Help right next door in the Neighbor Brigade

By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer

Northborough/Southborough – The Neighbor Brigade of Northborough and Southborough is a nonprofit organization that offers services including food shopping, meal delivery, car pooling, running errands and light housework or yard work to families who find themselves unable to complete these tasks themselves due to a short-term crisis, such as an illness, a death in the family, or an accident.

Under the guidance of chapter leaders Judy Boyle and Mary Leach, both of Northborough, the Neighbor Brigade of Northborough and Southborough offers a ready-made network of support where neighbors are quickly mobilized to help other neighbors during times of trouble. Fifty-six volunteers stand at the ready, eager to offer their services.

“The most rewarding part of Neighbor Brigade is seeing smiles on our recipients” faces,” said Leach, who added, “our small gesture of bringing a meal or assisting with some groceries is so significant to them.”

Neighbor Brigade was started in 2010 by Leach's twin sister, Pam Washek (Neighbor Brigade executive director), and Pam's very close friend Jean Seiden. Both women were dealing with their own cancer diagnosis while parenting young children at the time. The outpouring of support they received from friends and neighbors was staggering and led them to launch the nonprofit Neighbor Brigade. Currently, the organization has over 2,500 volunteers in Massachusetts.

If you would like to become a volunteer or if you become aware of a need in the community, you may call the Northborough Family & Youth Services Dept. at 508-393-5020 or visit the website at www.neighborbrigade.org.

 

There are currently no chapters in Hudson, Marlborough, Westborough or Shrewsbury, but anyone interested in starting one is welcome to visit the website for information.