Pam Reino is a name synonymous with goodness. Every time we see her--at Ode, on Main St., around town--she is always doing two things: 1. wearing fabulous boots, and 2. planning a way to help someone. From organizing a toy drive for families all over the Valley or finding a way to provide shoes to a teenage boy who has been wearing his sisters' hand-me-downs, Pam is making a difference in people's lives. Her heart is so fully in the act of generosity that she winds up thanking us for helping her help others. We think it's time to introduce you to Pam Reino, and it's time to thank her for all she does.
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| Pam Reino |
Can you tell us about CSO and the
kind of support the organization offers?
Clinical & Support Options (CSO) provides social and behavioral health care services to the residents of
Franklin, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. To learn more, you can check out the website at www.csoinc.org. My current role at CSO is to provide outreach services.
I provide individualized support assisting people in accessing the
community and gaining supports in the area of life skills. Services offered are as follows: providing emotional support, symptom management, assisting in obtaining good
medical care, conflict resolution, budgeting, advocacy, service
coordination, and crisis intervention.
Prior to this, I worked for The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children.
What are some of the events you
helped organize?
This past
year I coordinated a children’s Christmas toy drive for CSO, with several
local businesses including Serio’s Market, Ode, and The Northampton Athletic Club. My sister-in-law, Karen Boyden, was
instrumental in assisting by asking her church (Faith Baptist) to sponsor
specific families.
In the
1980s, my dear friend William Conroy was diagnosed with brain cancer. I organized a benefit in his honor, to
assist with his medical costs.
This was the starting point of the fundraising I have coordinated.
Aside from
my work at CSO, I have coordinated numerous fundraisers and benefit
concerts. These were to benefit people
and animals who were affected by Hurricane Katrina, and the people in Haiti after
the earthquake. My most recent
collaboration has been with Richard Richardson of the Goodtime Stove Company
and The Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, MA. Musicians have included the incomparable Charles Neville,
Peter J. Newland and his band Radio Exile, Andrew Woodland & Appalachian
Still, Matt Hebert, the Drunk Stuntmen, the Lonesome Brothers, Michael Gregory
and Robert Markey and Lalit. The proceeds from these benefits went to the
Humane Society of Louisiana, the Red Cross, Pure Water for the World, and
Noah’s Ark.
What is one of your favorite stories
from work?
Paul from
Michelson Galleries told me that Leonard Nimoy was in Northampton to promote
his upcoming project and was looking for people to photograph for his
book. I was able to convince one
of my clients to sit for some photographs. Although she didn’t make it into the book, just meeting him
made a great impact on her life.
What are some of your goals for the
future?
I plan to
continue to coordinate with Richard Richardson of the Three Sisters Sanctuary,
to plan summer fundraising events.
We are particularly interested in working with the Wounded Warriors
Project, Homes for Heroes, Shriners Children Hospital, and the Boston Children's Hospital Oncology Unit.
Are there any upcoming events or
programs you would like to mention?
Richard’s
website will include information of upcoming events: http://www.threesisterssanctuary.com/
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| Three Sisters Sanctuary |
Who are people who have inspired you?
Doctor Roy
DeLamotte, my mother’s cousin, who fought for desegregation and civil rights,
Cleveland Amory (The Fund for Animals), Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Emmylou Harris, Dana and
Christopher Reeve, and Andy Chapin (the Association, Steppenwolf, the Rick
Nelson Band) for following his dream.
