Staff

Susan Johnson comes to the Needy Fund with over 25 years of experience managing organizations in Chicago, Boston and Sydney, Australia. She grew up in Yarmouth Port and returned home to the Cape in 2007 to raise her children and care for her aging parents. It was at this time that Susan cemented her career in nonprofit management, leading organizations such as HB&RACC, HECH, Cape Cod Village, and the Cape Cod Museum of Art. She is also the Co-Founder of Katelynn’s Closet, a 501c3 nonprofit providing clothing to children in need on the Cape & Islands.

Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and received graduate certificates in nonprofit management from Suffolk University and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. During the pandemic, she earned a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Leadership through the University of Colorado, Boulder. Susan is a Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach. She currently lives in Dennis with her husband, Doug, their combined 5 children; Sadie -a very happy lab; and Tove – the salty hedgehog. When she is not at the Needy Fund, she is photographing sunrises, writing poetry, traveling, or cheering on her kids from the bleachers.

Lorraine graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in psychology, specializing in counseling. Her counseling career began at a Dynamic Action Residence Enterprise (D.A.R.E.) emergency foster care placement agency contracted with the Department of Social Services. Shortly thereafter she became an active member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis and served 9 of her 21 years there as Conference President. She has been with the Needy Fund since 1998 and has been involved with all aspects of the fund from intake to helping facilitate successful fund raising appeals and was promoted to Director of Client Services.

Lorraine resides in her lifelong home of Hyannis with her husband, Joseph. They have three children, John, James, and Jean and she now enjoys being Grandma to Lucia and Elijah.

“In 1998 I became a case worker at the Needy Fund fulfilling my desire to enhance my ability to assist others in need. The Needy Fund is unique to most organizations in their capacity to provide immediate assistance to a needy family without a prolonged application process. It is very rewarding and heartening to help families and individuals work through a financial crisis. I see empowerment as the key to future stability and assist people with household budgeting. I also stay current with updates on local, state, and federal assistance programs that can further enhance the clients’ financial stability.”

Being part of a community is important to me. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in a multi-generational household, the importance of community and family have been instilled in me from early on. Having worked in many sectors in San Francisco, New York and Seattle, the work I returned to time and time again was public service and community development. This work inspired me to seek my Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on urban administration – where I felt I could best effect change in meaningful ways.

My husband, daughter and I moved back to the Cape in 2016, so that we could be part of this strong community, where his family lives and where he grew up. We love living on Cape Cod. There is a great sense of pride and love that Cape Codders and those who regularly come to stay, have for the region.

A strong foundation of public service and community is also what drew me to the Needy Fund: An organization with a long history of serving community needs that continue to evolve to meet the challenges of its residents. A lot has changed since it was established in 1936, but the message is the same: Neighbors helping neighbors – a motto I very much believe in. I take pride in my role to help serve the mission of the Needy Fund, and I’m honored to be a part of an outstanding and dedicated team, and an organization that has continued its mission to serve the community in important ways.

Kim joined the Needy Fund in April 2022 after working in the local school district for many years, as well as in the medical field. She has seen how families struggle on the Cape and how the Needy Fund can make a difference. She is excited to be part of a team that has such a positive impact in her community.

Kim has an associate’s degree in Business Management and a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Bridgewater State University. She brings organizational and problem-solving skills, creativity, and compassion to the Needy Fund team.

Kim lives locally with her husband and two dogs. She is proud mom to a son and a daughter. Outside of the Needy Fund, she helps her husband run their construction company, enjoys reading, sitting on the beach and spending time with friends.  

Martha (Marty) has worked in Human Services for more than 35 years. Prior employers were Housing Assistance Corporation where she started as a receptionist, then went into Fundraising and Development overseeing the coordination of a record setting 5 site Walk to End Homelessness with a volunteer staff of more than 200. She then specialized in Homeless Prevention, doing housing search, intervention, budgeting, case management, and seeking outside funds for move in costs. She also worked at the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Youth Ranch programs assisting at risk youth.

For several years, she worked for Mashpee Village, a 145-unit low-income housing community. Marty focused most of her work at Mashpee Village on crisis intervention for families, youths, seniors, and singles at risk. She also oversaw an after-school program for the youth and created a teen mentoring program.

She has been a Cape Cod resident since 1964. She is a Barnstable High School graduate. She and her husband Philip have two daughters and two granddaughters.

Marty has been with the Needy Fund for over 16 years successfully assisting clients daily with basic human needs in a timely fashion. She skillfully negotiates with vendors and maintains an updated referral resource guide for her clients to help them regain financial stability.

“The Needy Fund puts the person first; assistance is not dictated by governmental agency guidelines that have little to do with what is going on in real people’s lives in real time. We believe in treating all with dignity, respect, and kindness during a time when they often feel slighted by the world. These are not just words to us but reality.”

I’ve had the opportunity to work as an intake counselor for the Needy Fund, serving the community, for the past 9 years. Having a passion to work in the social service field, I started as a volunteer at a local shelter in Plymouth, eventually obtaining a degree in Business Management and BS in Human Services. My employment experience consisted of working in hospice and elder care as well as case management and advocacy for the developmentally disabled.

I came to the Cape in 1997, have 4 children and 1 grandchild. In my leisure time I continue to actively volunteer for various organizations, attend art/music events, quilt and study Italian.

“The Needy Fund exemplifies what a local charity should be-helping those in the community help themselves- making the Cape a better place to live.”

I am new on the scene at the Needy Fund having started in November 2021 and so far it has been a wonderful experience. I am getting the opportunity to serve my community and be of assistance to folks who need a helping hand. I started my career on Cape Cod at Gosnold in 1995 working with substance abuse clients and this has prepared me to have compassion and understanding in my interactions with clients of the Needy Fund. I came  to the Cape in 1994 and have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren and in my down time I enjoy oil painting and singing with the Falmouth Chorus.

“The Needy Fund fills a need in the community unlike anyone else and it deserves all our support.”