Golf tourney: do good by swinging well!

The third annual gala golf tournament to benefit the Plymouth Taskforce for the Homeless will be held Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Southers Marsh Golf Club in Plymouth. The tournament continues the effort to fund the purchase of the leased house now occupied by recently homeless men who need supportive services as well as shelter.

The shotgun start will be at 1 p.m. but golfers should arrive by noon to sign in and maybe loosen up at the driving range or putting green. The $110 entry fee includes a golf cart to travel the 18-hole course, an awards dinner and silent auction. Added to the traditional prizes — closest to the pin, longest drive, hole-in-one — will be specials to be annouced later.
Those unable to play golf may make reservations ($35) to arrive about 6 p.m. for the dinner and silent auction.
For more information about the event or about hole sponsorships, program book ads or silent auction donations, call Doris Johnson at 508-747-3899 – or Connie Melahoures, conmel@aol.com .


The Taskforce for the Homeless organized in October 2004 to provide cold-weather emergency shelter to Plymouth’s homeless citizens. A few months later, the Taskforce started a year-round "Next Step" house for sober men. The Taskforce is currently leasing the five-bedroom house they wish to buy.
Members of the Taskforce — over 200 volunteers representing many congregations in Plymouth — recently completed the fourth winter of the Overnights of Hospitality program. This cold-weather plan provides homeless men with hot meals and warm beds, a week at a time, in facilities of Christ Episcopal Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Beth Jacob Synagogue, First Parish Church UUA, Church of the Pilgrimage UCC, St Mary Cathlic Church and First Baptist Church. Volunteer chaperones, supper chefs and laundry helpers also represent New Testament Church, Second Congregational Church in Manomet, Holy Family Church of Duxbury and Parish of St. Peter.

Volunteer appreciation breakfast: delicious!

At left: Board member David Tassinari mixes pancake batter.
Over 75 Taskforce volunteers and supporters enjoyed scrambled eggs prepared under supervision of board member Jack Ryan at the annual "Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast." The event was held April 12 at Loring Hall of Zion Lutheran Church, one of the congregations that founded the Taskforce for the Homeless four years ago.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of recognition awards to more than 50 volunteers for special contributions to the Overnights of Hospitality's recently concluded cold-weather relief program.
Board President Connie Melahoures gave a report updating the work being accomplished by the Taskforce, especially the expansion of the "Home and Healthy for Good" program that has found and funded apartments for a half-dozen chronically homeless men who are now receiving support services as well. She also presented statistics documenting the four years of the Overnights program, which now is served by a cadre of nearly 250 volunteers.

Overnights stats