LYNNFIELD — One Lynnfield resident has found an innovative way to use her special talents to help families come together during these uncertain times when isolation is the rule rather than the exception.
Maggie Kenneally, a Revere native who moved to Lynnfield four years ago, has joined a growing group of photographers across the nation participating in The Front Steps Project. The initiative uses photography to bring communities together, using social media to share messages of hope simply by sharing family photographs taken on their very own front steps.
“I am a photographer on the side and decided about a week ago to offer this to Lynnfield,” said Kenneally, whose family includes her husband Andrew and daughters Keira, 6, and Alexis, 3. “The purpose of this project is to virtually bring our community together during a time that can be so isolating. I kindly ask participants to enjoy a nice photo opportunity right at their front door with the people they love and to also pay it forward.
“The people I have photographed to date have told me how excited they were to have something to look forward to in the midst of this ongoing pandemic.”
It works this way; families arrange for Kenneally to take photos of them on their front steps. Kenneally shares the photos with them, asking that they post their photos to social media, tagging #FrontStepsProject, and asking them to mention the cause and spread the word.
Participants are also asked to make a donation to charities helping people in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenneally posted an offer to participate in the project on social media in late March. Within one hour of posting, she was inundated with messages from families interested in having their photographs taken. She took 26 photos on Saturday, March 28, her first day on the job.
So far, Kenneally has nearly 70 families either already photographed or still interested in participating. Her subjects have been extremely enthusiastic and creative, some dressing in matching pajamas, while others have been more formal. Many have expressed their gratitude to Kenneally for giving them a little something to do, along with a reason to get out of the house.
“It gives me a reason to get out of the house, too,” Kenneally said.
Kenneally said donations have ranged from monetary contributions to local non-profit organizations to a simple offer to help a neighbor in need with their groceries or medical supplies, or checking in on neighbors who may be lonely. Among the charities that have received support through Kenneally’s initiative are intubationbox.org and No Kid Hungry.
Kenneally gave special thanks to the program’s founder, Cara Soulia of Needham.
Much as Kenneally did, residents across Lynnfield are finding meaningful ways to help brighten their spirits as they remain cooped up in their homes because of the pandemic.
“Chalk the Walk,” a nationwide initiative focused on decorating sidewalks with inspirational messages and pictures, recently found its way into Lynnfield. Chalk art masterpieces delivering messages of hope have been sprouting up all over town.
The Bear Hunt craze has also found its way into town. Based on the award-winning book, “Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen, children go on a real life scavenger hunt while maintaining social distancing as they search for stuffed Teddy Bears and other animals that have been placed in windows, on stoops, and even in trees, by homeowners hoping to brighten a child’s day.
