WBZ Cares: Christmas In The City Relies On Volunteers Only
BOSTON (CBS) - Each month, WBZ Cares highlights a worthy non-profit organization, and tells the story of what that organization does for the community.
This month's organization, "Christmas in the City,"provides holiday magic and memories to Boston-area homeless and needy families.
The thing that makes most charities successful, is the work of many volunteers. "Christmas in the City" is unique is that it is entirely run by volunteers.
There are no paid staffers. Maureen Rodgers helps out with the website.
"It's a compelling charity when you see the looks on the kid's faces and the goodness of this organization," she said.
"It is all volunteer, which is extraordinary. On the first day of signups for volunteers this year, they had 2,500 people sign up on the new website."
Rodney Beldo has been volunteering for years. He says helping others, has helped him too.
"Me, myself being in a gang when I was young, father died early, umm no real supervision except my mom and she was working three jobs. So "Christmas in the City" has not just done wonders, for me, anybody that walks through these doors, you defiantly have a sense that it's not the same as everything else. And it's just far beyond anything I ever expected."
Volunteer Max Julien is from Haiti. She's seen the effect homelessness can have, first-hand.
"Because I am from a third world country, so I know what it is like to not have stuff. And back home, where I am from, you don't have this organization. You are on your own."
Julien says they try to help everyone in need.
"People always say to us, 'We treat them with dignity.' We are not here to judge what you have, who you are or what crisis in life you have."
For more information about "Christmas in the City," visit http://christmasinthecity.org/