Schweitzer answers needs with Simple Gestures

PORT CLINTON – Kathy Jo Schweitzer knows there are a lot of people in the Port Clinton area who have a heart for helping others but lack the time to do much.

They know there are needs out there, but they do not know how to find them or the best way to meet them.

To help connect those people with needs in the community, Schweitzer created Simple Gestures, a charitable organization whose main goal is to help people help others in the simplest way possible.

“Community service is so important today,” Schweitzer said. “Some people say they want to help but don’t know where to start.”

Schweitzer does. She is, in her own words, “an organizer.”

“I love working and creating and organizing,” she said.

Schweitzer said organizing has always been a part of everything in her life. It helped keep her life in order when her paralyzed aunt lived with her family when she was growing up, and as an adult, being organized brought her through 30 successful years as a Port Clinton High School English teacher and 46 years as a Kiwanis member.

Today, she is using those same skills to organize charitable works in the Port Clinton area. She created Simple Gestures so she can do the behind-the-scenes work to allow more people to help others.

The process of Simple Gestures is just that — simple.

Once Schweitzer hears about a need in the community, she researches it, pinpoints the specific need and then sends donation requests to her contributors — a group of people who have volunteered to be put on a list of potential donors. Monetary donations are never requested; she only requests inexpensive items.

“It’s a way to let contributors get enjoyment out of it. It can be a two-way street,” Schweitzer said. “When you give money, you hand it to somebody and then it’s gone. You can get more enjoyment out of it if you participate.”

Whenever a need arises, contributors can choose to give one item, several items or none at all. Simple Gestures is a new program that Schweitzer created — and copyrighted — this year. Her first recipient was Ruth Ann’s House in Port Clinton, which received landscaping supplies, paper towels, storage containers and cloth tote bags.

“The first email I sent asking for a need was on April 22, and it was due May 8,” Schweiter said. “Some people brought one pack of paper towels and some brought everything. It was great.”

Part of the simplicity of the program is the presentation of the requests. Schweitzer always provides precise information about the needs.

“My program is very specific. That’s the way I roll,” she said. “If someone has an idea for a need, I will research it. I will do the work. The point was to make everything simple. The items are simple — they are everyday sorts of things. Everyone goes to the grocery store. They can pick up a couple products.”

Simple Gestures gained popularity very quickly. Schweitzer’s list of contributors has already grown to about 70 people.

“People were really excited. Ruth Ann’s House wanted topsoil, and I got loads of topsoil. I had a truckful,” she said. “Two-hundred and forty-three items were collected — 243 items was huge.”

Schweitzer said she probably will not make another request until sometime in August. Needs might include winter hats for children or clothes for families who have lost their homes in fires. Sometimes, gently used items are needed, which cost the contributor nothing.

Elisabeth Kiker is one of Schweitzer’s contributors, and she likes the way Simple Gestures allows people to pool their resources to give in big ways.

“I’m thrilled with it,” Kiker said. “This is one way to do things as a group. Individually, you sometimes can’t do much. I think this is brilliant.”

For more information on becoming a Simple Gestures contributor or to share a need, call Kathy Jo Schweitzer at 419-734-2397.