Skip to content

Helpers Among Us - Lisa Williams helps with school supplies drive in Somerville

Winchester resident Lisa Kalner Williams picks up clothing and school supplies for MAMAS, a Somerville organization. WINCHESTER NEWS STAFF PHOTO/JOYCE WESTNER

Table of Contents

Lisa Kalner Williams claims some of Facebook’s Everything Is Free Winchester items, but not for herself. The Hillside Avenue resident picks up clothing and school supplies for MAMAS, a Somerville organization that has their Free Store twice a year.   

Originally, they only had clothes, but Williams she convinced them to do school supplies, especially since she needed to get rid of her own kids.  She not only believes in helping people, but Williams loves to know things are getting reused. 

“I’m very passionate about clothing waste,” says Williams.

Lisa Kalner Williams sorts donations in her basement. COURTESY PHOTO/LISA KALNER WILLIAMS

She used to teach ESL at one of the Somerville schools and says she has “a soft spot for those kids.”

Last year w,hen helping get ready for their October free store, Williams decided she wanted to get more involved and she helps sort donations brought to the Connexion Church in Somerville each Saturday. 

“I take clothes home to launder — I have a basement full of them! And I had to buy bigger storage boxes for them,” she says.

Williams emphasizes that “this is not a charity — it’s neighbors helping neighbors.  It’s all about solidarity.”

Winchester residents can be generous in helping her efforts, she adds. 

“One time I went to pick up one of five items on Everything Is Free [pencils] and the woman giving them away invited me to come back the net day and get tons of school supplies,” she says. “A Somerville store called Make & Mend carries second hand art supplies.  They gave us tons of them!”

The MAMAS Free Store. COURTESY PHOTO/LISA KALNER WILLIAMS

“Boston has a large immigrant population and I asked myself what they might need — we try not to buy anything,” she says, although she buys rubber bands to wrap around pencils.

The next Free Store is on Aug. 9, and anyone interested in donating school supplies or clothes can send an email to mamasfreestore@gmail.com for more information.

Winchester News is a non-profit organization supported by our community. If you appreciate having local Winchester news, please donate to support our work, and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter.

Latest

Winchester High School alum named editor-in-chief of SAIL Magazine

Winchester High School alum named editor-in-chief of SAIL Magazine

The following was submitted by SAIL Magazine: Firecrown Media has announced the promotion of Lydia Mullan to editor-in-chief of SAIL Magazine. Mullan has been with SAIL for nearly eight years, most recently as managing editor. She has twice been named the marine industry’s best adventure writer by Boating Writers

Wakefield to celebrate first Jewish Cultural Festival

Wakefield to celebrate first Jewish Cultural Festival

The following was submitted by Chabad of Wakefield: On Sunday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m., Chabad of Wakefield will host the town’s first-ever Jewish Cultural Festival at the historic bandstand on the Wakefield Common. This community-wide event is expected to draw hundreds of attendees from Wakefield

  Subscribe