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Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM)
When Ira and Barbara Smith heard about a woman from El Salvador who had fled her country after nine neighbors were assassinated, they put out a call to neighbors and friends, and soon outfitted her apartment. That was in 1990. The Smiths never meant for their efforts to lead to the birth of HGRM, an organization that now helps over 300 individuals and families every month by accepting and redistributing donations of household items free of charge. Rather, they simply wanted to help people in need—one after the next. They set up an exchange point in their basement, carport, and driveway, and for nine years ran to cover couches and beds with tarps when the weather turned bad. As the quantity of donated goods grew, they needed storage space—they found it first in a church basement, and finally in their current facility in Acton.
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 Concord Recreation Department
Eighteen years ago, Linda Cunha first enrolled her son in the Concord Recreation Department after school program. A divorced single mother living in Concord, Ms. Cunha was trying to raise her child while juggling work and, to better position herself for a career, school. She could not afford to pay for the program—not without quitting school and working longer hours—so she approached Concord Recreation and asked for help. Director Danner DeStephano took the time to get to know her, understand her needs, and assured her that she could—and should—stick with her classes. He would use scholarship funds to cover her son's tuition.
In 2001, Ms. Cunha turned again to the folks at the Concord Recreation when she assumed responsibility for her sister’s young child — and again, the Department helped with after school and camp tuition. No surprise, given that since the camp’s beginning in 1981, the Department has operated under a policy of turning no child away.
The Concord Recreation Department provides recreation opportunities for Concord residents on a year round basis, seven days per week. Programs include: child care (before and after school and the Carousel pre-school); summer activities (Day Camp, Swimming Lessons, Kaleidoscope, Pre School Adventures, and sports camps); sports activities; and the Beede Swim and Fitness Center.
For eight years, the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest has helped fund scholarships to the summer camp. On average, 225 children attend each of the three two-week summer sessions, 77 of which (15-20%) are able to attend because they receive financial assistance totaling approximately $107,000. This year, up to 90 children might need help given the increased needs stemming from the economic downturn. Tuition fees cover roughly 89% of the costs of running the camp; other sources of income come from the Concord Open Golf Tournament, the Shamrock Ball, and the Red Heart Raffle. Last year’s Community Chest grant covered the cost for roughly 14 children to attend a session of camp.
Ms. Cunha sees the Concord Recreation Department as more than a town agency. Mr. DeStephano seeks to promote community, working under the philosophy that everyone ought to be included regardless of their situation. Most of the families he helps are like Ms. Cunha—single mothers living in low-income housing, a largely invisible population in Concord. Mr. DeStephano took the time to get to know her and then helped her emotionally, alleviating any guilt she felt both about leaving her son to go to school, and about accepting financial assistance. Neither she nor her children were ever made to feel like they had to be discreet; never made to feel less than. Her son simply joined with other Concord children, another camper in the community. Today, Ms. Cunha feels indebted to the Department, and tries to give back by volunteering wherever she can.
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