This Giving Tuesday, celebrate what we made possible in 2026 and help us build toward 2027.
Opportunity can begin with a simple moment: a child trying something new, a job seeker learning a useful tool, or a volunteer showing up for a neighbor. Throughout 2026, WeReach brought people together around those moments.Through education, workforce development, community service, and partnerships, we continued evolving to meet the needs of the people we serve.
This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to see the full picture of that work and become part of what comes next.
Community in Action: Giving Back at Home and Abroad
Mobilizing Volunteers for Our 9/11 Grant Initiative
Through our 9/11 grant initiative, more than 100 volunteers helped assemble over 80 kits containing school supplies,food, and emergency essentials for children, young people, and families. We also created more than 475 kindness cards,sharing messages of encouragement and care.
These efforts reflected the strength of a community willing to give its time and resources. Donations from Wegmans,alongside support from volunteers and community partners, contributed to our work.
Extending Support Beyond Massachusetts
Our commitment to helping others also extended beyond Massachusetts through support for people in Colombia following an earthquake.
Helping Young People Discover Their Abilities
Cultivating Creativity Through the Youth Cooking Program
More than 10 children participated in our free Youth Cooking Program, sponsored by WeReach and hosted at Sunset Cantina. Through hands-on experiences in a real kitchen, participants explored cooking, culture, and practical life skills.The program created space for discovery, creativity, and connection.
Building Future-Ready Skills with AI and Digital Literacy
Our commitment to young people also included AI and digital skills programming supported by GTIA. With no prior technical background required, participants could explore technology and develop tools relevant to the workplace.
Fostering Environmental Leadership with East Boston’s Green Leaders
A Walmart Spark Good Local Grant also supported East Boston’s Green Leaders, extending our commitment to community engagement and environmental leadership.
Supporting a New Chapter Through Employment
For people returning to the community after incarceration, preparing for employment can be an important step forward.
The Get Back to Work Reentry Bootcamp
Our Get Back to Work Reentry Bootcamp introduced practical AI tools for résumés, cover letters, job applications, online job searches, and interview preparation, alongside guidance and coaching. The bootcamp was supported by the City of Boston’s FY2026 Returning Citizens Support Grant, awarded in 2025 for implementation in 2026.
Launching the Pet Grooming Workforce Pathway
Our new Pet Grooming Workforce Pathway builds on this commitment. Designed to serve 24 returning citizens, the program will connect practical grooming and animal care training with job readiness, employer connections, and ongoing support. Partners include the Essex County Sheriff’s Department/STAR, The Doggy Port, and Happy Tails.
Building a Community Hub for 2027
The Vision Behind the WeReach Food Access & Community Hub
One of our most significant steps toward the future is the planned WeReach Food Access & Community Hub in East Boston. Supported by an award through the Massachusetts Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, the hub will strengthen access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food.
Its vision brings together:
- Community kitchen access and cooking programs.
- Food preparation, storage, and partner-based distribution.
- Workforce training and food entrepreneurship.
- Youth, family, and community programming.
We envision a space where a young person discovers a skill, a food entrepreneur develops an idea, and neighbors come together to learn and connect.
The Support Behind Our Mission
WeReach secured more than $650,000 in combined grant awards for the future food access hub and the pet grooming workforce pathway. Additional support for our work included grants from the East Boston Foundation, Eastern Bank, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s Community Partnership Program, Walmart Spark Good, GTIA, and our 9/11 grant initiative.
Together with the City of Boston, Wegmans, program partners, volunteers, and individual supporters, these organizations helped advance our mission. Each contribution plays a role in creating opportunities for people and communities to grow.
Help Shape Our Next Chapter
Our work continues into 2027, and we invite you to be part of it. A Giving Tuesday donation supports WeReach’s mission and the work ahead. A monthly gift provides consistent support that helps us plan and sustain that work throughout the year.
This is WeReach. This is what we can build together.
