For the Love of Swampscott plans the Harvest Festival. From left, Anne Quagrello, Tessa Cogliano, Joanna O’Neil, Katie Greco, Colleen Sachar, Gina Bush, Rebecca von Barta and Isabel Park. (Photo by Paula Muller)
By Gayla Cawley
SWAMPSCOTT — The reason For the Love of Swampscott got its start and continues its work in the community is embedded in its name.
“Our common goal is to bolster the sense of community in Swampscott,” said Joanna O’Neil, president of the group, founded as a nonprofit in June, 2015.
Tessa Cogliano, treasurer, said the group unofficially started with its current members talking about wanting to be more involved with the town. In the fall of 2014, emails were exchanged and they started meeting monthly.
O’Neil said the group decided it was in the best interest of the organization to help the town by becoming a nonprofit, as 100 percent of the proceeds from its fundraising efforts go back into Swampscott.
The group has 11 members, all young women and residents. Along with O’Neil and Cogliano, they include Gina Bush, vice-president, Rebecca von Barta, secretary, Anne Quagrello, Katie Greco, Colleen Sachar, Diane O’Brien, Isabel Park, Susan Wiernuscz and Lindsay Bosken.
Their main presence and the face of their organization is fittingly their Facebook page, which is updated almost daily with posts of all things involving Swampscott. Posts could range from a history of the town, important meetings, humans of Swampscott profile, which typically includes a mini-feature text and photo of a resident or a business profile.
“It definitely boosts people’s presence in town,” said von Barta. “It’s a great medium for communicating with everybody in town and a great place for people to go to feel connected.”
To stay constantly updated on local events, members do a lot of research and the group tries to stay involved in the community. For instance, they participate in Town Meeting where For the Love of Swampscott received the “Town Pride Award.”
In addition to social media, the group works to organize community events. On Sunday, Oct. 30, the nonprofit will be hosting its second annual Halloween Harvest Fest at 11 a.m. The event, held at the high school, includes a haunted house, face painting, food for purchase, games and prizes.
On Halloween weekend, judging will be held for decorated houses and businesses entered into the second annual Halloween Display Contest. Even the slower summer months were busy for the group with members organizing a Father-Daughter dance.
One of the group’s first initiatives to bolster community pride was painting red hearts on snowbanks in the wake of large storms around Valentine’s Day in 2015, adding that it really boosted their presence in town.
“A big focus of us is town pride, not just celebrating it ourselves but instilling it in our community” said O’Neil. “One of the best parts of Swampscott is our residents.”
They have worked to recognize different parts of Swampscott, like its Department of Public Works, Fire and Police departments and Town Hall. For the Love’s funds have gone towards the Swampscott Public Library, Police Association and fire victims.
For the Love of Swampscott is a full-time unpaid job for its members on top of their regular occupations and caring for their children.
“Everyone’s so receptive that it makes it really worth it for us,” said Quagrello.
Another For the Love of Swampscott initiative, O’Neil said, is to limit wasteful practices in town by installing water fill stations in all community buildings. The group is applying for a grant through MassDevelopment to help them with the funding. She said the members are also working on a way to implement a snow shoveling plan for the disabled and seniors.
O’Neil said variety makes the group special: Half of the members are from the Greater Swampscott area with fond memories of years gone by. The other half settled in Swampscott as a place to live and raise families.
“We all remember what made our community and childhood special,” she said. “We want to bring those aspects to Swampscott today.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
