Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Lindquist.
Hi Gina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I first started working for The Drawer as their first Executive Director in 2021. I was looking for a position that had a purpose beyond myself, the opportunity to serve and connect with others, and a way to get more involved with and give back to my local community. I have always known that I would want to work in the non profit sector because of the opportunities this field has to allow you to give back and make the world a better place not only for yourself and your family, but for your friends, neighbors, and others in need that rely on the kindness of strangers to make it through each day. I have been blessed with a life that provides me with everything I need, so I wanted to make sure I could spend any and all time given in my career to trying to helping others as much as I could.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I first started at The Drawer I was not given a roadmap or how to for growing and leading a small non profit organization, which was both exciting and scary – but I could tell from the way the Founders, Stew and Debby Shepard, lead, empathy and kindness first, that it was going to be an amazing and worthwhile adventure. I had to figure a lot of things out and test ideas along the way, some of them worked, some of them didn’t, and I learned to be ok with that. Experimenting is necessary for growth and success, and I learned that success comes in different forms, and to celebrate every big and little win along the way. Also, to surround yourself with others that will celebrate with you as well as support the lows.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Drawer is a small local non profit in Minnesota that Provides Warmth and Dignity to those in need through NEW socks and underwear, We currently serve over 200 organizations throughout Minnesota and Western WI, and donate an average of 18,000 pairs a month. Since our inception in 2017, we have donated almost 800,000 pairs of socks and underwear. For us specifically at The Drawer, who work in a space where we are not at the “front lines” like the others. We are not client facing and are more behind the scenes, working with the organizations themselves versus the people. This in some ways affects our ability to grow and experience the opportunities that more forward facing orgs do, but it does not affect our ability to feel the gratitude and appreciation for the donations we give, nor our ability to make a difference. We are the only organization with this mission and doing this work, small but mighty.
What are your plans for the future?
We are hoping that our mission speaks to others in a way that will garner more support for the growth that we are experiencing. We are currently operating one site, but our dream would be to be more accessible to others by having other sites and the capacity to give even more seeing as we are the only ones providing these basic need items.
Pricing:
- $20 donation buys us 100 pairs of underwear
- $250 donation buys us a pallet of underwear (over 1500 pairs)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedrawer.org
- Instagram: @thedrawermn
- Facebook: @socksandunderwear
