As the winter season depends, and the parade of holidays continues, many people find themselves in a more charitable frame of mind. Nothing puts us in the mood for helping others than short days, long nights and strings of lights glinting from nearby houses. But this year, among the usual patter of coat drives and camaraderie, Marion resident Davin Alves stood out.
His target was United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Hunger Commission, a charity that runs initiatives like can and toy drives for those members of our community that might need support, particularly around the holidays.
Rather than go the usual route knocking on neighbors’ doors or setting up a donation box, a tried-and-tested method to be sure but one that is already done by countless nonprofits, schools and libraries alike, Davin decided to hold a raffle and use the money raised from tickets to purchase the food himself.
The raffle prizes were two video-game systems, a $100 Target gift card and a 750 ml bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch whiskey. In the spirit of the season, Davin received help from his whole family, particularly when it came to purchasing the food and driving the donations to the bank. After all, Davin is only 10 years old.
Victoria Grasela, vice president of marketing and community engagement at United Way, said she was thrilled by the idea and provided some guidance on what items they were looking for in particular. She said she was thrilled when Davin’s mother, Kathylee Alves, reached out with the idea.
“He’s such a genuine kid,” Grasela said, a sentiment echoed by his mother who described him as having a “heart of gold.” Grasela said she was additionally blown away by the raffle’s success.
“I expected maybe a box full of food,” she said, referencing the photos shared by Kathylee Alves, depicting Davin sitting on his front porch, dwarfed by pallets of food. “When they showed up with two car-fulls, I was shocked.”
Kathylee Alves described the logistics of totaling up the purchases, as they went through the store and the challenge of getting it all transported there. “We had it in a trailer, like a big, enclosed trailer,” she chuckled. Eventually, they decided the best way to transport it was two separate cars, loaded down with the cumulation of their good deeds.
While Davin went above and beyond, Victoria Grasela emphasized that anyone can get involved at any level they feel comfortable. Donating goes a long, long way, no matter the amount.
“Even when it comes to writing a check, we can take that money you donated and the bit that someone else donated and another person and put it all together,” she explained. They also negotiate bulk purchases as directly as they can to get the best deal possible and stretch what they have to its potential.
Davin’s total haul rang in at $900, a hefty amount for anyone to raise, particularly on a first-ever try. But the praise doesn’t seem to have gone to his head in the slightest, as his message for the world was a brief but touching one.
“I just want (people) to know that kindness is the most important thing. Especially for a holiday, that’s like … so good, and everyone wants to be happy, so like you have to do something kind for it!”
Davin also expressed big plans for the future, intending to make this a yearly effort since it was such a resounding success. When not doing charity work, Davin said he enjoys playing with his friends and reiterated one final time that “kindness matters.”
Those looking to donate or get involved in other ways can check out VolunteerSouthCoast.org, a site run by United Way to help keep the community informed about volunteer initiatives and opportunities.
By Jack MC Staier