Who Cares? They Do. WHO Are They?

It was the holiday season. The season of giving. And that’s when Lizz Fritz Adams and her daughter Coleen Rix started brainstorming.

“…There were so many Facebook posts and talk about ‘random acts of kindness’ and ‘paying it forward.’ I love the idea of this, people helping others. I started thinking about how many people in our own community are in need of a random act of kindness and how I could help,” Adams said.

Adams and Rix came up with the idea of “getting a group of Facebook friends together and helping one family a month.” So they created WHO, We Help Others on Facebook.

From the WHO Facebook page:

‘I thought it would be nice to help families or individuals in our community during a crisis or time of need. Once a month we will have a specific family or individual to send a "WHO Cares Package" to. As a group we could impact someone on a larger scale than one act at a time.’

“As a group of people, each donating just a little, we could have a larger impact than doing something individually. We contacted social services and they loved the idea,” Adams explained. “The response from Facebook friends has been amazing. In three short months we have 75 members and have helped three families.”

In fact, the group just delivered a basket to a local family this week.

“We've had donations as small as candy bars to as large as a three-month Netflix subscription," Adams said. She and her family own the Brown Derby restaurant on Route 32.

"It has been very rewarding in many ways. The generosity and kindness of the people of Montville (has been) heartwarming. The thought of families receiving their baskets truly fills my heart with joy," she said. "We all need a little help once in awhile and sometimes that's all it takes a little help.”

Montville Senior & Social Services Director Kathleen Doherty-Peck said the group is “treasured.”

“The Montville Senior & Social Services Department is dedicated to helping our many families and individuals in need.  We are so fortunate that there are those in our community willing to help us, help those in need,” Doherty-Peck said.

“’WHO Cares Packages’ have already made a few of our families truly happy. They have put smiles on faces of our families facing hardships and crisis, severe medical issues and situations, and more.  The caring disposition of those involved with ‘WHO’ is not only appreciated, it’s treasured.”

To learn more or join the group check out their page on Facebook!