02 HESM programmes in Boston

Mama Care walks alongsideparents, children, and families.

At HESM, we believe families should be met with dignity, encouragement, and practical support during difficult seasons. Mama Care brings together prepared meals, available supplies, prayer, and personal relationships within the Boston community.

Support Mama Care Learn about this work

Pastor Henry Edward Ssuuna helping unload prepared food for community outreach in Boston — HESM volunteers preparing to deliver meals during a Boston outreach visit

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The heart of Mama Care

We want every family we meet to feel listened to, respected, and supported.

Families can experience seasons when ordinary responsibilities become difficult to carry alone. A parent may need help with food, useful supplies, encouragement, or simply the reassurance that someone is willing to listen. At HESM, we believe the love of Christ should be expressed in ways that respond to those everyday realities.

Mama Care begins with practical preparation, but it does not end when food or supplies are handed over. Our team makes room for conversation, prayer, and fellowship because lasting care grows through relationships. We want community members to know they are not being treated as projects; they are people whose experiences, hopes, and dignity matter to us.

“Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”1 John 3:18 · KJV

Prepared meals arranged across tables before an HESM outreach visit in Boston — Prepared meals organized before a community outreach visit

Preparing with care

Before an outreach begins, our team takes time to prepare what families will receive.

Food outreach begins with people working together. Meals and baked goods are gathered, arranged, checked, and packed before they leave the preparation room. At HESM, we believe that practical care should be offered thoughtfully, so our volunteers give attention to each part of the process.

We want every meal to communicate care and respect.

An HESM volunteer carrying trays of prepared food from a vehicle during Boston outreach — A volunteer carrying prepared food from the outreach vehicle

Reaching the community

Once the food is ready, volunteers carry it from the preparation room into the community.

The meals are loaded into vehicles and moved on carts so they can reach the people they were prepared for. This part of the work requires organization, willing hands, and time. It also creates opportunities to meet community members personally rather than treating outreach as a simple delivery.

Our aim is to make practical support personal and respectful.

Pastor Henry Edward Ssuuna with community members during an HESM support visit in Boston — HESM spending time in conversation with community members

Making time to listen

Practical help becomes more meaningful when there is also time for conversation, prayer, and encouragement.

Our team spends time with parents and community members so that care is shaped by real conversation. We listen to what families are experiencing, pray together when prayer is welcomed, and look for ways to remain connected beyond a single outreach visit.

We want families to know that they are seen, heard, and valued.

How we walk together

Care begins by listening and continues through practical support and relationship.

Our approach is personal and respectful. We listen before responding, prepare what is available with care, bring support into the community, and remain open to continued connection.

We begin by listening

Conversation helps us understand what a parent or family is experiencing before we decide what kind of support may be useful.

We prepare practical support

Volunteers organize food and other available supplies carefully so they are ready to be shared with the community.

We bring the support to people

Our team loads the vehicles and carts, travels into the community, and makes sure the prepared items reach the people they are intended for.

We make room for relationship

Whenever possible, we continue the connection through conversation, prayer, fellowship, and future outreach activities.

Our outreach in action

Follow an outreach day from preparation to community fellowship.

These photographs show the work as it happened: volunteers organizing food, loading vehicles, moving carts, and spending time with community members around the table.

Pastor Henry Edward Ssuuna standing with outreach leaders at an indoor gathering — Beginning TogetherThe outreach team gathers before the work begins

Pastor Ssuuna speaking beside outreach leaders — EncouragementThe team receives a word of encouragement

Outreach volunteers gathered at the open back of a loaded vehicle — Loading The VehicleVolunteers gather around the prepared supplies

An outreach volunteer placing prepared food onto a cart outside — Moving The MealsPrepared food is transferred from the vehicle to a cart

A volunteer carrying trays of prepared food on a Boston street — Carrying The FoodA volunteer carries trays toward the community

A volunteer pushing a cart of food along a brick building — Along The WalkwayA loaded cart moves toward the gathering place

A volunteer arranging prepared meals on a cart beside the outreach vehicle — Arranging The MealsPrepared containers are placed carefully on the cart

Volunteers bringing packaged bread into the preparation room — Bread ArrivesPackaged bread is brought into the preparation room

Two outreach volunteers sorting packaged bread at a table — Working TogetherVolunteers sort and arrange the bread

An outreach volunteer arranging food trays on a rolling cart — Preparing The CartFood trays are organized before distribution

A volunteer carrying containers of baked goods across the preparation room — Many Willing HandsA volunteer carries baked goods across the room

Volunteers passing packaged food across a preparation table — The Preparation LinePackaged food moves from one volunteer to another

A volunteer placing prepared food containers on a table — Meals In OrderPrepared containers are arranged on the table

Outreach volunteers working beside stocked food storage — Organizing SuppliesVolunteers work beside the available food supplies

A volunteer standing beside carts and storage bins in the preparation room — Behind The ScenesThe preparation room holds carts, containers, and supplies

Community members seated in conversation around a table — Around The TableCommunity members spend time in conversation

A community member seated at a table during the outreach gathering — Time To ListenA quiet moment during the community gathering

Rows of prepared meals and baked goods arranged on tables — Prepared MealsMeals and baked goods fill the tables

Salads, soups and baked goods arranged for outreach — Food For The OutreachA variety of prepared food is ready to be shared

Three volunteers transferring packaged food beside an open vehicle — At The VehicleVolunteers coordinate the transfer of packaged food

Volunteers loading prepared food at the back of an outreach vehicle — Loading CarefullyPrepared trays are secured in the outreach vehicle

A volunteer packing bread into a large outreach container — Packing The BreadPackaged bread is placed into an outreach container

A volunteer pushing a cart filled with packaged bread — Moving IndoorsA full cart is pushed toward the community space

A volunteer organizing prepared food on a cart and table — A Final CheckThe food is reviewed before it leaves the room

A preparation room filled with food, supplies and packed boxes — The Preparation RoomFood, supplies, and packed boxes are ready for the day

Two outreach leaders standing among prepared food and supplies — Serving TogetherOutreach leaders work alongside the volunteer team

Pastor Ssuuna speaking with community members around a table — Conversation And PrayerCommunity members share a reflective moment together

Pastor Ssuuna present with community members during the outreach visit — Community RelationshipsThe outreach creates time for people to meet and talk

Outreach leaders and community members gathered around tables — FellowshipNeighbors and outreach leaders gather around the tables

Pastor Ssuuna speaking during the community outreach gathering — A Word Of HopeThe gathering includes Christian encouragement

Stand with Boston families

You can help HESM continue caring for families in Boston.

Support may take the form of available supplies, time spent helping with preparation and outreach, professional knowledge, or financial partnership. We would be glad to speak with you about the current needs of the ministry and how your contribution can be used responsibly.

Partner with this work Talk with us

Ways to support Mama Care

01Help provide meals and available supplies for outreach

02Offer time during preparation and community visits

03Speak with HESM about responsible financial support