By Jerry Filmore
Worcester nonprofit Abby’s House has announced a series of community events and initiatives to commemorate its 50th anniversary. The organization, which provides shelter, housing, and advocacy for women and children, is launching a monthlong campaign this March and will host a formal anniversary gala on May 29, 2026.
Five Decades of Community Support
Founded in 1976 by Annette Rafferty and a group of local volunteers, Abby’s House opened as one of the first shelters for women in the United States. The organization began with a nine-bed overnight shelter at 23 Crown St. to address a lack of safe housing options for women in Worcester.
Today, the nonprofit has expanded its footprint to include 79 units of affordable, supportive housing across several properties, including its main facility at 52 High St., which was formerly the St. Joseph’s Home for Working Girls. Over its 50-year history, Abby’s House reports it has served more than 16,000 women and children.
Women’s History Month Initiative
For March 2026, the organization has transitioned its annual International Women’s Day campaign into a full month of recognition. The Give to Gain initiative allows community members to purchase donation postcards that feature two removable wallet cards.
The program is designed to create a “ripple effect” of support:
- One card is intended for the recipient to keep.
- The second card is designed to be passed on to another woman to encourage continued recognition and support.
The theme honors the legacy of figures like Abby Kelley Foster, the Worcester abolitionist and suffragist for whom the organization is named, while focusing on contemporary support for women navigating housing instability.
50th Anniversary Gala Details
The milestone celebration will culminate in the 50th Anniversary Gala held at the Hogan Center at the College of the Holy Cross on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The evening’s itinerary includes:
- Art Stroll and Online Auction: Featuring works and items curated for the anniversary.
- Thrift Fashion Show: Highlighting items from the Abby’s House Thrift Shop, which provides low-cost clothing to the public and free vouchers to women in need.
- Formal Program: Including a seated dinner and featured speakers who will reflect on the organization’s growth since 1976.
Registration for the event and details on sponsorship opportunities are currently available through the official gala portal.
🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Abby’s House 50th Anniversary and Women’s History Month Initiatives
- Current Status: Women’s History Month campaign active; Gala registration open
- Key Dates or Decisions: Gala to be held May 29, 2026
- Estimated Cost (if applicable): Gala ticket prices and postcard donation tiers are available on the registration site
- Timeline (if known): Celebrations continuing through the 2026 calendar year
- Immediate Next Steps: Community members may register for the May gala or participate in the postcard campaign through the end of March
- Primary Sources: Abby’s House Official Website, United Way of Central Massachusetts, Worcester Women’s Oral History Project
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