry and homeless, the meeting also is about looking back on the past year and its accomplishments.
Gonzalez, who was named Executive Director in November, wants this event to be a time where everyone who has been committed to the nonprofit can connect and share the impact they’ve made together, as well as get ready for what is coming next.
“This work is never work that’s done alone. We do it in partnership with cities, with community members, with volunteers, with other organizations,” she said. “That’s really what the annual meeting is about, recognizing the way in which all of these relationships have enabled us to do the work that we do.”
Further in the future is the Citizens Inn Annual Gala of Giving taking place on Saturday, April 5th at the Danversport Yacht Club, an evening that will feature auctions that serve as the organization’s largest fundraising event.
Drawing in hundreds of people, the gala has always been a night for the whole community to gather and show their support for the fight against hunger and homelessness while also having a fun time.
As opposed to the annual meeting, Gonzalez doesn’t want the gala night to be centered around Citizens Inn, instead being a night that is all about helping other humans.
“Coming to our annual gala is a way that they can directly make it possible for their neighbors to take home a hot meal, take home groceries, for kids to really have a safe place to sleep,” Gonzalez said. “It’s really about neighbors standing up and showing up for their neighbors. And I think that’s beautiful.”
