Those lucky enough not to struggle with food or housing insecurity but who don’t
have extra money to give can help in myriad ways. Gestures of kindness —
volunteering at a food bank, donating clothes, or acknowledging someone’s
situation — make a big difference.
David Yeiter, an artist from Rindge, wrestles with how to not simply feel compassion,
but to act on it. A few months ago, he met Keith Wesley, the owner of the
Optimist Café in Rindge. “When Keith offered me the chance to exhibit and sell
my paintings with no commission taken, I felt something shift.”
If Wesley was generous enough to waive a commission, then Yeiter would pay it
forward and use the proceeds from his paintings to give back to the community.
Therefore, Yeiter put his paintings on exhibit at the Optimist Café. They will be for
sale from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28.
For Yeiter, this gesture of giving “is about turning creative expression into
compassion, art into service, and personal joy into communal good. If my
paintings mean anything, I hope they share this spirit: music from one life, shared
to strengthen others.”
In times such as these, many people want to give, but they don’t know how if
they don’t have enough money to share. By combining creativity and
compassion, paying it forward, or doing a random act of kindness, we can give to
someone in our community who needs our help without spending a dime.
The Optimist Café, at 16 Coll’s Farm Road in Jaffrey, is open from Thursday through
Monday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Steele’s in Peterborough has a drop-off box for donations. MATS’ guests need size 4 diapers, size 4/5 T pull-ups, wipes, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, conditioner, Cetaphil or CeraVe body wash and lotion.
Elizabeth Goodhue is a board member at the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter. MATS
believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home and a chance to rebuild their lives with
dignity. To learn more about MATS, visit matsnh.org.