Morristown Memorial Fund To Help Homeless Women, Children

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Homeless Solutions Inc. in Morristown has established the Patti Smith Barrett Memorial Endowment Fund, a new fund created in memory of longtime volunteer Patti Barrett.

The organization announced the endowment on Thursday and said it will support programs serving women and children experiencing homelessness.

Barrett, described by Homeless Solutions as a devoted volunteer, died Jan. 7. According to the announcement, she regularly prepared meals for shelter guests and invited friends to volunteer with her at the shelter. Homeless Solutions said those efforts helped build both nourishment and community.

In the weeks after her death, friends and family contributed more than $120,000 in her memory, according to Homeless Solutions. The organization said the total included a “St. Patti’s Day” fundraiser organized by friends and established the first named endowment fund at Homeless Solutions.

“The Patti Smith Barrett Memorial Endowment Fund will directly support programs serving women and children experiencing homelessness, ensuring that Patti’s spirit of care and dignity lives on in meaningful, lasting ways,” according to the announcement.

“Patti embodied the mission of Homeless Solutions in every sense,” said Stephanie Cicale, HSI’s Chief Development Officer. “Her kindness and dedication made a lasting impact on our community, and this inaugural fund will carry that impact forward for years to come by inspiring others to Show Up and support just the way Patti always did.”

Homeless Solutions plans a formal check presentation to mark the creation of the fund. According to the announcement, the event will include remarks from Barrett’s husband, Dan Barrett, and friends affected by her life and legacy.

The presentation is scheduled for Friday at 12:15 p.m. at the Homeless Solutions Inc. main shelter, 540 West Hanover Ave., Suite 100, Morristown.

The new endowment is intended to provide lasting support for women and children served by the organization while honoring a volunteer whose work centered on direct help for shelter guests. Homeless Solutions said the fund will carry Barrett’s legacy forward through ongoing support for those programs.

Click here to learn more about Homeless Solutions.