Brigids Crossing, 48 Lawrence St, Lowell, MA 01852, US

The City Mission Society of Boston is the oldest non-profit organization in New England. This faith-based organization was established in 1816 to educate children, but since then, the mission has grown to include three branches of service: Youth Peace Empowerment, Faith and Community, and Homeless Prevention. The Mission Society raises $800,000 per year to fund these programs. Most of the money is received through donations from foundations, church congregations, and corporate gifts. A full-time staff of five people is headed up by Rev. June Cooper, the Mission's executive director for the past eight years. City Mission is always looking for groups of volunteers of 10 or more people to help with various projects in the Boston area such as, painting the walls of a homeless shelter or working on a community garden. Although based in Beacon Hill for nearly 200 years, most of City Mission's work happens in neighborhoods like Roxbury and Dorchester.