PEABODY— Celebrations are in order for Citizens Inn, which hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its recent capital project—a freshly renovated Haven from Hunger location at 71 Wallis St.
The renovation was part of the nonprofit’s $7.4 million “Inn to Opportunity” campaign, which focuses on capital improvements as well as sustainably keeping up with the increase of clientele brought on by the pandemic. Citizens Inn seeks to “work on an individual basis to help families and individuals who are experiencing a housing crisis or food insecurity.”
Newly appointed Citizens Inn Executive Director Carolina Trujillo said that the new resource center “will ultimately increase our participants’ chances to reach long-term stability and reduce their food insecurity.”
“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this project, which is part of our comprehensive campaign ‘Inn to Opportunity.’ Thank you to our staff, our board of directors who has been nothing but amazing, and a special thank you to MRG Construction for their tireless work over the past two and a half years,” Trujillo said.
Also in attendance was Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr., who said Citizens Inn does important work in the city.
“We’re very fortunate to have people who care, who want to help, and to give themselves to make this city better and make people’s lives better. The work that takes place here and the work that takes place at Citizens Inn is meaningful and impacts lives and makes a difference,” said Bettencourt. “We have a special community here in Peabody.”
Trujillo was accompanied by Bettencourt and Program Director of Community Engagement Brianne Jurs, for the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon.
The new Haven from Hunger location includes a resource center, a food pantry, and evening community meals four nights a week.
Dorothy Irrera can be reached at [email protected].
