Let the Healing Begin, Inc 2025 Mother's Day Brunch

On May 10, 2025, Let the Healing Begin, Inc. hosted its first Mother’s Day Brunch event overseas. We had the privilege of partnering with New Works Lighthouse Missions Church of God in Christ, a local church in Westmoreland, Jamaica, to bless many of the unsung heroes in their community. The event featured a guest speaker, Evangelist Maxine Clark from New Beginnings Church of God in Christ in Boston, Massachusetts, praise and worship, and a comedic skit by local members of New Works Lighthouse Mission Church of God in Christ. We also provided all attendees with special gift bags as a token of appreciation.

The inspiration for this event came from the passing of our founder’s mother, Violet Barracks, whom we tragically lost in 2022. Violet Barracks was born and raised in Jamaica then immigrated to the United States in her 20s. She lived her life with purpose and intentionality, as well as in the service of others. She never missed a Mother’s Day Brunch that we hosted in the States, and we know that without a doubt, her spirit was present with us in Jamaica.

This year, in memory of her, we presented three deserving mothers with the Violet Barracks Memorial Award, the first of its kind. The recipients of this award, Miriam Parchment, Edris Thompson, and Muriel Tomblinson, embodied Violet Barracks' perseverance, strength, ability to give back, and impact on the lives of others.

It was a lifelong ambition to internationally host this event. We are very excited to see what is in store for 2026 and look forward to another successful Mother’s Day Brunch in Jamaica!

Pentecost City Mission Church Inc. Christmas Food Drive

Let The Healing Begin. Inc has supported and served Boston communities impacted by gun violence and incarceration since its inception in 2009. Whether it's the incomparable grief of homicide or the immeasurable anguish inherited from a youthful offender's actions, distress is not mutually exclusive. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LTHB hosted large community gatherings uniting communities with elected officials, clergy, and law enforcement to address shared violence and youth incarceration concerns.  

LTHB suspended large community gatherings due to COVID-19 but continued charitable endeavors in other ways. A significant number of those we serve have ties to the Caribbean. During Christmas 2023, for a fourth consecutive year, LTHB partnered with Pentecostal City Mission Church to deliver 55 bags of food to the local communities in Simon District, Clarendon, Jamaica. The Jamaican national motto “Out of Many, One People” was lived out.

With appreciation and gratitude, we would like to thank everyone who supported, contributed and helped to make this event a success. Bishop Euladee Drake and Assistant Pastor Rev Iralee Grant, you are mighty women of God; witnessing you inspire and serve the community and your stand-out efforts to ignite healing for social ills is the embodiment of practicing what you preach. LTHB looks forward to collaborating with you again.

We wish everyone blessings in the New Year!

Below are pictures from our December 2023 Christmas event.

Happy New Year

Pictured are Deacon Lewis and Brother Swaby two members of Faith Claim Ministries in Mandeville, a parish of Manchester, Jamaica delivering food to the community using re-usable Stop & Shop bags.

Let The Healing Begin. Inc has supported and served Boston communities impacted by gun violence and incarceration since its inception in 2009. Whether it's the incomparable grief of homicide or the immeasurable anguish inherited from a youthful offender's actions, distress is not mutually exclusive. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LTHB hosted large community gatherings uniting communities with elected officials, clergy, and law enforcement to address shared violence and youth incarceration concerns.  

LTHB suspended large community gatherings due to COVID-19 but continued charitable endeavors in other ways. A significant number of those we serve have ties to the Caribbean. During Christmas 2022, for a third consecutive year, LTHB partnered with Faith Claim Ministries and Pentecostal City Mission Church to deliver 100 bags of food to the two local communities in Manchester and Mandeville. The Jamaican national motto “Out of Many, One People” was lived out.

With appreciation and gratitude, we would like to thank: Cardi’s Furniture, the Pittsburg Steelers, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, Foxwoods Casino, Roche Brothers Supermarkets, Zoo New England, The Huntington Theatre Company, Oriental Trading, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and Boston Organic Food Delivery for their donations.

Also, we thank everyone who purchased raffle tickets or supported our cause in any manner. 

We wish everyone blessings in the New Year.

Below are pictures from our December 2022 Christmas event.

Happy New Year 2022!

Let The Healing Begin, Inc. (LTHB) sends heartfelt thanks to everyone that has embraced and supported our mission of contributing towards healing efforts for those impacted by gun violence and its aftermath in Boston communities. Whether it's the incomparable grief of homicide or the immeasurable anguish inherited from a youthful offender's actions, distress is not mutually exclusive.

LTHB is grateful to start the new year being a January 2022 Stop & Shop community bag program donations recipient. For the month of January, LTHB will receive a $1.00 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable community shopping at the Stop & Shop store located at 1025 Truman Parkway Hyde Park, MA. You may also contact LTHB directly and we will get a bag for you.

LTHB eagerly looks forward to restarting hosting large Boston community healing events such as our annual Pre-Mothers Day brunch, when we can safely do so in the future. The pandemic has been disruptive for most, but our faith in finding ways to make a difference where there are tears and tarnished lives will never fade. 

Wishing you blessings in the New Year and beyond.

Sincerely 

Denise 

Let The Healing Begin President

Don't Give Up

Sometimes when our loved one is given a prison sentence, we focus on the time handed down, causing us to lose hope.

Mothers and Fathers go into a depressive state because their son or daughter received a significant amount of time behind bars. It is something I am familiar with.

Some wives and girlfriends lose hope because the father of their child or children will be away for a long time. Sometimes, this may cause them to face a hard decision: whether to endure the sentence or move on.

In these trying moments, we should remember not to lose hope. I know that it probably seems easier said and harder to do. But when my son was locked up, there were moments when I wanted to give up. In fact, I often reflect on those moments. However, despite the sentence, I had to choose to live, not just for myself but also for my other two children. In these trying moments, we should remember that man's time is not God's time. I have seen where two individuals were both given a 40-year sentence. They both understandably kept looking at the years. I kept encouraging them to not focus on the amount of time they were given. Fast forward to today, they are both released after completing 15 and 25 year sentences, respectively.

Troubles may come our way but in spite of it all, don't give up and don't lose hope. The same God that brought you to it, will bring you through it.

Christmas Blessings

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, Everyone!

This year has been challenging for most of us due to COVID-19. Many families have been affected by this pandemic, from being sick to losing loved ones. Although this is a tough time, we hope you do not lose faith or hope in God.

As an organization, our desire is to recognize when there is a need at home or abroad. This Christmas, we collaborated with Pastor Barnes from The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ Mount Valley Apostolic in Mocho Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies.

We are happy that we were able to provide holiday care packages consisting of items for the family’s Christmas dinner.

We want to thank Pastor Barnes for opening her doors to Let The Healing Begin. We look forward to continuous collaboration. We also would like to thank Deacon & Missionary Elliot for their continuous prayers and dedication to the works of the Lord.

Wishing you blessings in 2020 and beyond!

Happy New Year and ongoing gratitude to all that played a role in Let The Healing Begin, Inc. (LTHB) reaching its tenth-year anniversary community service milestone in 2019. You have inspired, ignited and been inclusive in our continuous advocating for stakeholders in hurt, resulting from gun violence and its aftermath, becoming shareholders in community healing endeavors. 

Heartfelt thanks to our healthcare corporation hero that provided Christmas gifts for 30 children in households that have lost loved ones to violence and its aftermath. Immense appreciation to every community member, church, public safety, and health and political leader, professional sports team, nonprofit and for-profit organization supporter that helped to keep us going throughout the past decade and into 2020. Above all, thank you to everyone that has welcomed LTHB into your hearts. 

Thank You!

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Let The Healing Begin, Inc. (LTHB), thank you immensely for supporting our 10th annual Pre-Mother's Day Brunch on May 4, 2019. This year over, 170 community members from Greater Boston neighborhoods that have been impacted by gun violence and its aftermath united at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, MA. This year’s gathering focused on gun violence from a public health perspective. Our Keynote speaker, Massachusetts State Representative Dr. Jon Santiago, gave a heartfelt faith speech while also sharing insights from his experience as an emergency room physician at Boston Medical Center, New England's largest trauma center.

Other moments included Live gospel music, Christian comedy, liturgical dance, and inspiring words from a mother whose young son just accepted a 25-year plea deal. Seeing the variety of smiles and tears is a reminder how committed LTHB is to the work we believe in and who we serve. In addition, we were able to raise funds to contribute towards GED exams, youth summer jobs, backpacks with school supplies, holiday gifts for children, and more.

Thank you immensely to every corporate sponsor or contributor. Special thanks to each professional sports team that donated in-kind autographed sports memorabilia, it was extremely popular with raffle ticket purchasers. We are also extremely grateful to everyone that volunteered or played a role in making the event successful and memorable. Most important, we are touched by everyone that has welcomed Let The Healing Begin into your hearts and strive to play even a modest ongoing role in addressing gun violence and its aftermath.

Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."