Scoops of Joy and the Legacy That Keeps Us Going

There’s a particular kind of tired that comes after something big. Not the kind that sleep

immediately fixes, but the kind that settles in your bones—the kind that comes after weeks of planning, worrying, hoping, and holding your breath.

The days leading up to our 3rd Annual Rent Party Fundraiser felt like that. And the days after? A mix of relief, gratitude, disbelief, and quiet pride. Because it worked! Because you showed up. Because in an economy that makes keeping a nonprofit running feel like an Olympic sport, this community said, “Yes. We’re in.” And that matters more than I can adequately put into words.

Running a nonprofit right now is not easy. That’s not a complaint—it’s just the truth. Rising costs. Funding uncertainties. The constant balancing act of mission, sustainability, and responsibility. There are days when optimism feels like an active choice rather than a natural state. Which is probably why Shaboozey’s “Good News” has been on repeat lately. If you’ve heard it, you know. It’s not loud optimism. It’s not flashy hope. It’s the kind that says, “I don’t need everything to be perfect—I just need something good to hold onto.” A reminder that even in the middle of uncertainty, good news still finds its way in.

This fundraiser was good news.

Not just because it was successful—but because it reminded me why this work exists in the first place. It reminded me that Meryl’s Safe Haven is not carried by one person. It’s carried by a community that believes housing matters, dignity matters, and people matter. And January 27th—that reflection feels even heavier and more meaningful.

On January 27th, we celebrate the birthday of our namesake. Another year without the phone call. Another year of passing her contact in my phone without deleting it. Another year of learning how to honor someone’s legacy without their physical presence.

It doesn’t get easier and don't believe the folks who say it does. But it does get clearer.

MSH exists because love doesn’t end when someone is gone. It transforms. It becomes responsibility. It becomes action. It becomes community.

This year feels different—not because the grief is gone, but because the foundation is stronger. Because the work is moving. Because the mission is alive. Because even on the hard days, there is momentum.

And because of that, I want to do what we’ve learned matters most: gather. So, in true birthday fashion—and true Meryl fashion—we’re keeping it simple and sweet. Join us for ice cream on January 27th at Ben & Jerry’s in Marlborough. No speeches. No formal program. Just community, conversation, and a little sweetness to honor a life, a legacy, and the work that continues because of it.

This is an invitation—to pause, to celebrate, to acknowledge that joy and responsibility can coexist. That gratitude doesn’t erase challenge. That optimism doesn’t ignore reality. It just chooses to keep going anyway.

To everyone who supported our 3rd Annual

Rent Party.

To everyone who believes in this work.

To everyone navigating their own mix of exhaustion and hope.

Thank you for being part of the good news. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.

Scoop Me In!