Salem, Swampscott Volunteers Among 5 Gomes Service Award Recipients

SALEM, MA — Congressman Seth Moulton selected five honorees for the 11th annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award, with a public ceremony set for Tuesday in Salem.

The award, created by Moulton in 2016, recognizes volunteer work and community contributions by constituents across Massachusetts' 6th District.

The five honorees are Prataap Patrose of Gloucester, Lorraine Sanborn of Saugus, BG (MA)(Ret) Andrea Gayle-Bennett of Lynn, Jo Hamel of Amesbury and Pam Kentley of Salem.

They will be honored during a ceremony at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Hall, 160 Derby Street, Salem.

The award is named for the late Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes, a Christian minister who served for nearly 40 years at The Memorial Church of Harvard University. Gomes was Moulton's mentor and friend and inspired him to serve in the Marines and later run for Congress.

The award honors volunteers who show a similar commitment to service and community.

This year's honorees as people whose work reaches across the district in different ways.

Patrose is co-founder and president of the 100 Trees Project, a nonprofit working on environmental equity in Gloucester, Rockport and across Cape Ann. Since 2020, he has led volunteer tree-planting efforts in public housing areas, parks and thoroughfares aimed at urban heat islands.

Sanborn has volunteered since 2014 with Catholic Charities Boston language programs in Salem and Lynn, teaching English to immigrants through weekly lessons for nonnative speakers.

Gayle-Bennett serves as adjutant for Lynn-Swampscott Disabled American Veterans Chapter #64 and connects veterans with housing, food and peer support while also organizing social events and support networks.

Hamel founded Caiden's Crusaders in honor of her grandson to support families facing childhood cancer across the 6th District. The volunteer-run nonprofit provides direct financial assistance to families, according to the announcement.

Kentley serves as vice president of the Woman's Friend Society, where she oversees Salem's Emmerton House, supports residents and coordinates events and fundraisers. She also volunteers with local food banks and cat rescue efforts.