Jean Shifflett

South Boston​

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Home is where the heart is. South Boston native Jean Shifflett has lived in Braintree for nearly 50 years, but volunteers in her old neighborhood at the Good Samaritan Ministry at St. Monica's Parish. She recounted, “People just generally cared about each other in South Boston. You never locked your doors and there were plenty of places to play.” 

Needing to fill her time after retiring from Symmons Industries, Jean asked her late husband if she could volunteer at the parish where he worked. Jean likes to cook – lasagna is her best dish – and helping at St. Monica’s Kitchen, the church’s food pantry, was a natural fit. “It’s very rewarding,” she said. 

On Tuesdays, Jean and about 300 other volunteers receive delivery from the Greater Boston Food Bank and break the pallets down for Thursday distribution. The pantry is set up like a grocery store so that people can select their own food. St. Monica’s serves about 200 people weekly.

In 2021, Jean’s husband passed away from cancer. “Being a volunteer has kept me going,” she said. “My husband and I did everything together. If it weren’t for the parish and the people at St. Monica’s, I don’t know where I would be.” 

One day of volunteering turned into five. In addition to the food bank, Jean does the lecture on Sundays at St. Monica’s, and is a trustee at the parish. Her kindness extends beyond the parish walls – she takes care of a feral cat that hangs around the parish, an old friend of her husband.

“I don’t do this for recognition,” she said.”I am thankful to ABCD and the person who nominated me.”