Quick Chronicles Article 2
By Robert Gates
The Hamilton Foundation is a testament to the power of community and the unwavering dedication of the town’s volunteers.
This spring, the Hamilton Foundation will celebrate two decades of supporting local residents in times of financial crisis. Known as the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund, the Foundation serves as a confidential safety net, offering assistance to those struggling with rent, heating and utility bills, and essential home repairs. What began as a grassroots initiative to support families during the holiday season twenty years ago has since grown into a year-round resource, adapting to the evolving needs of the community. Over the years, the Foundation has remained committed to its mission of ensuring that no residents need face an emergency hardship alone.
Heather Ford, a civil engineer by profession, has been the Foundation’s driving force since its inception in 2005. In the mid-1990s, Ford’s path crossed with the Hamilton-Wenham Christmas Assistance Fund, a small group at that time led by Judy Mills providing gifts and clothing to families in need.
Ford recognized the importance of this work and immersed herself in it for a decade. She rallied a dedicated group of volunteers and operated out of donated basement space at the Willowdale Professional Offices, thanks to the Gourdeau family.
As Ford and her team witnessed the community’s growing needs, they realized the need to expand into a year-round effort and formed the Hamilton Foundation.
Drawing on her extensive experience in town government, Ford researched the town budget, uncovering two small dormant welfare accounts. At the 2005 Annual Town Meeting, Ford presented her proposal to use those dormant accounts as the seed money and promised voters, not to use further tax dollars. She would fundraise for the future.
The voters agreed, and with an initial $6,000 the Hamilton Foundation was created twenty years ago.
Ford’s commitment to civic engagement and her pragmatic, resourceful approach has shaped the Foundation’s history. It was another chapter in Ford’s community volunteer efforts, which began in 1985 when she joined the Conservation Commission. She also served on the Board of Public Works and the then-Board of Selectmen.
“When I look at the contributions that Heather has made to this community – going back way before I came to town – I think she is a great example of someone who cares about her community and finds ways to have a positive impact,” said Town Manager Joseph J. Domelowicz Jr. “She has never been too busy to take on a challenge and as the Town Manager here for the past six years I have found her work on behalf of the community to be thoughtful and extremely helpful in keeping the needs of the community in mind.”
The Foundation has always committed to fiscal responsibility, ensuring that every donation directly benefits Hamilton residents. Since its founding, it has no overhead costs and relies on a small, dedicated network of volunteers.
“I’m very conscious that I’m spending other people’s money, and I try to be very careful about spending it all to help people directly,” she said.
Each year over 100 Hamilton residents consistently donate to helping their neighbors in need through the Foundation, most giving in $25 to $50 increments. Ford personally writes thank-you notes to each donor every year, expressing deep gratitude for their generosity. With every note, Ford honors the profound impact of their kindness, recognizing the relief and appreciation felt by those whose lives they touch—individuals they may never meet, yet whose well-being is forever changed by their compassion.
A five-person Board of Directors, all Hamilton residents, governs the Foundation and is appointed by the Select Board. The directors oversee the Foundation’s activities and appoint a coordinator, often called the “angel,” responsible for day-to-day operations. The coordinator is the only person who views the applications and connects clients with resources while ensuring the confidentiality of those seeking help. The board only considers case numbers, never names.
Past volunteer coordinators have been Loretta Cusick, Michelle Horgan, and Jane Wetson. Today, Jill Evers, a first-time town volunteer, has taken the lead as the newest coordinator.
Ford notes that the Foundation has met the needs of 230 requestors for support since its founding.
The most significant change in the past two decades has been the demographic shift in the number of people seeking assistance. The Foundation’s philanthropic response has evolved from primarily supporting families to today, with about 80% of the support now helping older adults in Hamilton.
Ford said the trend is part of a broader societal change, including the increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren and the financial challenges many senior citizens face living on fixed incomes when emergencies hit.
Over the years, the Hamilton Foundation has assisted hundreds of Hamilton residents, primarily covering short-term needs such as:
* Mortgage or rent assistance
* Emergency heating and utilities
* Emergency home repairs
* Food and nutrition
* Temporary transportation
* Children’s scholarships
* Child care
* Prescription medicine and medical supplies
* Home health care
The Foundation also works closely with other community organizations to provide additional support and referrals, including:
* Action Inc.
* Habitat for Humanity
* The Boy Scouts
* Council on Aging
* Local tree removal companies
* Attorneys and dentists
* First Church in Wenham
* First Congregational Church in Hamilton
As the Hamilton Foundation celebrates two decades of service, its enduring impact is a powerful testament to the strength of community, the depth of compassion, and the transformative power of collective goodwill. What began as a modest seasonal effort has flourished into a cornerstone of support, offering stability and hope to those facing life’s most challenging moments. Through the unwavering generosity of donors, the Foundation remains a beacon of resilience and care for one another’s neighbors. As Hamilton’s needs continue to evolve, so too will the Foundation’s mission—ensuring that no resident stands alone in times of crisis, now and for generations to come.
This article is part of Quick Chronicles, a series of brief blog-format stories celebrating the people, events, and history of the town. Inspired by the legacy of the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, the former print community newspaper, these mini features will shine a spotlight on the vibrant Hamilton community and the remarkable individuals who live and work here.“ Quick Chronicles” aims to keep the spirit of local storytelling alive, sharing snapshots of what makes Hamilton unique while fostering a deeper connection among residents.
