Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy McGee.
Hi Tammy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are a small grassroots 501c3 that fills the gaps within our community. Over 20 years ago, I was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. The holidays were approaching; I wasn’t sure how to get through them as a single parent with two small children. I suffered silently. A parent of one of my children’s classmates recognized a need I was unsure I knew I needed. She passed along an envelope through a mutual friend with a gift to make Christmas possible for my children and allowed me to catch up on my bills. I have renewed my faith in humanity. She didn’t want recognition or thanks; she just wanted to ease the burden. A true inspiration that we have always modeled after, filling the gaps when needed. We look for ways to fill the gaps within our community. Sometimes, it’s feeding the homeless, providing for the holidays for families, spending time with seniors doing arts and crafts, dropping off food baskets when needed, and back-to-school items for youth in need; we have even guided a few homeless individuals through securing housing.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We work on an all-volunteer basis, and there have been times when we have worried a little that we would not meet our goals. However, it always comes through. Sometimes, we have had to adapt and adjust goals, but we consider ourselves very fortunate. The biggest struggle is when someone volunteers and then doesn’t come through with what they volunteered, but we are so incredibly fortunate that we have had a great backup that always steps up. Because we are small, we don’t back-stock things. We believe that if we hold onto something, it’s not doing anyone any good. We only hold items for up to 30 days. So, we are often looking to fill gaps regularly.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a very small nonprofit filling the gaps. We strive to help where it is truly needed. We pride ourselves on ensuring that those we are helping are a true need. We have walked the path from homeless to housing with a few who so many said were hopeless. We helped a vet homeless for over 25 years find a path to housing when others had tried multiple times. Recently, we have helped a lady find her pathway off the streets after sleeping in a broken-down car for over 14 years, hiding in a plane site. We volunteer regularly with a group of seniors living in one of the most impoverished areas of town, bringing them holiday bags and treats and spending time doing arts and crafts. We’ve provided for countless families, delivering Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts, Easter baskets, and back-to-school goodies. The biggest joy comes when someone has no idea we are bringing them goods; the gratitude and relief that shine through are incredible. Sometimes, we can feed those living on the streets, passing out shoes, warm clothing, etc.; we’ve connected those passing along household goods to those in need. There’s always something to do; it’s always a great day to be kind and do something for someone with less.
Do you have any big plans?
Every year, we look back and evaluate, looking ahead to see how we can do better. We love the community that we are a part of, and we are incredibly grateful to those who always step up to help. This coming year, we would like to provide more for the seniors. So many are forgotten about. Neighborhoods have grown, families have moved, and they are often left alone.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplybecauseinc
