Boston Chauffeur President Mark Kini is using this unplanned downtime to offer assistance to his community. On May 8, the Beverly, Mass.-based operator worked alongside the Everett Grace Food Pantry & Outreach to deliver an array of fresh and packaged food to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield Staff Member Kelly Zullo (left) and Boston Chauffeur President Mark Kini
“I’ve done a lot with the Boys & Girls Clubs over the years in different capacities, from running boot camps to donating to their annual gala,” says Kini. “And recently, we’ve been working with Everett Grace, doing up to 200 non-contact food deliveries a week for the elderly, COVID patients, and veterans.”
SUV packed with food courtesy of the Everett Grace Food Pantry & Outreach
Kini asked the food bank if they could help with the families who belong to the Boys & Girls Clubs, many of whom are struggling with food security while schools are shut down. Everett Grace provided an SUV full of “kid-friendly” food—pasta, fruit, fresh meat, and healthy snacks—which Kini delivered to the local headquarters.
“In my area, many families are embarrassed to seek help. We wanted to make it easy,” says Kini.
In addition to doing good work for his community, Kini says that food delivery has been a great way to keep his business active. With the arrival of the company’s PPP loan, this has been an ideal way to keep his chauffeurs working.
Boston Chauffeur delivering food to Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield
“This has really been ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul.’ Delivering these meals has uplifted many of our chauffeurs, including the ones who were initially hesitant to return to work,” says Kini.
Kini says that Boston Chauffeur will continue to do food delivery in the foreseeable future. In fact, a Senator reached out to him to perform the service in Chelsea, which is one of the areas in Massachusetts hardest hit by COVID-19.
Visit bostonchauffeur.com for more information.
[05.16.20]