Ride Along

For the last two weekends my wife Dorothy's non-profit organization Gathering Change Inc., has been wrapping holiday presents at the North Shore Mall in Peabody to raise money for local food pantries. Thanks to the kindness, dedication, and hard work of GCI's Board Members and volunteers as well as the outrageous generosity of holiday shoppers, the "Wrap for Food" weekends were a smashing success. Another critical part to the success of the weekends was the kind help and support GCI received from the North Shore Mall staff. The money raised at the event will be split up between food pantries in Beverly, Danvers, Salem, and Peabody.

Today, Dorothy let me take a ride along with her as she delivered money to St. Joseph's Food Pantry in Salem and Beverly Bootstraps. When we got to our first stop, St Joseph's Food Pantry, we found it to be a hive of activity.

Non-perishable food donations were being stored and stacked in milk crates. These items would later be used to build the sacks of food that waited patiently for folks to come in and take them home.

While Dorothy and VeAnne Campbell Pantry Director chatted about future opportunities to collaborate, I poked around, said "Hi" to folks that were working there and took some snaps. The energy, enthusiasm, and organized action of the place truly impressed me. I mentioned to Dorothy when we got back to the Accord that it looked like they weren't suffering as far as donations went. Dorothy quickly corrected me. She said that when the Pantry is open, the line for bags of food stretches around the corner. They serve around 2000 individuals a month. All the food sacks I had seen set up would be gone in very short order. The daily ongoing need for food is immense.

Our next stop was Beverly Bootstraps. BB is a great organization. Not only do they run a food pantry, they also run a thrift store, provide housing assistance, as well as youth and adult education classes. When we went in the front door, we were greeted by Sue Gabriel, Executive Director. Sue took us on a tour of the pantry area and graciously stopped to pose for a picture with Dorothy.

Sue told us that the need for food went up 35% in 2009. She pointed out to us that while it seemed like they had quite a bit of food on hand right now, that it would be almost gone by the end of January or mid-February.

Sue said that in the dog days of summer, the pantry shelves would likely be bare. She also told us that she is constantly uplifted and grateful for the generosity of folks in Beverly.

A few things struck me as we drove home together. First, I am so proud of Dorothy and all the folks connected with Gathering Change Inc. I think it takes a great deal of bravery to start down this path in our current economic climate. Secondly, the people that are running the food pantries are doing amazing, healing work in this busted up country. Lastly - the need for assistance is mind-bendingly enormous. Much more needs to be done, not only in the way of donations, but employment and housing as well.

One size fits all ...

Looking for the perfect gift?

How about a donation to Gathering Change, Inc. in honor of a special teacher, coach or family member? We also have packages of small greeting cards that are perfect with holiday gifts, as a thank you note, or to send a word of encouragement to a friend in need. In memory cards are always available as well.

E-mail info@gatheringchangeinc.org or visit our website at www.gatheringchangeinc.org to inquire about receiving the cards of your choice. All donations received will go toward assisting local food pantries.





“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then
feed just one.” – Mother Teresa

Donate your coins and make a difference!

2nd Annual Collection Drive
October 17–25, 2009

Gather your friends and your spare change ...

Last year our largest source of donations was received from Gathering Change parties hosted by people who wanted to make a difference in their communities. Thanks to the generosity of those who offered their time and their spare change, these donations have been used to assist over 19 local food pantries to provide for the increasing number of families and individuals that need help making ends meet.

Every donation counts! Did you know ...
that one 16 oz. can filled with spare change
can add up to an average of $20.00? This could
put dinner on the table for a family in need.

Call 617-548-5357 to arrange local pick up of
your gathered coins or donate by check to:

Gathering Change, Inc.
c/o Saugus Bank
Route 1 @ 412 Lynn Fells Parkway
Saugus, MA 01906

Food Is Love

My daughter has recently gone to Copenhagen for a semester abroad and it has been a very exciting experience for her. We talk almost every day via Skype and I realized how much of our conversation revolves around food. We touch base on classes, excursions, friends, rooming situation but we always go back to the food-what did you eat for supper, how was the café down the street, what’s Danish food like, do you like Danish food, did you go grocery shopping, what did you buy, what did it cost, what did you cook…I’m telling you the list could go on and on. And it’s every, single time we speak.

Here’s one of our Skype stories. Recently she decided to buy kidney beans in a bag and try to cook those. We told her to soak them overnight in water and then cook them for about an hour. So instead, she soaked them for 2 nights and showed us what thy looked like afterwards. They were the size of peanuts in there shell. We encouraged her to wash them quickly, heat them over and see how they tasted. They weren’t very good. They were still hard. And last time I talked to her she tried to eat them again but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Another story revolves around the bagel she bought down the street and all the yummy things she had on it – pesto, butter, chicken, tomatoes – and how good the sandwich was. Yes, this is our conversation. We ooh and aah over all the food stories.

Oh and then there’s the Danish meal she received courtesy of her tour group while traveling through Denmark, the famous Danish open sandwich. And the suppers she cooks with her friends. And the grocery shopping where she’s not quite sure what some of the food is or where to find a piece of chicken. And that fish. What IS it?

Anyway, you get the picture. The conversation is usually how was class, what did you eat today, how are your new friends, did you enjoy dinner, what did you explore today, what does your kitchen look like. I realized that every other comment was about food. And this was how we were nurturing her from aboard – by asking her if she is physically nurturing herself. Just by asking about her dinner I feel I am nurturing her.

As a board member of Gathering Change, it just made me realize how we equate food and eating with love and care. So what does a mother do when there’s not enough food? How does she feel and how does she nurture? The importance of supporting the food pantries who help these moms and families took on an even deeper meaning for me. If a family can get a few bags of groceries then they feel cared for. Children feel loved when they are feed well. Individuals feel they are important and part of a community when that community provides for them in ways they are having trouble providing for themselves.

I may be chuckling at the constant food banter I am having with my daughter but the importance of food is no laughing matter. I have realized how essential our food pantries are and how important our contributions to them can be. It’s made me feel an ever stronger impetus to collect food and spare change so that every mom and dad, every family, every individual who comes looking for some food can be serviced in a caring and competent manner. In all cultures food is love. Let us continue to work towards providing that care for all.

Marianne Snow

Bon Appetit, part 2

The dining room in my first apartment.
My favorite meal in my twenties:
Chicken Piccata over wild rice
served with a side of cherry tomatoes in a
basil, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette

We all know how hard it can be to feed a family in this down-economy. When a parent loses a job, has hours cut, or doesn't receive an expected bonus ... the financial impact can certainly change the way a family eats and shops.

But what about young adults? The twenty-somethings who are heading off to college or are out there trying to make a living during a time when jobs can be scarce and the ones out there are extremely low-paying? Some post-graduates (or the many who are on a financial-sabbatical from college) may even have huge student loan debt plus rent to pay, while being financially responsible for the first time.

I remember spending $20.00 a week on groceries back when I had my first job, my first apartment, and years worth of student loans ahead of me (hard to believe this is going back 20 years now). Back then, $20.00 actually bought a decent amount of food for one person (who ate like a bird anyway). Breakfast was a bagel. I didn't drink coffee. Lunch was yogurt or salad. Dinner was bread, cheese and fruit; a spinach, mushroom and feta cheese calzone; or a splurge would be chicken piccata (a rare meal that I made for friends). I didn't worry much about putting food on my table back then, but what if I were just starting out on my own in the challenging economy of 2009?

Today, that same $20.00 might amount to a loaf of bread, a roast chicken, some apples, a box of cereal and perhaps a gallon of milk. As long as you like cereal (which is actually a good healthy choice provided it isn't covered with sugar) you could probably get by for a few days with this amount of food. But what if you had less than $20.00 to spend after paying bills, rent, etc.? What if you didn't even have a job? Today there are no guarantees. There are people in every age group that are struggling with how to get by with tighter budgets.

While blog-surfing (I started on Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic and then kept going ...) I caught a series of posts on how to survive during financially difficult times from the experienced point of view of the very chic Amoura Rose of Vancouver BC (her motto is "Live beautifully. Think elegantly"). In one entry, she tells the story of how as a student she was living on a food budget of a mere $5 to $15 per week. Her post on ways to really save money on food is worth taking a look at ... it certainly isn't artful cooking, but it is food for thought. (be sure to read the posted comments for additional tips on eating healthy while saving money at the grocery store). A box of mac and cheese doesn't have to be the answer ...

Frugal Food by Amoura Rose

Something else I have been thinking about ...

Double-Layer Tacos from Betty Crocker.com

When trying to come up with inexpensive recipes, look to cuisines that are known to feed a lot for less. I just read a great book, The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal. In it, the main character, a chef at an Aspen restaurant, whips up delicious menus based on her family roots in New Mexico, while discovering the essential ingredients to living a happy life. Favorite recipes linked to cherished memories are sprinkled throughout the novel. Sharing the experience of food, like creating tacos with family or friends for example, can satisfy hunger while nourishing the soul. Buen apetito!

Posted by Yvonne Blacker

What is time?

With my mother coming to the end of her life here on earth, I am reminded how quickly life goes by and that it is made up of a series of moments. When my father was a soldier in World War II, he was stationed in the Pacific. Every time he wrote home he would end the letter with "What is time?" This is how a young boy of 17 dealt with being homesick. This saying is also etched on his gravestone that my mother will be sharing with him shortly.

Last night, my husband and I, along with our children and their significant others, enjoyed a delicious meal at Taranta. This restaurant is in the North End on Hanover Street. The menu combines Southern Italian Cuisine with Peruvian Cuisine. All the windows were open and it was as if the energy coming into the restaurant from the street was shared with the patrons and vice-versa. This is restaurant week, and they offered a fixed price menu with lots of choices. We all enjoyed what we had.

There is nothing more intimate than sharing a meal with those we love. To listen, laugh, tell stories and be seen and heard by the person sitting across, diagonal or next to you at a table. For an hour and a half there is no place to go other than where you are. The urgency of the day and the worry of tomorrow is replaced with the present. Something that challenges most of us to be in. Our public display of affection on the street afterward, as we said our goodbye's to one another, replayed in my head during the night many times. Perhaps it is because my mother is in her final stage of her life that I am aware how precious and few these moments are.

Until we meet again, what is time?

Dorothy Goodwin

Bon Appetit

I saw the Julie & Julia movie yesterday, which is based on Julia Child's early days in France. Julie is looking for meaning in her own life and decides to recreate every Julia Child recipe while sharing her experience on her blog. What takes Julie one year to complete took Julia 8 years to write. I love and respect food and I cook, but I don't love it. Julie & Julia were not put off by the shopping, the unusual ingredients, the hours of preparation, the cost or cleaning up afterward. They prepared the food with love and true artistry. I don't have the daily constitution to shop, chop, saute, steam, bake, broil and boil. I rush though the grocery store as if my carriage is on fire. I cannot stand loading and unloading the groceries. I have a small kitchen so there is not always enough room for everything, especially if I go to Costco and purchase food items that come in enormous sizes. Then there is the dealing with the refrigerator and where to put everything, especially in summer when condiments rule the shelves and little room is left for anything else. This got me thinking, which I do every now and then, what if I could help people create meals that were healthy, simple and inexpensive to prepare.

I will post recipes and photos of food I make, once a week, using ingredients that won't break the bank. Other board members will submit their recipes as well. If you have one to share, by all means send it in so we can publish it on the blog. Eventually, depending on the number of recipes, there may be a separate section on the blog.

Julia Child I am not, but helping others eat healthy on less, I am all for that.

Bon Appetit!

Dorothy Goodwin

Another Man's Treasure

We are always surprised to see what treasures are among the spare change as it goes into the change machine. One of our most memorable collections of spare change came from an elderly man who had been a firefighter. After 50 years of saving his change, most of it pennies, his wife called and asked if we would come and pick it up. Not knowing what to expect or how much spare change we would find, MS and I brought along a few suitcases.

Upon arriving at his home very few words were exchanged. We were told ahead of time he was hard of hearing. When he opened the door to let us in he pointed to two tall black boots and another container full of change that was sitting on the floor. A sign that even though he no longer wore the boots he continued to find a purpose for them.

What he did not realize was that mixed in with the change was baby teeth. Perhaps they were his children's or his grandchildren's. Perhaps he was the tooth fairy on more than one occasion. Whatever the reason, he saved the teeth with the change. This was his treasure chest.

After we emptied the change out of the boots and into the suitcases, we thanked him, shook hands and said goodbye. As we rolled our new collection out to the car we could not help but wonder how much money we had and additionally, how many people would be helped by his generosity. With a grunt, we lifted the cases into the trunk, waved and said thank you again. He stood in the doorway watching us as we backed out of the driveway and began to make our way down the street. Perhaps he was saying goodbye to many years of memories.

I don't know what made me think about this today. Maybe it is because I struggle with the asking. I have to remember that I am asking for those that cannot. I will never forget the look on his face, and the tug MS and I felt in our hearts, as we drove away with his treasure.

And so it continues. I (we) will never stop asking! What's in your pocket? A loaf of bread? A gallon of milk?

Dorothy Goodwin

Daily Reconcilliations

I heard the word reconcile used on the news and it made me think about all the things I am dealing with at this moment.

When I heard that the economy was coming out of a recession followed by the fact the unemployment rate would probably climb to 10% over the coming year and a half...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that new home sales are up 11% which is wonderful news, but foreclosures are up as well and home sales fell to an 11 year low....How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that my mother is on her final journey here on earth but hospice cannot tell me if that means next week or tomorrow...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that there were 400 people in line at the food pantry in Lawrence this week, a 33% jump from last year...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that people think the need for emergency food is only great in the winter months and some food pantries may have to close their doors because their shelves are bare...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that my AC needed to be adjusted for $500 but now a week later it needs another adjustment for $400...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that deflation is keeping businesses open but not profitable...How do I reconcile that?

When I leave the grocery store after shelling out $150 and realize I don't have anything to make a complete meal...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard the swine flu is expected to be on the increase in the fall and hopefully there will be a vaccine, but they are not sure if it will be enough...How do I reconcile that?

Maybe you can tell by my tone that I have had a difficult week. I am holding onto information, some of which has a direct impact in my life, and some does not. A wise friend MS told me "YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN PATH." Greater words have never been spoken and I try to live by them daily. I (we) cannot control everything that happens in life or in the lives of those I (we) know and love. All any of us can do is support one another through the ups and downs with the gifts we have available to us, so that through our darkest moments when hope is disguised as fear, and joy is a distant memory, we are comforted in knowing that we are not alone. I can reconcile that!

Dorothy Goodwin

Oh What A Night!

Gathering Change, Inc., was asked to run the concession stand during last night's Concert on the Common sponsored by the Friends of the Lynnfield Library. The band Evolution was the attraction. They are a very talented homegrown group of musicians. Given the dreary wet summer we have had so far it seemed like everyone was happy to be outside. From our vantage point near the Lynnfield Meeting House, away from the band, we got to watch all the happenings. Children played a game of baseball across the common, some danced, while others played tag. A self-defense class did a demonstration to music during intermission and the winner of the Lynnfield Idol got to sing a solo. High School students volunteered to help the Friends of the Library and ironically we all wore yellow.

As MQ pointed out it was like we really lived in a community and she was right. This is what everyone looks like when they come together to enjoy each others company on a beautiful summer evening. There was no stress on the parents faces because there was no place their children needed to be the next morning. School is out and a lot of families are on vacation. There were older folks there as well. When 8:00 came the band continued to play because everyone knew these moments were few and far between.

As far as speaking to the audience to spread the word about our mission, I was given a few minutes before the start of the concert. I had put together what they call an elevator speech. This is basically a speech covering the top ten points you want the stranger in the elevator to know about your organization before the doors open to their floor, including an additional second or two to pull out a business card. I guess people listened because by the end of the evening we had a lot of money in our collection jar and most of it was green!

Perhaps the best part for me was spending time with this remarkable group of women who have given so much of themselves to this charity. Thank you MS for coordinating this event, you did a fabulous job. Thank you to MQ, JS, SC, JB, as well as two very special friends who helped us out SB and MB. I also want to thank all those who baked for us. And thank you MS and SS for doing such a great job selling the ice cream and slush and to BQ for helping with the set-up. Thank you to all the children who helped and it was beautiful to see you all getting along. A few of our members could not be there but a big thank you goes to YB for our beautiful table display. MS and MT you were missed.


What I took away from last night is that Gathering Change Inc., is also a community of families whose values and priorities say volumes about what is important in our town and in our world.

Oh What A Night!

Dorothy Goodwin

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Yesterday the news was very unsettling with the announcement that the unemployment rate is up the 9.4%. The highest in over 25 years. I was just a kid then, ok so I was 26 years old, to me that is a kid. Back then if you lost your job eventually you would find a new one and unemployment benefits seemed to be enough. We did call it a recession, but for some reason it did not seem as bad as this one. There are more of us and less opportunities for employment. More jobs have been sent to other countries where labor is cheaper and the jobs that are available to us are few and far between. You didn't need to make a huge salary back then to support yourself or your family. Today the cost of living has morphed into something that is unsustainable without a good paying job with benefits.

Everyone is wondering what is going to happen. How much worse is it going to get? For those that are about to run out of unemployment benefits will they lose their homes, how will they eat, where will they go?

Last night I watched the Wizard of Oz and I could not help but feel Dorothy's optimism for a better life when she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow. This song was written in 1939. What she didn't know at the time was that her life was pretty good, except for Miss Gulch, of course! She had a home, food, family, friends and love. What else is there?

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Dorothy
Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?

Dorothy Goodwin

What If?

Recently my son A was married. The time between his birth and his marriage seem like a blink of an eye. My daughter K in now looking for an apartment to start her independent life. She has been living at home since graduating from college a year ago. From the moment they were born my husband and I have loved and nurtured them with the tool box we had available to us. They have grown into thriving, independent, compassionate, loving, happy adults.


Another bedroom will soon be empty except for the few items left to identify whose room it was. As A and K move on to the next chapter in their lives my husband and I must do the same. Although this is the natural progression of life, it has not been easy for us to let go. I can honestly say there is nothing, and I mean nothing, more important to us than our children. So when I hear that 1 in 10 children in our State are hungry the first thing that comes into my mind is "What if they were mine?"

Dorothy Goodwin

I Believe!

I know the calendar date is July 1, 2009, but it feels more like April. The endless days of sunless skies, foggy mornings, heavy showers, cool temperatures and water soaked flowers is a lesson in patience. My neighborhood in summer is usually noisy with the sound of children playing outside...but not this summer. I saw an ice cream truck go by yesterday but there was no bell announcing itself. We all know that the sun is sitting up above the clouds and that gives me hope. I know in time it will show itself again. In New England we have a saying..."Wait five minutes and the weather will change."

The biggest challenge we face at Gathering Change, Inc., is to change the minds of those who do not believe that the needs exist in our communities because they do not see it. "Out of sight out of mind." Emergency food needs are just as great in the summer as they are in the winter. The need for emergency food assistance is up over 30% from last year. (before that it was up 50%). Why is this not front page news? Just as this weather is relentless so is the need for food. How do WE at Gathering Change, Inc., convey that in a way that people understand? We believe that for every mind we change, we also change a life!

Please feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you!

Dorothy Goodwin

The Face Of Giving

We have been undergoing challenging economic times with many heart-breaking stories of families losing their jobs, their homes, their hope. But despite all these difficulties, Gathering Change, Inc., a non-profit group that collects spare change and gives it right back into the communities it is collected in, has found that many people are still giving, volunteering, and working together as a community to help their neighbors. “It has been our experience that there is a long list of unsung heroes that have shown so much generosity with their time, effort and yes, their spare change, that we feel it important to recognize them for their efforts. They are not just helping out, they are grateful to be able to give,” says Marianne Snow, Vice President of Gathering Change, Inc. “What we have seen is individuals giving whatever they can, adults leading children in helping ways and groups working as a team with a deep spirit of cooperation, care and charity that you would not expect at this difficult economic time.”

And what does the face of giving look like? It’s a 14 yr old girl who decides she doesn’t need anything for her birthday so she invites her friends to a birthday party and asks them to bring their spare change rather than a gift. It’s a middle school community that sponsors a food drive for a full month and collects so much food that a truck is needed to bring it to the food pantry. It’s the volunteers at the food pantries working tirelessly and without recognition every week to provide food for those who never thought they would be in the position they are in. It’s adults helping their brownie troop, girl scout troop, daisy troop, day care center, classroom and families to create containers to fill with extra change that they can donate. It’s a retired man who decides to donate the jar of change that he has saved his entire adult life. It’s a school that puts a donation jar in its cafeteria and collects several hundred dollars. It’s the many principles, teachers, PTO’s, media centers all coming together to hold Gathering Change events. It’s the mom who invites her friends over for a cheese and cracker evening and requests that they bring their spare change. It’s the teacher who asks kids to bring in their change and then uses it to teach a math lesson on how much their change could buy.

“Our list is endless at a time when money is scarce.” says Dorothy Goodwin, President of Gathering Change, Inc. “We are in awe at the concern and care that so many have shown even when things are challenging for them. It may not seem like large amounts, but putting it all together, it adds up to lots of help for many people. Neighbors are giving to neighbors, people are bringing hope to other people. Isn’t that just what we need at this time?”

Because of people’s generosity, Gathering Change, Inc. has been able to give checks and vouchers to the food pantries in participating towns. “We feel humbled by the deep sense of giving that both the people making donations and the workers at the food pantry are exhibiting,” adds Mary Taggart, Donation Coordinator. “The sense of hope is continually renewed with each phone call we receive that tells us there is another person or group who has rallied to help their community. We see hope around every corner as people share whatever they can.”

If you are interested in helping Gathering Change, Inc. or learning more about our organization, check out our website, www.gatheringchangeinc.org or contact us at 617-548-5357.

By Marianne Snow

Celebrating year one ...

Gathering Change, Inc. will be hosting the refreshment stand on July 8th from 6 – 8 pm at the summer concert on the Lynnfield Common featuring the local band Evolution. Contact us to learn how you can help with this or future fund-raising events.

To think that only a year ago, Gathering Change, Inc. was just a thought ...

It all started with a small group of women talking about “change.” What would it take to make a difference in the lives of others? Specifically, neighbors who were struggling in a down economy? Could the concept of “give what you have” – whether that is a bowl of spare change or a few hours of free time – be enough? And more importantly, how could this idea of supporting our local communities with small acts of generosity grow into a real-live charity?

After months of idea-generating meetings, and many long discussions on the best ways that we could assist those struggling to make ends meet, this small group decided it was time to introduce the Gathering Change mission to others. Four of us hosted parties in our homes, invited friends and neighbors, and shared with these guests our hopes and dreams for Gathering Change. We believed that together we could make a difference. And then we asked for help. And people said “yes.”

Original ten Board Members of Gathering Change, Inc.

Out of these first introductory parties, we were able to create a board of ten women who were committed to donating their time and expertise to guide the initial year of Gathering Change. We also had a growing list of volunteers who were willing to help – either by hosting a GC party, spreading the word, or donating other resources as needed. And with each volunteer, and with each Gathering Change event, we have witnessed the power of small groups of people acting together to benefit others. It has been both remarkable and inspiring to watch Gathering Change become what it is today.

We are proud to say that with the coordinated effort of many volunteers, we have collected over $25,000 to date. Most of these funds came in the form of coin donations. Gathering Change, Inc. has been able to help support a large number of food pantries in our local communities who have been hit hard during these challenging economic times. And the icing on the cake? We have witnessed how generous others can be, even when times are tough. By coming together, sharing our concerns, and giving what we can, the supporters of Gathering Change have made a difference.

As we reflect on the past year, we are so proud of all that Gathering Change has become. We could not have done so much without the generosity of others. And as Gathering Change has grown, so have we all. Thank you!

With much gratitude and appreciation,
The Board Members of Gathering Change, Inc.

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
– Saint Francis of Assisi

GATHERING CHANGE, INC., IS A 501(c)3

The mail was a few hours later than normal but somehow I knew it was coming today. The IRS has officially recognized Gathering Change, Inc., as a 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. This letter represents the culmination of 10 dedicated board members, over 100 volunteers, the support of family, friends, neighbors, numerous schools, businesses, churches and civic organizations in 20 communities who believed in our mission to help our neighbors with their basic needs by collecting spare change.

I have had moments when I have felt exhausted and discouraged but I am reminded that to nurture another human is so much more than giving them something to eat, clothes to wear, fuel assistance and educational opportunities. Everyone needs to know that they are not forgotten and that someone cares.

We are Gathering Change, Inc., and we bring hope to our neighbors in the form of spare change!

Congratulations!

Dorothy Goodwin

Living Within Our Means

Is it possible to live within our means? I used to ask my husband on a daily basis how does everyone live in a beautiful home, drive a new car every few years, pay for their children's college education and take vacation after vacation? He would answer they don't and I would argue but they do. I guess he was right, they don't!

When President Obama spoke this week about living within our means I wondered if everyone understood what that meant. The last time we heard these words spoken was from President Carter, and no one listened. After 9/11 President Bush told everyone to go out and spend. Spend they did, on homes, cars, vacations, computers, flat screen televisions, etc. But how did they do it? They took equity out on their homes to pay for what they wanted and not necessarily what they needed. They maxed out their credit cards, took enormous college loans, leased their cars, charged trips, and turned in their homes for bigger ones. Mortgage companies gave people a false sense that they could afford a home of their dreams by offering sub prime mortgages or interest only mortgages. Some did not even check their employment status. Suze Orman was on all the talk shows this week telling everyone to start saving and stop spending. Most Americans have nothing to fall back on if they lose their jobs. Credit card companies that charge 18% interest are now going to charge 31%. The sad part about this is that other countries followed our lead.

Will the economic downturn we find ourselves in change the way we spend money? Is it possible for us to live with less? As Americans, are we able to be satisfied with owning what we can afford and need vs. what we want? I have been trying this new experiment when I shop now. Before I make a purchase I ask myself a few questions. Do I need it? Can I afford it?

You would be amazed at how many items I put back!

Dorothy Goodwin

Lasting Impressions

Every so often in life you run into someone who makes a lasting impression. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting such a person. I don't even know this person's hobbies or interests. I don't know what kind of student she is or what her aspirations are. I don't even know her favorite color or food. All I know is that she has made a lasting impression on me because of her kind, generous, mature and happy heart.

MM I am honored to know you!

Dorothy Goodwin

Lights, Camera, Action!

On Monday, February 23, 2009, Marianne Snow and I were interviewed on a cable show called The Total Woman. I was not sure what to expect, except for the fact that I had met the host Cheryl Webb Scott before and found her to be friendly and easy to talk too. The Stoneham TV studio (which was converted from the Unitarian Church) was very nice and the all women crew could not of been more professional or complimentary. The purpose of the interview was to introduce ourselves and our organization to those in the 26 communities where this program will be aired. We were not given questions ahead of time and very little direction. It was basically like sitting around a table and telling the story of how Gathering Change, Inc., came to be, how we are different from other charities and why we believe that has helped us spread to 18 communities in less than four months. I did state some obvious facts about the economy and that the need for emergency food assistance was up 50% from last year at this time, but I felt like there was so much more to say. Thank goodness Marianne was right next to me and was able to add information that I missed.

Then something happened toward the end of the interview. The faces of the individuals waiting in the food pantry line came into my head, one by one, and I felt like I was not speaking for myself but rather for all of those who could not. I knew at that moment I was where I needed to be and I was able to say what needed to be said.

Thank you Cheryl!

Dorothy Goodwin

Hope

Yesterday I spent the afternoon visiting two family members at two different nursing homes. Both have lived through the depression, but both believe this time will be different. Back then people did not have a lot. Some had their own homes, not a lot of clothes, certainly not a car for every family member of driving age and most households only had one income. When I asked how they were able to feed a family of seven I was told they were given rations of food. If there was an extra egg or an extra cup of flour they would share it with a neighbor. Their Church would send a package of used clothes every so often. We have all seen pictures of the long bread lines and wonder if it will come to that again.

This past year we have been fed a constant diet of bad news. With home foreclosures at an all time high, a figure that is expected to reach over three million by the end of this year. Layoffs by the millions (3.6 million to be exact) most of which occured in the last three months and not a lot of options for new ones. It is no wonder that everyone is worried. Even those that did not get laid off are feeling for the ones that did. We all know someone who has or will be. There is a new term called 'job guilt.” This is when you are lucky enough to keep your job but your co-worker (friend) is not.

We could learn from the past and share what we have with a friend or neighbor. We have the capacity to reinvent ourselves and our world. It may not the the world of excess where we continue to spend $40 for every $1 that we have. Maybe we will have to learn to live within our means like our parents did. Maybe we can offer a neighbor an egg, a cup of flour, a friendly hello or a handshake. Maybe, just maybe, we can come together to help out one another. This is 'Neighbors helping neighbors”. This is my hope for our future.

Dorothy Goodwin

Priceless Treasure

Recently, a friend of mine spoke about hosting a Gold Rush Party. This is where you bring all your out dated, broken pieces of jewelry made of gold and platinum that you are no longer wearing. A few “experts” look at each piece, assign it a value and write you a check. Most, if not all, of what is collected will be melted down.

This jewelry is just sitting there in your home, maybe in a jewelry box, or a drawer. The years have gone by and it is still just minding its own business and probably wondering if it will ever see the light of day - waiting. Along comes an opportunity to actually do something with all this jewelry!

The same can be said for spare change. Most of us have it. Some have it in jars, on the top of their dryer's, in the bottom of their pocket books, or on the floor of their cars. Like the jewelry it is waiting for the opportunity to be of use. Some of us will gather it up and turn it in, maybe for something we want or need, but for most of us it sits there - waiting.

Just Like the Gold Rush Party, Gathering Change, Inc., is offering an opportunity to assign a value to your spare change. Once it is put through a change counter you will know its exact worth. It will then be distributed back to the city/town it came from. Unlike turning in your jewelry, you will not receive a check, but what you will receive is knowing that you turned your unused spare change into a treasure for a neighbor in need.

Dorothy Goodwin

The Fearest of Them All

On my husband's night table he has a pile of books. As I was making the bed this morning my eye could not help but read the title of the book lying on top. “Art and Fear”. If this was a true art form I would be known for being the fearest of them all.

Not long ago when my son A was in high school he began doing community service in and around the Boston area. He also had the opportunity to go on several trips to West Virginia to help out the poorest of the poor who lived in unsanitary conditions, with high unemployment and few opportunities to change their lives. He also volunteered at Ruah House. This is a home for women living and dying with Aids. His first job out of college was at an overnight facility for abused, run away teens. After that he counseled addicts and the homeless. For his Master's Program he is working in a physic unit at a North Shore Hospital. If you asked him if he was afraid he would say no.

My daughter K, while at college, began volunteering to help the victims of Katrina in New Orleans. She went back three times, even though, the conditions were not safe and at times very unsanitary. What she saw, she will never forget, like the decomposing animals, the X's on the houses that were searched for dead bodies, the smell of decay and mold. If you asked her if she was afraid she would say no.

When my husband became a hospice volunteer and would spend hours with dying patients or when he volunteered at St Francis House to help with the needs of the homeless and you asked him if he was afraid he would say no.

I began volunteering at My Brother's Table a few years ago. All I had to do was help get the evening meal ready for 250 to 300 clients. My job usually involved making the salads. This was not difficult work. It was disappointing, however, when you were asked to prepare food that was donated and it was not fresh. We worked around this by adding more tomatoes and cucumbers. When the door opened and the flood of clients entered I immediately became emotional. Why hadn't I done this before?

When I stopped my business after 20 years without a clue about what I would do next, I had no idea it would be to help those in need. Gathering Change, Inc., has showed me that the fear of not doing is greater than the fear of doing. To witness another's fear is not the same as talking about it. To deliver a check to the food pantry and observe the individuals waiting in line, is not the same as mailing it in. You never forget the faces of uncertainty, you never forget this could be you, you never forget the deafening silence as they wait their turn, or the small part you play in helping and know it will never be enough.

If you asked me if I am afraid, I would say yes, but will it stop me? I would say no!

Dorothy Goodwin

The Heart of Every Home

The heart of every home can be round or square, oblong or rectangle, wood, glass or even Formica. I am talking about the Kitchen Table. This is where we begin and end each day. At my kitchen table, the one I share with my husband and two children, I have watched play dough turn into clay sculptures. I have watched printing turn into cursive. I have seen spelling words turn into short stories. I have seen finger paints turn into brush strokes. I have watched my childrens feet, that used to dangle, touch the ground and their hands, that could not reach, grab hold.

We have laughed and cried at this special place. We have shared our dreams, hopes and fears here. We have celebrated holidays and watched the candles on the birthday cakes increase.

If every kitchen table could talk, it would have its own story. It is the place we go for comfort, even if the chairs are not the most comfortable. It is the place we go for conversation, even if it is the most chaotic. Most importantly it is the place we go for nourishment of the body, mind and soul.

Let us not take for granted

the food that we eat,

the table from which we eat

and the people with whom we share it.

Dorothy Goodwin

The Luckiest Girl

Some of my fondest childhood memories are around food. I remember walking home and seeing my kitchen light on. I knew that meant there was a meal being prepared for me and my family by my Mom. I knew I was the luckiest girl in the world because my Mom was the best cook, except for maybe my Grandmother. Every night we were fortunate to sit down to a delicious meal and a special dessert.

For breakfast I had a choice of cereal, waffles, pancakes or my favorite egg on toast, juice and milk. Each day, I carried my lunch to school and bought milk for 3 cents to go with my bologna sandwich, (tuna on Fridays) apple and two homemade chocolate chip or snicker doodle cookies.

There was always fresh fruit in my house. We even had a fruit man who came to our home every Friday night during the summer months so we could buy our fresh fruit and vegetables for the week. I remember walking into the back of the truck to pick out plums and peaches.

I don't ever remember not having enough to eat, being hungry after a meal or wondering if there would be seconds. I don't ever remember wondering if other people were hungry.

I assumed everyone had enough food to eat.

We also felt special because our Mom also made all our clothes. We would make a few trips to Jordan Marsh in Boston each year to purchase fabric. My Mom would make us dresses and coats and hats to match, skirts and blouses, even nightgowns with bathrobes and let's not forget the bathing suits.

I assumed everyone had enough clothes to wear.

I never remember being cold. The windows in my bedroom were drafty and on really cold mornings a thin layer of ice would form on the inside....but I never had to put on extra clothes to stay warm.

I assumed everyone had enough fuel to heat their homes.

I cannot imagine being a young child and wondering if there would be enough to eat, or if I would have clothes to wear, or heat to keep me warm and the opportunities of an education. But one in 10 children live with these worries, these fears and this reality.

Dorothy Goodwin

Welcome!

Welcome to Gathering Change, Inc.'s blog!

We want to use our blog as a means for sharing our mission, for storytelling, and for making connections.

Like the rest of Gathering Change, our blog will be a team effort with different team members posting on a regular basis.

We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Dorothy Goodwin
President - Gathering Change, Inc.