The name Alice Hennessey kept coming up among the warm festive chatter at the West Roxbury Friends of Rosie’s Place (WRFORP) annual Harvest Brunch and Raffle, Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Boston Irish Social Club on Park Street.

Hennessey and her husband formed the group back in 1981 along with two other married couples, according to current WRFORP president Doris Corbo. A former staff director of the Boston City Council during former Thomas Menino’s time, Hennessey left a more lasting legacy with her philanthropic work. She died in 2017 after decades as an activist in Boston but left a legacy where people are still bringing up her name.

Mary Jane “Kip” Tiernan founded Rosie’s Place place back in 1974, drawing on her Catholic background to help implement supports for struggling women. The organization now works relentlessly to this aim, and receives no government assistance. which is why these events are important, Jackie Goddard, of West Roxbury, said.

Stephen Smith, who was eyeing the raffle table said, “It’s a great event. Always glad to be here. Been here many times, but sad to say no one who founded it is here.”

He then explained that Hennessey was “a force of nature.” To prove his point, he said she has a room named after her at the West Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library and she also did a lot of good work toward the redevelopment of Millennium Park.

“Thomas Menino had ideas and Alice made them happen,” Smith said.

Menino was also very involved in the WRFORP and Rosie’s Place, so much so that he announced his decision to not seek reelection at a WRFORP spring dinner.

Kerry O’Brien echoed Smith’s take on Hennessey who she called a great soul, and said she appreciates everything WRFORP does. “It’s why we are here, especially now.” Hennessey was great at drawing community involvement.

Seated next to O'Brien was the wife of the former mayor, Angela Menino, who has attended these events for the past 30 years and supports the good work the organization does.

“Alice Hennessey was a neighbor and an inspiration to all of us,” Pamela Siegle, a WRFORP member said as she was doling out scrambled eggs. Marion Joyce said she has been very active in the group since the beginning. Some of the guests were newcomers like Ann from Hyde Park who said her son’s friends practically forced her to come out for the good cause, and she is so glad she did. Ann said she volunteers for Ethos and used to work there. A spirit of community was in the air and like-minded givers tend to attract one another.

Incoming State Sen. Persis Yu called Rosie’s Place “an incredible organization and an important bellwether for challenges the community is facing. Even working families are struggling with the cost of food and other necessities.” She said events like this help offset the costs “while the State House can look for long-term solutions.”

“We’ve always supported Rosie’s Place. We live up the street and the event is always fun,” Barbara Van Dyke said on behalf of herself and her husband. She also encouraged people to attend community events at the library which she said don’t get enough attention.

“I want to support Rosie’s Place and I’m grateful to do it with my neighbors in West Roxbury,” Kathleen Cary said.

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The featured speaker of the brunch, Lorraine Driscoll, director of annual giving for Rosie’s Place, had a nervous happy energy and admitted she had not even prepared a speech and would figure out what she would say as she chatted to members of the crowd prior to her moment in the spotlight. She credited WRFORP for supporting Rosie’s Place more than any other organization. Rosie’s was the first shelter for women in the U.S.

Driscoll said WRFORP was aware of the great need of Rosie’s Place and offered their services initially by serving hot home-cooked meals. They have since evolved into a fundraising operation. More than 150 people attended the event.

“We wish we weren’t needed. Unfortunately people who are food insecure have increased rather than decreased. Rosie’s and Roslindale Food Pantry have more mouths to feed. Rosie’s does good work and is increasing its services,” Corbo said.

“Rosie’s is in the middle of a five-year strategic plan on increasing services with 25 percent more funds across the board. We want to serve with more intention on housing, behavioral health and workplace services,” Driscoll said.

Rosie’s offers legal assistance and English as a second language classes among other services. Generally, homeless women rely on Rosie’s for meals and showers. Some utilize the advocacy line resource, and it’s also a way to reach more people not inclined to just walk in. “When things are hard, groceries go down, the electric bill might be a struggle. We help with those shortfalls,” Driscoll said.

“People are at various stages of help and Rosie’s wants to be there for all of those difficult moments,” Driscoll continued. “If someone has a job interview, Rosie’s will pay for travel with offering an MBTA pass.”

“It’s the incremental things that help enable people to take big leaps.” Driscoll also mentioned offering proper clothing for a job interview or maybe someone needs the food pantry until their first paycheck. In addition, staff will provide budgeting help once someone is settled in their job. They want long-term success.

Corbo mentioned that WRFORP did their food drive at Roche Brothers about a week ago. They have a truck filled with food by generous donations from Roche Brothers shoppers. She mentioned this is not to be confused with the bin for Rose’s Bounty inside the store, which is a West Roxbury-based food pantry. “Their spring fundraiser focuses on affording children from low-income families the opportunity to go to camp. While this fall fundraiser is all about Rosie’s Place and the Roslindale Food Pantry,” Corbo said.

Corbo said many local businesses support the brunch / raffle including the cookie company Fancy Pants. Each table had a few packets in its center. “Many Boston-based organizations donated to the raffle,” one of the organizers, Luciana Sousa, of Dorchester said. Some included are: Boston Fire, Top Golf, Knoll Street Tavern and Joe’s 320. Raffle prizes offered a brunch for four, a big bottle of cognac, a wine pairing dinner for two, and a trip to a golf course.

For more information visit https://gvimes.link/wrforp