Ginny’s Helping Hand Visits Samoset

I am working with some Youth Venture teams that would like to collaborate with Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc. for their community projects. Sue Chalifoux Zephir, Executive Director, and Brandon Robbins, Assistant Manager, from Ginny’s were kind enough to make a visit to Samoset last Friday and tell students about Ginny’s. I felt that making this connection would inspire this group of Changemaking Youth Venture students to pursue their ventures. Ginny’s, located in Leominster, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the everyday living needs of the less fortunate.

The first Youth Venture team in attendance named themselves the Single Pringle Parents. This group of 7th grade girls is inspired to help single parents right here in the Leominster community. “Single Pringle” has a nice ring to it. I will have to ask the girls if there is any hidden meaning with their team name beyond the rhyming factor.

Also in attendance, is the Samoset Youth Venture team CLASS Venture. This team hosts community functions at Samoset, and they would like to have a donation drive for Ginny’s to collect socks and flip-flops.

About Ginny’s

Many years ago, a friend of mine (who has since passed away) had gone through some difficult times and he truly benefited from Ginny’s services. I used to visit the pantry and check out their books and household items. On one of these occasions, I asked Ginny if she remembered my friend, and she did. He was a lovable character, so I can see why she would. He aptly called Ginny an angel.

Sue and her husband had volunteered at Ginny’s and had seen the need in the community for the services that Ginny’s provided. When Ginny retired and moved down south, Sue took over the operation to carry out Ginny’s important work.

According to Sue, Ginny started the food pantry over 30 years ago. It was hard setting up a non-profit when communities were always changing. Thirty years ago there was less awareness of hunger and homelessness.

Team Questions on Single Parents

Ari, who was the spokesperson from her team, asked if there are single parents on staff at Ginny’s. Brandon spoke highly of Myra, who is a single parent who began as a volunteer and now is part of Ginny’s full time staff.  Myra is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. She has four children in Leominster Public Schools.

Ari also asked if Ginny’s talks to single parents, as in providing counsel. Sue ensured her that the staff at Ginny’s creates a strong relationship with the people that they serve; however, they are not licensed caseworkers. She indicated that if Ginny’s can not provide the service an individual needs, they will connect the individual to the program and service needed.

The question was asked, what is the single parent ratio of moms to dads that you serve? Sue was not sure. She did not have those statistics right in front of her, but thoughtfully said that she would get back to the team with an answer to this question.

Ginny’s Needs List is Year Round

What stuff do you help single parents with? Sue explained that Ginny’s helps single parents and any person in need transition from homelessness. Ginny’s helps by providing people in need with food, furniture, clothing and “setting up where ever they are at.”

Brandon spoke about how people are inspired to donate during the holidays, and that is wonderful.  He explained that people in the community are hungry 12 months of the year and Ginny’s needs are year round. He continued to say Ginny’s serves 50 homeless people in the community during a typical month.

Sue listed off items that are always on their needs list – diapers, baby wipes, baby food, pet food, clothing for children, and personal hygiene products. She also mentioned that they are always looking for volunteers in their food pantry.

This sparked more questions from the girls. Could they donate care packages? Baskets with canned items? Baskets with toys? Sue assured the girls that whatever they decide to do, it will be accepted with gratitude.

Birthday in a Basket

Sue spoke about the idea of a birthday in a basket donation. This would involve providing the cake, plates, cups, utensils and perhaps presents for a family in need to help celebrate a birthday. I thought this was a wonderful idea. The Single Pringle Parents team thought so too.

Sock and Flip Flop Donation Drive

Francine Meigs, Samoset’s Youth Venture Champion, asked if Ginny’s would benefit from a sock and flip-flop donation drive. Sue explained that socks are #1! New socks are definitely a very important item that Ginny’s donates to people-in-need. The flip-flops are also needed.  The example of people being misplaced due to a fire was mentioned. In some cases, people lose everything – even their shoes.  Flip-flops are also needed for those that use public showers.

The Community Programs Connected to Ginny’s

What are the other programs that Ginny’s is connected to? There are many – including the United Way, the Leominster Police Department, the Leominster Public Schools, Catholic Charities and the Worcester County Food Bank. The Worcester County Food Bank provides a large portion of food donations to Ginny’s, and connected Ginny’s to Target and Hannaford, Brandon explained. Ginny’s also works with both the Homeless Outreach Coordinator and the Domestic Violence Coordinator in Leominster. They help people that need temporary shelter.

Volunteers Needed

Before Brandon and Sue left, Sue again, encouraged the students to come and visit the shelter on a Saturday and perhaps volunteer. One of the boys on the Samoset All Star Angels Team (a different team with a different cause!) told Sue that he did want to volunteer.  I told Sue that he is such a great kid, and I hope he does! The Single Pringle Parents team was very inspired by what Sue and Brandon had to say about Ginny’s, and I look forward to getting their feedback this Friday when I meet with them again!

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The cards are for residents at local nursing homes, hospitals, as well as a boy named Carlos. Carlos is in Boston Children’s Hospital waiting for a heart transplant. He has been there 65 days and counting – and that included spending his Christmas day there as well. Carlos wants Christmas Cards!

Francine Meigs, Special Education Teacher and Samoset’s Youth Venture Champion, knew about his story and shared it with the Samoset students. Samoset students are creating hundreds of cards for Carlos with Christmas and well wishes for the new year. Francine will be driving what she calls “the Samoset sleigh” to all the facilities and right in to Boston Children’s Hospital with her deliveries. She mentioned that in past years students made no sew blankets and ornaments on this “Day of Caring.”

The students made gift boxes for all of the holiday greeting cards. Carlos at the Boston Children’s Hospital, and patients at the Assisted Living Facilities – Sunrise, Manor on the Hill and Village Rest Home and the Life Care Center Nursing Home will recieve handmade cards.

Together We Can

The girls pictured below – Sylvia, Valentina and Zoiey are on the pipeline Youth Venture team called “Together We Can”. This team would like to help children and families who are dealing with cancer.  They are inspired to help because they understand that families go through tough times financially and emotionally. They should launch early in the new year.

I have two teens of my own, so I was curious to know what these young teens would like for Christmas. As they worked on their cards, I asked them. They laughed when they realized I was writing down their responses in my notes. The top items on their list are headphones, a Goggle Home Mini and Vans sneakers.

How do you like Sylvia’s Elf sweater? She is enjoying one of Elf’s major food groups – candy canes. (That’s an Elf reference). Elf is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Fun Fact – Peter Billingsley, who played the Red Ryder-wanting Ralphie in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story, (another one of my favorites) had a cameo in Elf! He played Who knew?

Water for South Sudan

Matthew (shown below) and his friend have a great idea for a Youth Venture that was inspired by one of his classes. They would like to help people in South Sudan by raising money for proper water sanitation.  It is so cool that they connected a country that they are learning about to a cause that they can help.

Class Venture

This is Joezyia and Chris. Joezyia’s dad bought these huge cards for Carlos that all could sign – one for the teachers and the other for the students. They had fun going room to room to get signatures. They are on the Youth Venture Team called CLASS Venture. With Francine’s help, this team hosts school activities and events that promote school and community collaboration. They recently organized and decorated for the Bring a Veteran to lunch event held in November.

Helping Paws

What great holiday spirit this little elf has! This is Emily. She is on the Youth Venture team called Helping Paws. They would like to help animals at local animal shelters and are planning a second fundraiser – a donation drive for items needed at the Sterling Animal Shelter.

Helping Single Parents

These girls are on a pipeline Youth Venture team that would like to help single parents. They plan to partner with Ginny’s Food Pantry in Leominster. We will arrange for a visit from Rob and Sue over at Ginny’s early in the new year. They will talk to the students about Ginny’s, how they serve the Leominster community and how these girls can best partner with the organization.

Francine showed me a nice holiday gift that was given to the teachers at Samoset by the administration. It’s a free pass for a 30 minute break from the classroom with coverage for the teachers.  The card reads “Thank you for all you do!” What a nice way to let the teachers know that they are appreciated.

Toyz for Joy

I have one more thing that I wanted to share. The Youth Venture team Toyz for Joy held their bake sale fundraiser. They will help children in foster care and are partnering with an organization called Fostering Change. Their plan is to put together gift bags and activites for foster kids.  Based on these photos that Francine shared with me, I would say that their bake sale was a big success – just look at that line of students!

Changemaking in Action

Throughout the day, I witnessed Changemaking, teamwork and empathy. It is days like the Samoset “Day of Caring”, along with Samoset implementing a full day of Youth Venture workhops for the second year, which provide a foundation for Samoset students to gain the skills and values necessary to become powerful changemakers!

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Mark the therapy dog is owned by full-time puppy raiser and volunteer Kathy Haskell. Mark and Kathy volunteer at Samoset and Fall Brook schools in Leominster by visiting and reading with the Life Skill classes. According to the non-profit organization , therapy dogs provide literacy support, helping children focus better and encouraging specifically the love of reading and learning in general.

I thought that the kids who are in my Youth Venture workshop blocks at Samoset would enjoy a visit from Kathy and Mark as well. Several student venture teams are passionate about animals (dogs are always a favorite!) and would like to help animals by partnering with area animal shelters.

In one of her first emails to me, Kathy shared some information about Mark. As it turns out, Mark has an interesting backstory. As a puppy, he was training to be a guide dog with the Guide Dog Foundation out of New York. When he went back at fourteen months, during his physical exam, the vet found a cataract starting in his right eye. Unfortunately, he could not continue training as a guide dog and was released for this medical reason back to Kathy.

This big yellow lab is so sweet and laid back that Kathy had to have him do something to help others. They have visited schools, hospitals and many other communities since, and have been on this journey for five years. Kathy says it is so rewarding and clearly, Mark ended up where he was supposed to be.

A few months ago, Mark and Kathy made those visits to the Youth Venture workshop blocks at Samoset. They stopped by to visit with the sixth and seventh graders as well as the Life Skills students.

I was amazed to see the effect Mark had on the sixth graders – his calm energy filtered through the classroom as Kathy led him in. The kids who gathered around to pet his soft yellow fur were calm and focused. Mark was stretched out on the floor basking in all the attention. I noticed Kathy looking on – a huge smile on her face. I was happy to see that the students truly benefited from their visit!

It is scientifically proven that interaction with a gentle, friendly pet has significant benefits. A therapy dog can encourage communication, provide comfort, increase socialization, sense of community and reduce boredom per . What better way to inspire this young generation of changemakers than to encourage communication and a sense of community as they move forward with their ventures – no matter the cause?

For Mark (the dog) and Kathy (the human) another school year means scheduling those beneficial classroom visits. The new school year has officially kicked-off and soon Youth Venture workshops at Samoset will again be in full swing. To keep the enthusiasm and inspiration alive, I will be sure to schedule return visits from Mark and Kathy!

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