PMD provides a wonderful outlet for those who want to volunteer but can't commit to doing so on a regular schedule, and/or who have not selected (or do not want to narrow themselves to) a single specific cause. And it provides a wonderful resource for organizations which need a burst of reliable manpower for a specific task. It can also be a great way to learn about organizations operating in the area, and the causes they support. if you *are* shopping around for a longer-term volunteering gig.
PMD has interested and motivated volunteers. They follow through and have worked with us for over twenty years. This is a great non profit!
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People Making a Difference has been supporting the effort to maintain Iroquois Woods in Mission for many years. This is not a one and done organization. Consistency year after year is important. It demonstrates that this site is a community resource that is cared for and appreciated!
We have been working with Lori and co from PMD for years on our annual free seed distribution. They are instrumental to the initiative and we couldn't do it without them. Thank you so much to this amazing organization!
I want to take a moment to thank all of the PMD volunteers for all their incredible work for the 2024 Boston Local Food Festival, and congratulations on your 10th year of helping us achieve zero waste! It's always a pleasure to partner with PMD, and we truly appreciate the dedication of your volunteers. PMD's ongoing support makes such a difference, and we’re grateful to be working alongside you to create a more sustainable event.
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I work for the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts as the Local Food Program Coordinator. For the last two months, I have been working tirelessly to put on the Boston Local Food Festival, Boston's largest food event of the year. My primary role was to gather volunteers and train them to fill their assigned roles while also managing other aspects of the festival. This event would not be successful without the support of PMD. From the beginning, I was in contact with Lori Tsuruda. She helped gather 20 volunteers to work at our zero-waste stations, which requires commitment and knowledge about what waste can be composted, recycled, or thrown out. Every one of her volunteers was enthusiastic and welcomed all the attendees with a smile. I am happy to write this review about PMD, and I believe they are an esteemed non-profit.
People Making a Difference helps the Boston Community Gardens with the logistics of seed delivery and seed distribution each Spring. They sort thousands of seeds that are given for free to gardeners across Boston. Thank you so much!
For 13 years, People Making a Difference has participated in our volunteer work days at Spy Pond Park in Arlington, MA. They have done important work for the park and for the environment each year. Below is my response to their participation this year, July 2023..
Lori Tsuruda and volunteers from People Making a Difference once again returned to Spy Pond Park and did an excellent job trimming and pruning a row of hedges bordering Spy Pond. Their work on these hedges enhanced an important view of the pond for the many visitors of diverse backgrounds and cultures who love this peaceful part of Spy Pond Park. As always, Lori skillfully trained and led her enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers, adding to their skills, pride in and appreciation of the important contribution they made to Spy Pond Park. Many thanks to all of you from The Friends of Spy Pond Park.
Lally Stowell
Volunteer Coordinator
Friends of Spy Pond Park
For the past 12 years, People Making a Difference has provided motivated, energetic volunteers for our volunteer work days at Spy Pond Park. They willingly do whatever is needed including enhancing the view of visitors by trimming hedges bordering the pond, cutting back invasive plants that crowd out flowers and bushes in our planting beds and planting new ferns, bushes and plants. In addition to this important work, we always welcome their enthusiasm, camaraderie and work ethic along with the expertise and careful organization of their leader, Lori Tsuruda.
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Lori Tsuruda and volunteers from People Making a Difference returned to Spy Pond Park again this year and did an excellent job pruning a row of hedges that were blocking an important view of the pond for the many visitors of diverse backgrounds who love this peaceful part of Spy Pond Park. Lori's pruning and training skills along with her volunteers' enthusiasm, willingness to learn and interest in contributing made for a very successful project - a clear example of "People Making a Difference". We look forward to their return next year.
PMD volunteers been sorting seeds for free distribution to Boston's community gardens since 1998! Their hard work and high level of organization quite literally make the seed donation program (run by the org I work for, The Trustees Boston Community Gardens) possible. They do everything from designing an order form and providing support for garden leaders who have trouble ordering, to sorting and packaging tens of thousands of seed packets. They've managed to keep the program going safely throughout the pandemic and even organized free delivery of seeds since our usual gathering to handout the seed orders wasn't possible. PMD volunteers have also supported many events and programs in the Boston community gardens over the years.
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PMD has been supporting our Boston community garden seed donation faithfully every year since 1998. PMD takes care of the orders from scores of gardens and sorts the bulk seeds. Their organization and commitment make our seed donation program possible, helping expand food access for Boston's residents.
People Making a Difference (PMD) has been one of Pine Street Inn's partners since 2011. During that time, they have donated essential items throughout the year and held service days (prior to COVID) to help Pine Street Inn’s shelter guests. Their generosity has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness with their everyday needs. Thank you to PMD for making a huge difference in the lives of some of Boston’s most vulnerable people and for being a terrific partner.
Many years ago, before I got married and had children and was an eager twenty-something working in the Back Bay, I re-discovered my love of volunteering and found People Making A Difference. No pressure, no monthly commitment, just an incredible army of like-minded people who wanted to make a difference in their communities and enjoy thoughtful, well-organized, impactful volunteerism. A few years later, I found myself on the board of a large event on the Boston Common and engaged PMD to make our event even more hospitable, engaging and well-run... and they brought so much to the party, they were invited back year after year as a reliable resource for this nonprofit public health event. Nearly 25 years later, I'm proud to be back in the fold as the organization celebrates a milestone anniversary, and am just as impressed with PMD as I was so many years ago. Few nonprofits stay as focused and true to their mission as People Making A Difference - an unsung hero in Massachusetts, for sure. Happy anniversary PMD!
The volunteers at PMD painted signs for Brookwood Community Farm. They were colorful and fun and appeiciated by all who visit the farm
I really appreciate the volunteer service provided by People Making a Difference at Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge. PMD does its homework with me to make sure that I have a substantial project that will engage the skills and abilities of its volunteers, help them to understand how the work is meaningful to the reservation and introduce first timer volunteers with the resources the reservation has to offer them on subsequent visits. PMD preps volunteers with information about the project and the place they will be working as well as a list of expectations. Volunteers show up on time and ready to work. This groups stays with me for 3-5 hours so we get to know each other as we work together and I can get quite a bit done for my time investment working. They are the best group I work with!
Working with PMD helped this non-profit conservation organization meet its ecological and community-involvement goals for 10 years! Their professionalism, organization and preparedness made the projects that much more effective and productive. Having experience working with other volunteers, I highly recommend PMD to other charities.