‘In Times Like These, It Is So Important to Think of Others’

Giving to Greater Boston Food Bank
Listen

One of the cruel realities of the coronavirus outbreak is how isolating it is. To stop its spread, people must hunker down and shut themselves away from so much that defines their regular day-to-day lives: work and school, shops and restaurants, neighbors and communities.

It’s not easy. But even as we close ourselves off from people, says Alex Freeman ’15, we cannot allow ourselves to forget them. “In times like these, it is so important to think of others,” she says.

Alex Freeman '15
Alex Freeman ’15

Freeman found herself thinking of others a lot lately. As she went to the supermarket, stocking up on groceries just as so many of us have been doing in this time of social distancing, she thought of those less fortunate.

“In that moment, it overwhelmed me to think of the situation I would be in if I did not have the finances and job security,” she says. “The sense of sadness and helplessness I felt for those less fortunate was too much to not do something.”

And, so, she decided to act.

A Ripple Effect

It started simply enough in that most modern of ways: Freeman posted on social media.

On Facebook and Instagram, Freeman wrote a heartfelt note expressing her concerns for those in need. “What if I had to think twice before swiping my credit card to buy yet another round of groceries this week because I wasn’t sure I had enough money?” she wrote. “What if job security was a concern that kept me up at night wondering if I could continue to support my family?”

She concluded by asking for contributions to the Greater Boston Food Bank, a large hunger-relief organization that distributed nearly 70 million pounds of food last year. Over just a 72-hour period, Freeman was able to raise a combined $2,300 on Facebook and Instagram. “By fundraising for them, we are able to directly provide their team with the finances to purchase, package, and deliver more meals a day to those in need,” she says.

“Find what you’re passionate about and extend a helping hand, whether it be your time or financial support.”

Alex Freeman '15

Freeman is amazed at how her initial note, and her subsequent follow-up posts, were able to accomplish so much. “It caused a wonderful ripple effect inspiring others to participate,” says Freeman, a managing partner at Manzo Freeman Development, her family’s real estate development company. She also serves as a member of the Babson College Advisory Board.

Freeman hopes that people continue to be inspired to help others in this uncertain time. “The Greater Boston Food Bank is just one of thousands of charities across the globe you can decide to back,” she says. “Find what you’re passionate about and extend a helping hand, whether it be your time or financial support.”

Posted in Community

More from  »

Latest Stories

Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis applauds while sitting at a table during a BCERC dinner
Honoring Andrew ‘Zach’ Zacharakis for 20 Years as BCERC Director As the 45th annual entrepreneurship research conference returns to Babson’s campus, BCERC pays tribute to Professor Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis for two decades of service. Zacharakis shares reflections of BCERC and its impact.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
June 16, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Public safety dog surrounded by students.
It’s All in the Name: Hero the Dog Brings Safety and Smiles to Babson Trained by the state police, Babson’s newest Public Safety dog comes with unique skills to boost campus safety and community engagement.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
June 12, 2025

Posted in Community

Runners pose for a photo on a rainy day at Babson
The 10K for Babson: A Rainy Run and a New Fundraising Record  Those running and walking in the 10K for Babson faced soggy conditions, but the annual event raised the most money in its history for the Melissa Shaak Student Emergency Fund.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
June 11, 2025

Posted in Community