OUR STORy

COPE started small—before we ever had a table at South Station.

In the beginning, it was a small group of women in a minivan, driving around Boston on cold nights. If we saw someone in a doorway who looked freezing, we’d pull over with a blanket, hot chocolate, a sandwich—whatever we had. We’d introduce ourselves, ask what they needed, and come back a few days later to check in. Over time, we started to know people—by name. Trust grew.

South Station became our consistent ending point each night: a place we could reliably find people, reconnect, and keep showing up.

Eventually, those nights led us to a table at South Station.

Every week, we hosted a simple dinner for about 12–15 people experiencing homelessness who came consistently. We sat together, talked about our week, checked in on each other, and shared a real meal. We weren’t rushing in and rushing out. We stayed. We listened. We broke bread. And over time, trust deepened.

And that trust opened doors.

Even around that table, COPE became more than dinner. It became a place where people could ask for help with the things that feel impossible to do alone. We always had clean clothes ready. We helped people prepare for job interviews. We showed up at court. We’ve gotten people to detox and treatment when they’re ready—and helped reunite people with family, sometimes putting them on a bus back home across the country. We made calls together. We connected people to housing supports. And when someone finally got indoors, we showed up with furniture and the basics to help make that place feel like home.

Eventually, we were asked to leave that space.

So we moved outside—still at South Station—and what began as a small weekly dinner became something different: street outreach. The needs were bigger. The environment was harder. And the community grew.

But the foundation stayed the same: relationships first. Consistency. Dignity.

Today, COPE has grown into a community of more than 150 volunteers, and the group of neighbors we serve has grown just as much.

I’m Suzanne Fareri-Early, and for nearly thirteen years I’ve led COPE alongside a close-knit frontline team—bringing food, clothing, and essentials to our neighbors experiencing homelessness at South Station, meeting people exactly where they are. Most importantly, we build relationships.

Because our friends experiencing homelessness don’t just need resources.

They need to know they matter.

They need to know they’re not invisible.

They need to know they can be met without judgment.

They need to know someone will keep coming back—week after week after week.

That’s what COPE is: love in action, built through presence.