In This Issue…
- Message from the President
- Marking 50 Years, Mainstay Has Big Plans!
- One Mainstay Scholarship Story
- Mainstay Board of Directors Profile: Deborah Crossley
- Garden Bonanza in Norwood!
- Pauline’s Simple Sauce Recipe
- Holiday Spirit Rings True at ‘Wilson Wonderland’
- Senior Living on Bellingham Hill Celebrates Thanksgiving
- Staff Profile: Meet Mainstay’s Nutritional Consultant, Emily LaBombard
Message from the President
Dear Friends,
2025 marks Mainstay’s 50th Anniversary, and it’s hard to understate just how proud I am to be leading this dynamic organization as we embark on such an important milestone year.
In 1975, in response to the closure of psychiatric hospitals across Massachusetts, a group of mental health pioneers at the Mass Mental Health Center – a historic psychiatric hospital located in the Longwood medical area of Boston – established Mainstay with a mission to create community based supportive housing. Today we are an internationally accredited organization providing service enriched housing at 20 residential programs all around the state.
In 2025 we will be expanding our services to offer in home support to 700 formerly homeless individuals living in supportive housing owned by the Brockton-based nonprofit Father Bill’s & Mainspring. The goal of the Mainstay / Father Bills partnership is to ensure these vulnerable individuals do not return to the shelters or the street, and instead receive assistance, so they might thrive in their permanent homes in the community.
I invite you to learn all about our programs and mission, and to join us as a volunteer or a donor, as we embark on the next 50 years of service to the most vulnerable among us.
Sincerely,
Larry Oaks
President & CEO
Marking 50 Years, Mainstay Has Big Plans!
This year, Mainstay Supportive Housing and Home Care is celebrating half a century of caring for the elderly and people with various disabilities. We are proud of this long and rich history of support that has touched so many individuals and their families—and we are excited about our next 50 years.
One Mainstay Scholarship Story
Over the last year, Mainstay Supportive Housing and Home Care launched a new scholarship program. The “Supporting Success Scholarship Program” helps residents in our homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their monthly fees, and became a reality thanks to generous donors.
One of our families recently shared this story with us. It depicts exactly why this scholarship is important and we hope it will lead more people to consider donating to the fund.
“I want to thank you for awarding [my child] the scholarship so he could remain in Mainstay’s housing program. I am a single mom, and It would not have been financially possible without the scholarship. Your gift has made it possible for him to remain in Mainstay’s program. For that, I am deeply grateful, as it is making a real difference in his life and mine.
“My son is not typically the ‘social guy’, but little by little, he is coming out of his shell. With the help of the amazing house managers, he is learning important life skills and becoming more independent. This would never have been possible without Mainstay’s program, and we are very grateful that – thanks to the Supporting Success Scholarship Program – he does not have to move out, but can stay in the program and continue to grow.
“We are truly appreciative of Mainstay’s commitment to individuals living with development disabilities and your belief that everyone deserves to live life to its fullest. Again, thank you so much for your generosity.”
We look forward to sharing more “scholarship stories” with you in future editions of the Mainstay Compass.
Mainstay Board of Directors Profile: Deborah Crossley
Deborah Crossley calls herself a “semi-retired architect,” but she is still an extremely busy and involved woman. One of Mainstay Supportive Housing and Home Care’s newest board members, Crossley has a passion for housing and spent 14 years as a Newton City Councilor and chaired the Council’s Zoning and Planning committee for her last four years. She was recently confirmed as an Associate Member of the Newton Zoning Board of Appeals. She traces her interest in housing back to her college years.
Garden Bonanza in Norwood!
Tomatoes, herbs, okra and lettuce were among the garden bounty harvested by residents at Mainstay Supportive Homes this past summer and fall. The garden is a labor of love for Mainstay residents and staff at the homes ringing a cul-de-sac in Norwood. The veggies were used to prepare nightly meals shared by the residents, and were also used to create a pasta sauce that was canned to be enjoyed all winter long.
Pauline’s Simple Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- About 4 lbs of fresh tomatoes, chopped
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 2 olive oil
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Directions:
- Sauté Onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent (about 5-7 minutes).
- Add Garlic and Tomato Paste: Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Then, add the tomato paste and stir well. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Add the fresh tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The tomatoes should break down, and the sauce will thicken as it cooks.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Stir in the basil and oregano during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Blend (Optional): For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the pot or transfer the sauce to a blender. Blend to your desired consistency.
Holiday Spirit Rings True at ‘Wilson Wonderland’
An old-fashioned holiday sing-along held just days before Christmas helped get residents of three Mainstay homes in the holiday spirit. The cul-de-sac on Wilson Street was transformed into a “Wilson Wonderland” for this special night.
Residents donned Santa hats and other festive holiday attire and sang holiday classics such as Rudolph the “Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Oh, Christmas Tree,” and more. Of course, the lyrics of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” were changed to “Walking in a WILSON Wonderland” for the event.
Kiersten Khoury, Miss Massachusetts 2024, joined in the festivities, talking with residents and their families and singing along. Norwood Community Television was on scene to record the event for a TV program. DJ Services were provided by Big Bill Entertainment. Hot chocolate and holiday treats were enjoyed by all!
“We are so pleased that so many of our residents were able to enjoy this festive night,” said Family Liaison Paul Lemieux. “It helped get us all into the holiday spirit and fostered the community aspect of living together in a Mainstay home.”
Senior Living on Bellingham Hill Celebrates Thanksgiving
What is it like to cook Thanksgiving dinner for 60 people? Just ask Judith Lucien, Mainstay’s Resident Services Coordinator at Senior Living on Bellingham Hill in Chelsea. She will tell you her goal is to make sure the annual family-style holiday feast—held one week before Thanksgiving—is one to remember!
Turkey, ham and all the traditional fixings are served hot and fresh out of the oven. Centerpieces come from the wife of one of the building’s maintenance workers, and many staff members donate side dishes and desserts that are meaningful to their own families. The annual tradition on Bellingham Hill started when the development opened in 2000, and is a November tradition eagerly anticipated by all.
Staff Profile: Meet Mainstay’s Nutritional Consultant, Emily LaBombard
With over 60 mouths to feed across 6 houses, Emily LaBombard is one busy lady! Emily is the Nutritional Consultant for Mainstay Supportive Housing, which operates supportive homes for adults with intellectual and other disabilities in Malden, Newton and Norwood, Mass. We sat down with Emily recently to ask her about the challenges of finding nutritious foods to create meals our residents enjoy.
