The gift of kindness

“A single act of kindness throws out
roots in all directions, and the roots
spring up and make new trees.
The greatest work that kindness
does to others is that is makes them
kind themselves.” - Amelia Earhart


On November 9th we will be celebrating our generous and dedicated volunteers who have gathered change for neighbors in need, who have spread the word about Gathering Change, and have even danced for change (see video clip below).

Please join us at The Lynnfield Meeting House at 7pm for our annual meeting which will include a special guest speaker plus light refreshments.

Click here to view.

To RSVP, kindly call 781.334.6773 or email cindyzavala@comcast.net

To receive a kindness is a great gift, but
to give a kindness is an even greater one!

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.

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