PEABODY — What started as a late-night conversation between two friends has quickly grown into a mission to give back.
Peabody resident Cameron Iorio, a rising senior at St. John’s Prep, recently launched Crates for Cause: a community initiative collecting essential items for local charities. While the project is only in its first month, Iorio already has plans to expand across the North Shore.
For July, Crates for Cause is supporting Rosie’s Place: a Boston shelter serving women in need. Rather than guessing what would be most helpful, Iorio said he reached out directly to the organization before organizing the drive.
“I contact the organizations, and I ask what they want,” he said simply. “I don’t like to assume.”
Rosie’s Place requested hygiene products, and community members are encouraged to donate shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and other personal care essentials.
Donations can be dropped off throughout July at Zumi’s Espresso in Topsfield or at Iron Village Strength & Conditioning in Beverly. Iorio said he’s also working to establish a future drop-off location in Peabody to make donating even easier for residents.
The idea behind Crates for Cause evolved after an earlier concept proved difficult to launch. Instead, Iorio and his friend, Ty Mathieu, decided to create something similar to a community donation drive, collecting requested items and delivering them directly to local nonprofits.
Although many might see the effort as going above and beyond, Iorio views it differently.
“For some people, it’s like doing extra,” he said. “But to us, it’s just the bare minimum.”
His motivation is also personal. With his parents separated, Iorio said supporting organizations like Rosie’s Place allows him to help women facing challenges similar to those his own mother experienced.
“I try to tailor them to ones that I specifically am related to,” he said. “Overall, it was just seeing how much I could do and making sure I could give 100% to something and help others.”
The July drive is only the beginning. Future collections are already being planned for organizations including The Home for Little Wanderers, which requested summer camp supplies, and Boston Children’s Hospital, where Iorio hopes to assemble care kits for pediatric cancer patients.
For more information or to donate monetarily, visit Crates for Cause’s Instagram page, @cratesforcause, and click the page’s Linktree, which provides information on the current cause, how to fund a crate, and how to purchase merchandise.
“It’s definitely still up and coming,” Iorio said. “I have a lot more on the way.”
