The mission statement on the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter website reads simply: “To give people in an emergency situation a place to stay.”

It’s a mission that Leslie Reichert has been pursuing for eight years and recently the CEO and President of the shelter has been honored as a Commonwealth Heroine, Class of 2025 in recognition of her efforts.

Reichert received the citation from the Senate at the State House, accompanied by state rep. David K. Mouradian (R-9 Worcester) and state senator Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but do make a difference. The Heroines use their time, talent and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their communities.  Known as “the glue that holds a community together,” they are mentors and volunteers who protect and represent the interests of seniors, victims of violence, children, immigrants and other vulnerable populations. 

Each year, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women partners with state legislator to identify women who make outstanding contributions to organizations and communities. Each legislator is encouraged to nominate one woman from their constituency as a way of recognizing their efforts.

Reichert was nominated by Fattman. 

Responding with the same generosity that moved her to open the shelter, Reichert said in a statement that her thoughts turned to the shelter’s many volunteers as she accepted the citation. 

“This citation belongs to every phone volunteer who has answered a call in the middle of the night, every board member who’s has helped shape our path, every volunteer who worked a shift at the physical shelter, for everyone working at Hope’s Thrift Closet, and every person who has shown up to fundraisers, simply offered a kind word to someone in crisis. 

Your service is seen. Your impact is real. And now, it has been recognized by our state,” she wrote.

The shelter works with individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or an emergency situation in the Blackstone Valley area.

Not just a place to sleep, the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter makes the connections for shelter residents to help them tackle problems related to their  homelessness. 

Shelter staff connect residents to job training, addiction support, facilities for laundry and showering, mentoring, counseling and consistent accountability. “Our objective is not only to provide temporary assistance but to walk with individuals and families in their adverse circumstances,” the website reads.

On a cold night last January, Reichert said the shelter can play host to as many as 12 people some evenings or sometimes even just one. The crippling cost of housing in the state is a big contributor to the problem, she said.

As a volunteer-dependent operation, the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter has launched a campaign – 100 Hands for Hope. That’s how many volunteers they hope to sign up by October 31 to man just one shift at the shelter during the coming winter. The shelter will open on Nov. 1, 2025.