ALBANY — What was born out of a tragedy, has turned into a way to change lives with every act of kindness. For almost 15 years, the non-profit organization Grassroot Givers has been working hands-on with communities in need.
The Grassroot Givers story began in 2009 when co-founders and co-directors Roberta Sandler and Mary Partridge-Brown helped their first family, who lost everything in a house fire. A request for assistance was met with an overwhelming community response.
“That call to action went out, and people filled it, and then some,” said Stacey Erwell, the community outreach and program development coordinator. “They had an abundance of beautiful items to share with the family. They had more than they could use, so they started sharing with organizations to fulfill a bigger need within the community.”
“It started off as a small operation run out of a barn, but the need just kept expanding, and people knew that Mary and Roberta were the resources to contact,” said Erwell. “That’s the mission of Grassroot Givers – to connect the needs of the community with the individuals with the resources to share.”
Grassroot Givers work centers on three major programs: clothing, home essentials and literature accessibility. They help families transition from shelters into apartments, providing them with everything from pots and pans to measuring cups and coffee pots. Individuals are connected with the necessities that “fill their home and make a home feel like a home,” said Erwell.
Yasmine, a single mother who works two jobs and attends school to support her 5- and 8-year-old, said, “I wouldn’t be able to make ends meet without Grassroot Givers.”
In addition to being provided with kitchen and bedroom necessities, “we even have children’s books stacked next to our bathtub,” she said. “All things to make our house a home.”
“Mary felt there should be a book in the hand of every child,” said Erwell. “She’s passionate about building home libraries for children.”
“I love reading! It’s exciting to get a book and keep it!” said a fifth-grader who benefited from one of the Grassroot Givers book programs. Their book drives bring an estimated 60,000 books a year into the hands of members of the community.
Requests pour in from all across the Capital Region. There are an estimated 9,200 requests for clothing a year.
“That demonstrates a real need within our community – things we take for granted every day,” said Erwell. “With the newly arrived asylum-seekers, the need has expanded so much.”
“We are currently working with the homeless population, families living on a fixed income, refugees, and the newly arriving asylum-seekers that have relocated to the Capital District,” said Partridge-Brown. “In addition to our Albany neighborhood families living in poverty, we now also see up to 40 people of all nationalities and languages outside of our door every day, looking for basics such as warm clothing, pots and pans, and books in their native language.”
Grassroot Givers has seen a dramatic increase in the need for basic essentials. From personal care kits, canned food drives, hand-knit items, and kitchen basics to towels and essential toiletries, Grassroot Givers is responding to needs from their partner organizations, such as RISSE, USCRI, and Healthy Alliance.
“Our community is our community,” said Erwell. “Anyone in need deserves the assistance that they need.”
November signals the Month of Simple Giving for Grassroot Givers, a tradition that has evolved since its origin. It began with a Day of Simple Giving in 2009, an event designed as a way for the community to come together for their neighbors. The event continued to progress from length to location, accommodating the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering at-home projects.
In 2022, the event was changed to a monthlong initiative, which is when Erwell joined. Initially planning to only volunteer for one month, she never left.
“I just loved everything about the organization and knew it was a place that I wanted to stay,” she said.
Sixty different groups that range from sporting teams, family and friends, businesses, and women’s clubs work on projects for the Month of Simple Giving. The projects are distributed throughout the Capital Region and are part of their mission of “giving with dignity.”
“Whether it’s a warm blanket, a like-new story book to read in bed, or a winter coat, it all contributes to a sense of feeling valued and contributes to a sense of health and well-being,” said Sandler.
Grassroot Givers want the recipient to feel a sense of worth as they’re receiving the item. “It’s given as a gift,” explained Erwell. These gifts have the essential aim of empowering the affected communities to uplift their lives.
“Giving with dignity has always been at the heart of our mission,” said Partridge-Brown. “When we see people who are in vulnerable situations and are struggling to make ends meet, it is humbling to know that by making the simple connection with people who have beautiful resources to share.”
“Everyone needs to know that every bit of kindness helps. Working together, we’re able to accomplish wonderful, big things. It can be a simple project, but it can be a lifeline to a family in need,” said Erwell. “It doesn’t take much to help others. We all have such an abundance. If we think about how we can share that, we’re able to help and uplift our neighbors.”
