Community Service Programs

Paine Senior Services helps older Cambridge Residents manage safely at home. The agency is over 100 years old and is named after its founder, Jeannie Warren Paine, a member of First Parish. Members or friends of First Parish may serve on the Board of Directors, which also includes professionals from the elder care network. For more information contact Liz Aguilo, LICSW, at (617) 864-2580 or e-mail paineseniorservices [at] verizon [dot] net

AGENCY BACKGROUND

The Paine Fund was established in 1905 to honor the wishes expressed by Jeannie Warren Paine in her bequest to the First Parish in Cambridge. Serving Cambridge residents, the Paine Fund responded mainly to financial distress. Gradually, Paine expanded its operations to include a wider variety of social services. In 1977, the name was changed to Paine Social Services (PSS) to more accurately reflect the work of the agency. In 2007 it was changed to Paine Senior Services to clarify its purpose and client base. Paine Senior Services is an organization of First Parish in Cambridge. However, the agency is non-sectarian and provides services regardless of financial means.

MISSION STATEMENT

PSS is committed to providing a wide range of high quality, personalized services primarily to the elderly and their families in the City of Cambridge regardless of their financial means. In a spirit of compassion and justice, PSS offers assistance through effective counseling, preventive planning, advocacy and collaboration with community resources.

ORGANIZATION

An Advisory Board administers Paine Senior Services. This board consists of members of First Parish and individuals from the Cambridge community some of whom serve the elder population in their professional roles or various civic commitments. The First Parish minister is an ex officio member of the Board.

Paine Senior Services’ Executive Director is responsible to the Board of Directors for administering the day-to-day operations of the Agency and managing the Agency’s activities to successfully accomplish its mission and achieve its goals and objectives.

The Executive Director supervises the PSS staff.

The mission of the Tuesday Meals Program is to offer warm hospitality and an evening meal in a safe, dignified environment to anyone in need of nourishment.

We invite any and all with a heart for service to join us in this work.

To schedule a date to volunteer with us at our evening dinner service, simply click the button below and follow the directions:

On your first night of volunteering, please arrive at the church by 5:00 p.m. for an orientation to the program and its policies.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the Tuesday Meals Program, our online scheduling system, or about daytime volunteer opportunities, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Thomas Hathaway, at tmpvolunteers [at] fpcambridge [dot] org.