Nahant resident brings women’s wish group to North Shore

NAHANT – There’s a new organization on the North Shore dedicated to helping one woman at a time.Nahant resident Beverley Dawson is coordinating Boston’s North Shore Chapter of Women and Wishes and recently held a tea at the Nahant Country Club to raise funds to grant wishes right here on the North Shore.Women and Wishes was founded in 2007 by Kelly Cappola of Florida, who was in a difficult situation at the time and said she quickly realized there were few resources available to middle class women and their children.”I live in Boca Raton, Florida six months a year,” Dawson said. “I was invited to one of their socials and was impressed with what they were doing to help women. With me being a single mom and having been through bumps in the road myself – it struck a chord. When I listened to the testimonials it really touched my heart. I remembered my own tough times and bumps in the road. It really hit home for me.”Dawson added Women & Wishes, Inc. found a previously unmet need among middle class women and children who typically don’t qualify for federal, state or local assistance. She said the organization recognizes the lack of subsidy and intervention alternatives for middle class women faced with crisis and supports them in several capacities.Cappola said the dearth of resources for women in her situation was the catalyst that led her to create Women & Wishes Inc. and that is what led Dawson to create a North Shore chapter.”The wishes we are granting are for women who are falling through the cracks,” Dawson said. “Because they hit a bump in the road some are living hand to mouth. These women do not receive government assistance and there are not any resources available to them.”Dawson said the group assists women with the resources needed to overcome temporary challenges such as divorce, job loss or medical problems. The group facilitates assistance by granting women a one-time wish to move through and beyond their challenging time.”Having the Nahant Country Club means we can have functions without having to rent a venue,” she said. “So I decided this is my calling. It is a calling for me to give back and help women. I knew I could make a difference if I started this North Shore chapter.”Dawson added some of the wishes that have been granted by the Florida chapter include assistance with medical bills, providing a funeral luncheon, adopting families for Christmas, payment of utility bills, assistance with auto repair and providing household furnishings.Dawson recently held a tea at the Nahant Country Club to raise awareness about the organization and to jump start fundraising.”It was a great success.” she said. “There was a lot of interest. Bringing this chapter here enables us to become much more out there and we’re going national. This is for us to be out there to create a sisterhood and support for women who need it.”The North Shore chapter is working on organizing a casino night in October to raise additional funds. Anyone who would like to make a donation or would like additional information should contact Dawson at 781-581-0515 or visit www.womenandwishes.org.