NEWBURYPORT — Two local residents who took it upon themselves to give back to the community were honored with citations from the House of Representatives and the Senate at the start of Monday night’s City Council meeting.
Thomas Gordon of Newburyport Boy Scout Troop 251 and recently retired Among Friends meal program Director Bonnie Schultz were recognized by state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport, and state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester.
Gordon, who earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout on Dec. 7, was presented with his citation first.
“Thank you so much,” Gordon said, surrounded by his family.
For his final project to become an Eagle Scout, Gordon created in-home emergency kits for seniors and others in need, meeting with a Newburyport Senior/Community Center representative to receive input as the supply list grew.
The kits contained 18 items, including a first aid kit, water bottle, emergency blanket, matches and candles. They were distributed to 50 families at the Newbury Food Pantry.
“This is an incredible amount of work, and we just want to thank you and congratulate you,” Shand said. “It’s very hard to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. And you did it during a pandemic. And all the hard work that you have done will hold you in good stead for the rest of your life. So please accept this citation from the House of Representatives.”
Tarr said he was impressed by the accomplishment, noting it is achieved by “less than 4% of everyone who starts on the trail to Eagle.”
“It testifies to your character, your dedication, and the fact that in all of the things in a young person’s very busy life, when you can make part of that life being able and willing to help others, you indeed have made the world a better place already,” Tarr said.
Tarr also made sure to address Gordon’s family.
“They were very much your partner on the trail to Eagle,” Tarr said. “And I always say, sometimes they’re behind you giving you a push, sometimes they’re in front of you giving you a pull, and sometimes they’re right next to you reminding you of how important what you’re doing is.”
Next was Schultz, who ran the Among Friends meal program at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport for 27 years before retiring at the end of last year.
Throughout her tenure at Among Friends, the program grew substantially. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Among Friends distributed 120 meals per week. At the time of her retirement, Among Friends was distributing 420 to 450 meals per week.
Under Schultz’s direction, Among Friends saw its 30-year-old kitchen completely remodeled in 2024 with the help of $50,000 in grants and donations. The meal program also received a new convection oven and freezer in 2024.
“For 27 years, Bonnie ran the Among Friends program at St. Paul’s, and I was a volunteer for Bonnie for some of those years,” Shand said. “So I watched her make magic in the kitchen. She created all of these meals out of donations that were just so nutritious and wholesome, and it was just amazing to watch it happen.”
She said Schultz not only provided meals, but companionship.
“She was as efficient in the kitchen as she was loving to our guests,” Shand said. “So I don’t know how they’re going to replace you. But this program served 21,000 meals a year, which is a remarkable thing this person has accomplished. So we just wanted to take an opportunity to thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Tarr agreed with Shand that the magic Schultz made in the kitchen went far beyond those confines.
“It was a reminder that by doing some relatively simple things, we can enrich the lives of others and take something as basic as a human need as food, and use that as a bridge to build a cohesive community and support and socialization — which is as important as the nutrition that was being offered on the plate,” Tarr said.
Daily News reporter Caitlin Dee contributed to this report.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.