A Community of Inspirational Individuals

Investing In Our Community

At Yankee Home, we believe doing good in our communities is just as important as doing great work in your home. That belief inspired the Inspiration Fund, founded by our very own Ger Ronan. Rooted in Ger’s personal journey and commitment to service, the foundation reflects the values that built our company — integrity, compassion, and always doing the right thing.

The Inspiration Fund exists to walk alongside inspirational individuals and organizations who are making a real difference in people’s lives. We don’t just write checks — we build relationships, show up when it matters, and look for ways to lift others up in meaningful ways. Whether it’s helping a family in need, supporting local heroes, or strengthening the communities we call home, our goal is simple: help people feel supported, encouraged, and hopeful about what’s ahead.

Bob "The Bike Guy" Charland: Pedal Thru Youth

Bob is the Founder of Pedal Thru Youth, Inc. He started working with children in 2003 when he lead his daughter’s Girl Scout Troop and coached her softball team. He started teaching automotive for Willie Ross School for the Deaf in 2012. Around the same time, he started fixing up bikes to donate to less fortunate kids.

In 2017, after being diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease, he decided that he wanted to create a formal organization and start donating bikes to large groups of children. Thus, the idea for Pedal Thru Youth was born. Bob has received numerous awards from local government and community agencies for his contributions to the community, including being recognized by the Springfield City Council and the Center for Human Development in 2017. He currently works in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Jake Story

One day in 2015, Ger Ronan, founder of Yankee Home, drove down from Massachusetts to Bristol, PA to meet with our window manufacturer. Along the way, Ger found himself walking around downtown Philadelphia, killing time before his meeting. While out and about, Ger decided to find a way to learn more about the increasing number of homeless individuals he witnessed around the area, and asked for directions from a man who was sitting by himself on the street.

It was in that conversation that Ger developed a long-term bond with Jake, the unsuspecting man on the streets of Philly, that changed Ger’s entire paradigm. The secret to living is giving, and each year The Jake Story continues on, proving that life’s most important lessons can come from the most unexpected.

Lorraine's Soup Kitchen

Yankee Home proudly supports local organizations and with our headquarters located in Chicopee, MA, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen is one of our go-to places to donate non-perishable goods and assistance to help lead the fight against food insecurity.

Harmony House

Before she passed away, retired educator Ruth Willemain, founded the Harmony House in 2017 with a dream and a plan. Harmony House is to provide compassionate care for terminally ill individuals within a comfortable, loving, home-like environment.

Harmony House is a social model home for those who are facing the end of their lives alone, without adequate caregiver support. We are dedicated to maintaining the honor and dignity of each resident during the final stages of life.

Footwear With Care

Officer Jim Barrett, a Hartford police officer on a mission to help as many homeless people as he possibly can. He transformed a SWAT vehicle into a mobile homeless outreach center. Barrett regularly organizes collections and distributes footwear, shoes, socks, etc. for the homeless in partnership with Footwear with Care (FwC).

Since 2016, FwC has been delivering durable and well-fitting walking shoes and boots as well as medical foot screenings to homeless children and adults in Hartford. To help homeless people secure and keep jobs, it also provides steel-toed boots, non-slip kitchen shoes, and dress footwear for work in construction, culinary services, and offices.

Hartford Bags Of Love

At age 9, Tiernan Cabot was inspired by a man who told him about his life on the streets, to give back to his community as much as he could. He created this organization which provides “bags of love” full of basic essentials like toothbrush, toothpaste, soaps, socks, and deodorant, and work with the Hartford community to spread these “bags of love” throughout Connecticut, and the world. We have been lucky to assist this organization including sponsoring their Sleep Out to End Homelessness.

The Sunday LOVE Project

The Mission of The Sunday Love Project is to share food amongst the homeless, while simultaneously building community. Their efforts aim to break bread with those who are struggling to make their way back into society as contributing members. They are a liaison between a hungry, struggling mind and a focused, nourished soul. Each week The Sunday Love Project serves over 500 meals to those in need.

Contractors Help Local Family

Full story originally aired January 8, 2019 by Western Mass News

A Springfield woman was out $9,000 after a contractor bailed on the work she paid him to do. The nearly two-year-long ordeal marked a milestone after attracting the attention of local contractors who pitched in to help.

“When we got here there was a bad leak upstairs. All the water did a substantial amount of damage. It was left like that for a while, so there was mold growing. Very unsanitary, unsafe bathroom,” said Project Manager of Yankee Home Joe Fazio.

“We gutted all the damage out, we fixed the plumbing. Right now we’re half way through here, put all the new sheetrock up. We’ve already done the acrylic walls in the bathroom, so it’s a little less than 24 hours we got this done and we hope to finish this at some point today,” Fazio continued.

Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief

Throughout the year there are many events, organizations and initiatives that our employees involve themselves in and contribute towards. With last fall’s devastating turmoil in North Carolina, our employees took it upon themselves to rally a donation to be sent south for assistance.