'In Your Shoes' geared to help local community
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

"In Your Shoes" founders (l to r) Debi Ledoux and Terry Gavin will host the first meeting of their "giving circle" Monday March 24 at Tatnuck Bookseller. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Westborough - For many of us, when we hear about a friend or community member who has faced an illness or loss, we want to help but often do not know how. Longtime friends Debi Ledoux and Terry Gavin, Westborough residents who have actively participated in national fundraising activities, would like off er a way for people to help out locally.

The two women, al- ready touched by family and friends dealing with illness or loss, recently decided to start a local "giving circle" called "In Your Shoes." The organization is inviting Westborough residents who have a desire to help to the first informational meeting Monday March 24 at 7 p.m. in the community room at Tatnuck Bookseller in Westborough.

The organization, which is in the early stages of forming, has a mission to help local individuals or groups through either monetary or service support. Gavin explained that the idea of a giving circle came from an article that Ledoux read in "Family Circle" magazine.

"We have wanted to do something for a long time," Ledoux said, "and when I read it, I knew it was just what Westborough needed."

Gavin explained that the group will meet bi-monthly and that community members can either join as a voting member through an annual contribution of $100 or join as a non-voting member by volunteering time, ideas and services.

The annual contribution, Gavin explained, would be one of the primary sources of funds that "In Your Shoes" will donate directly back into the community. Gavin said that the organizers would also like to host an annual fund-raising event and other regular smaller-scale events.

Gavin hopes that during the first meeting, participants will brainstorm ideas for the organization, including hosting a one-time kickoff fund-raising event.

"The members of the circle of friends will make monetary donations, and the larger your circle is, the more money you have that can go back into helping the community," Ledoux said. "As we get larger, we will then be able to consider funneling money into larger organizations."

Ledoux coined the organization's name and attributed the idea to her mother.

"My mother used to tell me, growing up, to put myself in their shoes to better understand how they are feeling," she said.

By establishing a local network, the organization will aim to educate its members about the needs in Westborough.

Ledoux and Gavin explained that they have already established a mission statement and bylaws and are currently working on the papers to establish the group as a nonprofit organization. Both expect local people to be interested in the concept.

"Westborough is full of talented caring people," Gavin said.

According to Gavin, the organizers hope to attract a diverse and broad membership, with an initial goal of raising $10,000 in membership donations over the first year.

"Westborough is a very giving community, and the money that is raised is staying in town to help our friends and neighbors going through hardship," Ledoux said.