Reading’s Erica McNamara Wins Moulton's Annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award

SALEM, Mass. — Erica McNamara, Director for Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support is the winner of the 2022 Peter J. Gomes Service Award. The award was presented by Congressman Seth Moulton on Friday evening. 

“We had truly outstanding finalists for the Gomes Award this year. While the type of work varied, each of our finalists embodies a commitment to service that makes it a true privilege to represent them. I know it would also make Reverend Gomes very proud,” said Congressman Moulton. “Erica McNamara takes home this year’s award because of her true devotion to making our community a healthier, safer place for everyone. The tragedy of substance abuse is that it affects everyone involved. Erica’s leadership on the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse and her advocacy for mental health awareness means that countless lives have been saved.”

Moulton created the award in 2016 in memory of Rev. Prof. Peter J. Gomes, his mentor and the minister of Harvard’s Memorial Church. More details about the award, as well as a list of past winners, can be found online.

More information on the winner and this year’s other honorees is below. 

2022 Rev. Peter J. Gomes Service Award Winner & Honorees 

Winner: Erica McNamara, Salem, MA 

Erica was nominated for the Peter J. Gomes Service Award by Fidel Maltez, Reading Town Manager, for her work as a community advocate in addressing the issue of substance misuse. 

Erica has been working for 14 years to provide education, support and advocacy in substance misuse and mental health awareness in Reading. Erica began the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA) in response to 110 opioid related hospitalizations and nine overdose deaths in Reading. 

As the Coalition Director, she has recently expanded the coalition to include a Mental Health Clinician, an Outreach Coordinator and a Crisis Intervention Team. Erica is also a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, and teaches Teen, Youth, Adult, Public Safety and Higher Education courses. Prior to working in Reading, Erica worked for the Lowell Community Health Center for 13 years.

Honorees: 

Hannah Finn and Claudia Mintz, Andover, MA: At 14 years-old, Hannah Finn started baking birthday cakes for 8-10 children living at the Lazarus House, a local homeless shelter. Since then, her volunteer efforts have expanded to become the One Wish Project, a non-profit organization, which currently recognizes and celebrates over 400 children and teens annually living in homeless shelters and foster care. While Hannah is away attending college, her mother Claudia Mintz, One Wish Project's Managing Director runs the daily operations and the volunteer program full time. 

Lyn Freeman, Salem, MA: Lyn has been working with Lifebridge Northshore to provide support for the homeless for over 25 years. She started by serving dinner for the Community Meals Program of Lifebridge, and now is the Secretary to the Board for Lifebridge, as well as the Co-Chair for the Development Committee. As Co-Chair, Lyn organizes fundraising events while still also helping with work in the kitchen. 

Gordon Shepard, Saugus, MA: Gordon has dedicated his retirement to restoring the designated veterans areas of the local Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. He has replaced damaged gravestones for veterans of the Civil War to current times, raised money to fund the restoration, and personally maintained the cemetery grounds. Gordon is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. 

Sheila Trieff, Newburyport, MA: Since January 2022, Sheila has been working along with at least 60 other volunteers and with the support of several churches located in Newburyport and West Newbury to help resettle the 40 Afghan evacuees in Newburyport, MA. As a clinical therapist, Sheila has applied her expertise in trauma and grief work to create a weekly women’s group. This gathering provides the Afghan women a space for friendship, conversation, and an overall sense of community.