by Mary Jo David

Recognizing those who run Stockbridge Community Outreach is not easy. Everyone wants to remain in the background so Outreach as a whole can be recognized—and rightly so. Outreach does so much good in the community; the nearly 50 volunteers, including its board, all deserve recognition.

But there’s something to be said for those who keep Outreach not just afloat, but thriving. To that end, we were able to finally convince Outreach Executive Director Gwen Reid to be featured as one of the 2026 Women of Note.

For the few who might not know, Stockbridge Community Outreach is a nonprofit food pantry and crisis center serving those who live within the Stockbridge School District boundaries.

“So much of what I oversee was set up by Karen Smith before I took over in 2021, or it is handled by Lori Hendrick, who is our volunteer coordinator and so much more. Really, I feel as though my job is just to maintain; I’m a ‘carry-on-er,'” Gwen said with a chuckle!

Au contraire! Those who work closely with her see so much more as Gwen has made the executive director role her own.

Outreach board chairperson Jo Mayer adds perspective, “Gwen ‘maintains’ an ever-changing cast of volunteers, donors and clients—all while overseeing a budget of over $150,000—and ensures grant protocols and deadlines are met. She orders food and supplies to keep our pantry and TMO program stocked. She helps bring special programs like the Meal of the Month, Mobile Health Clinics and parent-child playgroups to the area. All this is in addition to her main job of assisting people in crisis.”

Before joining Outreach, Gwen was a social worker for Community Mental Health in Lansing for 32 years. As a caseworker, she visited people in their homes in rural communities like Stockbridge, Webberville, and Leslie. She retired in 2019 and began volunteering with Outreach.

As a young person, she spent considerable time with her grandmother on Joslin Lake. Later she and her husband, Dan, raised their daughter, Christine, in Eaton Rapids; then Gwen and her husband moved to Joslin Lake.

So what prompts someone to leave a career in social work to take on the challenges of a community outreach program?

“I’ve always worked with disabled people and the underserved. Finding them help and getting them on a path forward is so important,” Gwen said. “I knew before coming to Outreach that ‘the system’ is difficult to work through. So many people give up rather than get the help they need.”

Outreach is a safe place where people can come and talk about their needs with staff who try to help.

“It’s through casual conversations here that we learn maybe someone needs diabetic supplies,” Gwen said. “So we say, ‘Hey—do you have Medicaid? You can get them delivered to your door.’ The more we talk, we find out the person is eligible for Social Security but didn’t know how to apply. With our help, they now have health care and an income each month. It wasn’t instantaneous, but we helped them gain stability.”

The stories are endless—people are doing well one minute and suddenly lose a source of income. Or they have a regular job but it doesn’t pay enough to feed their family. Or, for whatever reason, they can’t pay for groceries or an electric bill. Christmas is huge—so many just want to know their kids will have a good holiday.

“I love that when someone comes in, volunteers make them feel good. Outreach is a friendly, social place. People feel they fit in here,” Gwen said.

Outreach volunteer Paul Crandall thinks Gwen has a lot to do with the organization’s welcoming atmosphere. “Her warm and caring manner and sense of humor have given her many, many admirers. So capable, conscientious and hard-working, too. Outreach is just extraordinarily lucky to have her at the center of things.”

So much is free at Outreach. The weekly Wednesday (fondly referred to as “Gwensday”) pop-up food distribution that typically serves 100-plus families per week, the store with clothes and household items—all free.

“I tell high schoolers about it, but it takes some coaxing to get them here. Thrift and vintage shopping are popular right now, so why not drop by Outreach and see what we have to offer?”

Financial assistance and once-a-month shopping at the inside pantry require clients to qualify.

Outreach operates on grant monies and donations. Gwen is responsible for ensuring the grants get written and donations keep coming. Chelsea Hospital Community Benefit Program covers many of Outreach’s operating expenses. Other financial help and food purchases rely on donations from the community. And all of it is appreciated.

“My job is the best; I have a great seat,” Gwen remarks. “I get to interact with all those who come in to support Outreach with donations, and I also get to talk with those who come in for help. They’re always very thankful, but I tell them, ‘Don’t thank me, thank the community; our community takes care of its neighbors.'”

All photos provided by Gwen Reid and Jo Mayer.