This is our inaugural year establishing a MODel Citizen Award recognizing a volunteer who has gone above and beyond for Mission of Deeds.  This years winner is Dr. Howie Seplowitz, MD

Formerly an Oral Surgeon in Stoneham and Winchester, Howie began volunteering at Mission of Deeds in 2010. After retiring, Howie joined our regular volunteer group in the MOD furniture repair shop, helping to repair and refinish donated furniture so that our clients would receive “like new” pieces.

In 2023 Mission of Deeds partnered with Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield to launch a new program called Build-a-Bureau. Northeast Tech students have been building custom apartment-sized bureaus at the school’s workshop under the leadership of Carpentry Instructor Bruce Secor. Mission of Deeds then stains and finishes the bureaus in our workshop and provides the items to households in need. The bureaus are the perfect size for a young child.

The first batch of bureaus was delivered in December 2023 and to date, 50+ bureaus have been made and distributed to our clients. Howie Seplowitz led the charge in forging this partnership with Northeast Metro Tech and assisting with securing the grant that sustained the work. We look forward to the continued collaboration between Northeast Metro Tech and Mission of Deeds to provide these handcrafted bureaus to families in need for years to come.

“As a long-term volunteer in the workshop, I saw a need for smaller bureaus for children. I previously visited Northeast Metro Tech and wondered if a partnership could be set up. A pilot commenced and the collaboration worked! The result had a dual benefit. Households in need received appropriately sized bureaus for their children and students received satisfaction that their efforts and skills contributed to lift up others.”