The Power of an Invitation; A Story by Beth Gallagher

On November 1, 2025, our home was buzzing with purpose, laughter and the spirit of giving as friends and neighbors gathered to assemble Blessing Bags for those in need. What began as a simple idea 14 years ago—a few essentials tucked into a one-gallon Ziplock bag—has grown into something far greater: a movement to offer care, dignity, and humanity to those in our community who are too often overlooked. Each item, from socks to snacks to soap, carried a message of kindness and hope. Together we turned small gestures into meaningful impact.

The Blessing Bag Gathering began in 2011, inspired by a meme about people assembling bags for those in need. A couple of friends sent it to my wife, Carolyn, saying it reminded her of Carolyn. That simple message sparked our decision to start the tradition ourselves. That November, we all gathered at our friend Lorin’s home, with some of our friends to put together a few dozen bags. We were elated. In our inaugural year we put together 61 bags. We were beyond thrilled with what we thought was an enormous pile of Blessing Bags. We never imagined that, more than a decade later, we’d be assembling over 700 bags with a plan to surpass the previous years number the next year.

Our aim is to turn compassion into action! We have invited every participant to take several/many Blessing Bags and become an ambassador of kindness—handing them out directly to people they encounter who could use a little extra support. Each bag they share is a chance to brighten someone’s day and remind them that they matter and they are seen. Together, our small gestures can spark hope and make a real difference in our community.

To simplify the process, Carolyn initiated an invitation to our friends on FaceBook. We asked them to invite others as well. We put a list of desired items that included a running tally of what was still needed. Everything from socks to beanies, from q-tips to toothpaste, from ponchos to snacks and much more. People could go on there and order something to donate and have it shipped directly to our home. So easy. This approach allowed Blessing Bags Gathering to take on a life of its own.

The gathering wasn’t just about packing bags; it was about connection. It reminded us that generosity doesn’t have to be grand to be powerful. As we shared stories, music and maybe a few too many snacks of our own, we felt the joy of community in action – showing up for each other and for those who need a little extra support. It was a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when people come together with Open Mind, Open Heart and Open Will.

My wife and I have had many learnings over the past 14 years. One of the most important is the ‘Power of an Invitation’. In most circumstances, people just need a nudge. They want to help and be of service but are unsure how to start, where to begin. 

We had friends come over to help stuff smaller hygiene baggies to make the process smoother. We had a friend that owns a pizza business, donate pizza and garlic knots. We had friends send money via Venmo and let us get what was needed at the last minute. When people are invited into something that’s already thriving—something with a proven track record and a welcoming spirit—they don’t just participate; they pour their hearts in. All it takes is that spark of possibility, and suddenly, they’re eager to give everything they have to make a difference.

Additional learnings that have made an enormous difference in the success of this event are,  (a) inviting participants to bring food to share with everyone, this helps with the feeling of contribution. (b) Creating an easy, user-friendly method of signing up for the event. This includes not only an RSVP, but a complete list of donation items as well. (c) We also encourage participants to invite their loved ones and to just let us know so we can prepare for how many people are going to come to our home. These small choices help the whole gathering run more smoothly, create a warm sense of community, and ensure we’re able to support as many unhoused and food unstable folks as possible.

Over the past 14 years we have managed to draw together people from all walks of life. People are asking all year long for invitations to the magic event. We have found that people are longing to be of service. We have people come from all over our connected lives. From my agency, from Carolyn’s former employer (USPS), childhood, softball days, people we know from our kids school days, friends from the gym and aqua aerobics and pickleball friends. The group was made up of gay friends, straight friends, Neurodiverse people, Democrats, Republicans, the oldest friend being 89 and the youngest being 7, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims. VERY DIVERSE. This was always our hope. It soon became something that people planned their family events around. We had friends that come every single year and others that make it when they can. We have had donations from as far away as Scotland and Germany to as close as a few doors down.

Over the past 14 years, our Blessing Bag Gathering has grown from a hopeful idea into a smooth, well-oiled tradition. What once required scrambling, troubleshooting, and learning on the fly has become a thoughtful, coordinated effort shaped by years of experience. We’ve refined our process, strengthened our communication, and built a rhythm that lets us focus less on logistics and more on the purpose behind it all – showing up for our community with care and consistency. Each year has taught us something new, and together those lessons have made the event not just easier to run, but richer, more intentional, and deeply meaningful.

I want to be completely honest—none of this would have been possible without my incredibly organized and passionately committed wife, Carolyn. She carried the lion’s share of the work for this event, almost single-handedly. Her heart, drive, and attention to every detail transformed a simple idea into something truly impactful, and we are all better for the love she pours into it.

I also want to share some videos of people sharing about their experience with the Blessing Bags Gathering. Thanks for reading and watching!