Ricky Inc.

Ricky Inc. “Being a kind and loving person, I want my kindness to be so strong it’s contagious “ by Nicholas G.

Our Cause
RICKY INC. “Respecting Individuals with Care and Kindness You matter”. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing basic necessities to individuals by distributing backpacks in the Greater Boston area. We reach out to individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health concerns. We started this organization in memory of our beloved son Ricky Giacoppo

who passed away from an overdose May of 2019. We carry on Ricky’s legacy of love and compassion through assisting the men and women of our community struggling with the insidious disease of substance use disorder and putting an end to the stigma attached to it. It is our mission to supply individuals with hygiene products as well as an extensive resource manual on where to access help for substance use disorder, homelessness and behavioral health services. Some of the programs we have collaborated with are harm reduction programs, recovery homes, detox programs, mother and child reunification programs, Veteran's Programs, at risk adolescent programs, LGBTQ+ programs and extensive street outreach programming. We provide Narcan (Naloxone) training and distribute Narcan and fentanyl test strips at no charge. Narcan can easily be administered to a person experiencing an overdose. Narcan saves lives and it is our hope to educate people on its life saving abilities and encouraging them to carry Narcan. We provide transportation to Detox programs to those in need. We have started to offer sponsorships to individuals with a financial need to MASH certified Halfway houses that we have developed a relationship with on a small-scale basis. We have a link to Ricky Inc.'s Amazon Wishlist on our website Rickyinc.org. Every donation is appreciated and goes directly to funding the services we provide.

Our 2nd stop of the day was in Central Square at ACCESS Drug User Health Systems.Program Manager Brian Sink and his staf...
08/27/2026

Our 2nd stop of the day was in Central Square at ACCESS Drug User Health Systems.

Program Manager Brian Sink and his staff have been nothing short of fantastic with their work within the community and developing a strong working relationship with Ricky, Inc.

The ACCESS facility is a clean, comfortable and welcoming environment that offers numerous services for individuals who actively use drugs. They have a doctor on staff to provide short term medical help and treatment and they maintain a mobile street outreach that extends to the BU Bridge, Cambridge's Davis, Porter and Harvard Squares, Jamaica Plain and Roxbury,

Pictured (L-R)
Kate Schwenn, Brian Sink, me, Clare Foley, Nasi Salem, Amelia McCarthy, Jessica Alpert, Niki Patel & Brooke Trister

We love receiving Thank You notes and letters from both our recipients and our affiliate organizations.

Clients from ACCESS show their appreciation for Ricky, Inc.
Knowing that your work is appreciated is a nice thing, but hearing & seeing the words that make an impact in someone's life makes all of the hard work worthwhile.

God bless and good luck to all of you.
From the bottom of our broken hearts,

Thank you,
Rich & Bernadette

To see the great services that ACCESS provides
Access - Fenway Health

On Thursday August 13, 2026, Ricky, Inc. visited my hometown of Cambridge and my old stomping grounds of Harvard SquareW...
08/27/2026

On Thursday August 13, 2026, Ricky, Inc. visited my hometown of Cambridge and my old stomping grounds of Harvard Square

We continued our Summer 2026 Backpack Distribution at Youth On Fire where we delivered numerous filled backpacks, Narcan, boxes filled with socks, tee shirts and men's & women's flip flops and underwear.

We are happy to say that Youth On Fire has been a longtime affiliate of Ricky, Inc. and will continue to receive backpacks, materials and supplies from us.

Youth On Fire is operated under The Home For Little Wanderers and largely funded by the Dept. of Public Health and the City of Cambridge.

Youth On Fire is a daytime great drop-in center located right in the heart of Harvard Square.

YOF provides a non-judgmental environment for homeless and street-involved youth between the ages of 14-24. They offer basic necessities like hot meals, showers, clothing, laundry facilities, medical care, mental health counseling and many community resources. They have an incredible prevention information program on HIV, STDs, Hepatitis and other diseases associated with high-risk behavior.

YOFs ultimate goal is to help as many youth as possible to have a healthy lifestyle, remain HIV-negative and seek greater stability through permanent housing and employment or school.

For more information about Youth On Fire Call (617) 661-2508
Youth on Fire - The Home for Little Wanderers

Helping Our VeteransOn Wednesday August 19th, we continued our Summer 2026 Backpack Distribution and visited the U.S. Ve...
08/27/2026

Helping Our Veterans

On Wednesday August 19th, we continued our Summer 2026 Backpack Distribution and visited the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration in Jamaica Plain, MA.

I met with Damien Powell who is a Voluntary Services Specialist TCF, who accepted the backpacks and numerous boxed supplies for our deserving veterans.

We stopped by the Veterans Services Walkin Methadone clinic and informed the Nurse that we had backpacks for them. She was happy to receive them and stated that the next time we make a delivery, that we could meet with the clients and personally deliver them to each man and woman.

On Monday August 17, 2026, Ricky, Inc. visited PAATHS & AHOPE on Albany Street in Boston. I was accompanied by loyal Tea...
08/27/2026

On Monday August 17, 2026, Ricky, Inc. visited PAATHS & AHOPE on Albany Street in Boston. I was accompanied by loyal Team Ricky Volunteer and Norwood resident Doug Jasset.

We delivered numerous backpacks and supplies for both programs and were met by PAATHS Program Director Thomas Dorney (above with Rich).

Both programs are operated by the Boston Public Health Commission and provide valuable services

Access, Harm Reduction, Overdose Prevention and Education (AHOPE) is a harm reduction and needle exchange site.

PAATHS (Providing Access to Addictions Treatment, Hope and Support) is a one-stop shop for anyone (individuals, families, community partners, other treatment providers) looking for information about, or access to, substance use treatment services.

Our first stop of the day was at the Andrew House Detox in Jamaica Plain.Ricky went here many times in his recovery effo...
08/27/2026

Our first stop of the day was at the Andrew House Detox in Jamaica Plain.

Ricky went here many times in his recovery efforts, and it has a special place in our hearts, especially since they named a room in the facility in his honor.

Doug and I were greeted by Program Director Rebecca Goldman and her friendly staff.

We delivered many backpacks for the clients along with boxes filled with tee shirts, flip flops and men's & women's underwear.

Rebecca has been incredible to us and has maintained the Ricky Memorial Reading Room and keeps reminding clients that it is in memory of Ricky.

Another nice feature of delivering these backpacks and supplies to Andrew House is that I get to meet and speak with the clients.

I am shown speaking to the group about Ricky, Inc., our journey and our Mission. Every time I speak before these men and women, I conduct a question-and-answer session, and at the end they line up to shake my hand and thank me for everything that we do.

I always leave feeling that I made a difference in someone's life today. It is a very gratifying feeling.

While Doug and I were restocking the Ricky Memorial Reading Room with new pillows, books and Art supplies, we took time to pose for a photo right under Ricky's picture with Program Director Rebecca Goldman

Twice a year we find out what supplies need to be restocked in the reading room and we purchase them so all of the clients can enjoy their quite time in Ricky's room.

Pictured are the new pillows that we got for the couch that we delivered last year.

Ricky you could always bring sun to a cloudy day. So many people that you knew have always told me that if they were dow...
08/16/2026

Ricky you could always bring sun to a cloudy day. So many people that you knew have always told me that if they were down just seeing you and your magical way of knowing they needed your love, your humor, and just bringing that smile into their day. I miss you so much Rick, Love Mum

On Tuesday August 11, 2026 Ricky, Inc. started our Summer 2026 Backpack Distribution program (our program start was dela...
08/14/2026

On Tuesday August 11, 2026 Ricky, Inc. started our Summer 2026 Backpack Distribution program (our program start was delayed by family matters). Our first stop was at The Behavioral Health Network for Women with the Program Director Ilene Carrera and her staff.

We delivered flower print canvas bags filled with all of the usual backpack contents for all of the mothers, plus some nice extra perks for the ladies (each woman received a coffee mug and box of Honey Vanilla Chamomile Tea).

Bernadette got the name and age of each of the children and personally made sure that each child received individual, age appropriate toys such as games, Lego’s, books, toothbrush, toothpaste, nylon backpacks, blankets, etc.

We also supplied B.H.N with an additional 50 pairs of XS Bombas socks for the children. While there a mother came into the room and I noticed that the child’s feet were bare so I asked the mother if she wanted a pair of socks for the child. I gave her a pair of Bombas and she put them on the child which produced a giant smile and laughter from both mother and child. Some of the smallest gestures can be very rewarding, this one was fun for me.

Behavioral Health Network (BHN) operates the BHN Family Center and Roses House. This facility provides specialized residential and stabilization services focused on substance use recovery and family-centered support for women. Designed for pregnant and parenting women, offering trauma-informed care and support while keeping families together.

You can contact BHN general services at (413) 301-9355

Below is a Thank you note and photo from our friends at Behavioral Health Network which I visited on Tuesday August 11, ...
08/14/2026

Below is a Thank you note and photo from our friends at Behavioral Health Network which I visited on Tuesday August 11, 2026

Hello Bernadette good evening!

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The women were in tears when they received their gifts. They were so very grateful. (2 of the women did not want to take a pic). Dominick and Olivia were jumping up and down because they did not have a backpack for school.

Every woman wanted to make sure that I told you how appreciative they are.

I haven't seen some of them smile in a while. They truly felt loved today.

Thank you for all that you do!! You and your husband are AMAZING!!!!

**Funny story, one of the women today was telling me that she needs a coffee cup. When she opened the bag and seen her coffee mug, she was in shock! We both couldn't believe it!!!
Thank you again for your thoughtful gifts for each one of them..... ESPECIALLY the babies in the womb.
You gave them their first gift

Ilene Carrera
Program Director
617-275-8862 (o) 413-523-3425 (c)
Behavioral Health Network, Inc
Family Center

We share this post every year in the month of August which is International Overdose Awareness Month 2026. The only word...
08/13/2026

We share this post every year in the month of August which is International Overdose Awareness Month 2026. The only words that are changed are the dates

The month of August is "Overdose Awareness Month". We are reposting this because our son Nicholas was an advocate for ha...
08/13/2026

The month of August is "Overdose Awareness Month". We are reposting this because our son Nicholas was an advocate for harm reduction, sharing the fact that everyone's path to recovery is personal and significant to them. He tried his hardest not to judge. Both our sons Ricky and Nicholas taught us this important trait to live by each day "Don't Judge" because you don't know what someone is/has been through. Basically, you don't know their story. We all have one. Nicholas worked hard to bring Ricky Inc. to Portland, Maine and we think it's important to share this again in his honor for all he did for so many people that many would not look at, maybe cross the street, or be sure not to make eye contact. We love Nicholas we honor Nicholas for his part in passing out Narcan and all he did for those that most needed a kind person to take notice of them. Thank you

Address

PO Box 213
East Walpole, MA
02032

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+17817276628

Website

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