Our History

Rooted in Volunteerism, Sunday Friends was founded by Janis Baron, a mother of three and Silicon Valley engineer, in January of 1997

Concerned about the lack of awareness among high school students of different cultures, races and lifestyles, including her own young teens, Janis decided one Sunday to take her children to a family shelter.

Despite twenty years of community volunteering, Janis was uncertain about how to help, so she began by having her children interact with the children in the shelter: playing games, drawing, and reading. The children in the shelter were reluctant at first to participate, but Janis and her children continued to return each Sunday, slowly building relationships and trust. Parents living in shelters are so consumed and stressed with trying to find a way to make their lives work that they long for and welcome the opportunity to spend a few hours a week engaging in meaningful, shared activities with their children.

At the same time, Sunday Friends' volunteer base was growing. Janis encouraged community members to lead activities and bring in new ideas. Sunday Friends became a place for volunteers to realize their own strengths and build on these skills while gaining a sense of awareness of the diversity in their community. By drawing on the amazing resources of the community, Sunday Friends evolved and further expanded its program offerings. Many of our long-term participants from the Lowell-based programs have stepped into leadership as we have opened new sites, welcoming in new families, showing them the ropes, and effectively role-modeling Sunday Friends' values.