When Susan Thompson-Gaines started receiving one Amazon box after another from “EA Raven” for her local Little Yellow Free Pantry in Arlington, Virginia, she and her Pantry Crew were puzzled. They were grateful for the many donations but wondered who the mystery donor was. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t figure it out.
The boxes kept coming. “EA Raven” certainly sounded like a nod to the long-deceased poet Edgar Allen Poe of “The Raven” fame, but that connection made no logical sense. How would a long-dead poet be sending food and resources to a Virginia food pantry anyway? Eventually, Susan gave up trying to find out who it was and simply appreciated the generosity of this kind stranger.
The mysterious donations varied from food pantry basic food and toiletries to more “frivolous” items that are often overlooked like mustard and cake mix boxes. Shouldn’t people in need be grateful for whatever they get from a food pantry, and not expect “extras” like condiments or “non-essential” items? EA Raven thought otherwise, noting on one Amazon order note that they “didn’t realize how nice condiments were until [they] tried to eat something that really needed mustard.” And if you’re a broke single mom whose child’s birthday is coming up, being able to make them a cake with a mix from the food pantry can be a real life saver.
After several months of these regular shipments, Susan got another Amazon package with a note from EA saying they were having a medical procedure done soon. They assured Susan they’d resume sending donations once the procedure was behind them. Susan and her crew hoped EA would be ok.
In a month or so, another few packages came while EA was in rehab after surgery, but then they stopped. The next communication Susan received was from EA’s sister Ann, passing along the devastating news that EA had passed away. At last EA’s identity was revealed to the folks at the Little Yellow Pantry – Betty Raven from South Bend, Indiana was their mystery donor. Susan and her crew were profoundly sad to lose their faithful friend, even though they had never actually met her.
Ann was with her when Betty made that Amazon order just before her medical procedure – from her phone in the hospital when she was very ill – and knows how happy it made Betty to be able to help others. Despite battling her own serious health issues, she enjoyed being actively involved in selecting items for people with specific needs. In fact, Ann and other family members learned only after Betty’s death that the Little Yellow Free Pantry was just one of 15-20 charities that Betty had been regularly supporting.
But that’s not where the story ends. Susan, a self-proclaimed “Kindness Activist,” told Betty’s story to her blog followers, emphasizing how much she appreciated this long-distance stranger’s generosity. It turns out that Betty’s love for doing what she could to help those in need was contagious. After her blog post and a related Washington Post article, Susan’s house filled with over 200 Amazon packages from other random strangers donating items in honor of Betty. They were so touched by Betty’s actions that they felt moved to action themselves.
It doesn’t take a giant bank account, hours and hours of time, or even geographic proximity to make a big impact on the lives of others. Betty used what she had to help others in a way that was convenient for her and brought her joy. Then even after her death, her story motivated others to do the same.
What a legacy.
Don’t miss Susan’s original moving blog post about Betty, which includes more details of this incredible story: https://kindnessactivist.blogspot.com/2023/10/ea-raven-epitome-of-kindness.html. In that post, Susan shares a few of the personalized Amazon notes Betty sent with her shipments and the 2022 Christmas drive that got her involved with the Little Yellow Free Pantry in the first place.
And a follow up blog post from Susan about Betty’s amazing ripple effect is linked here: https://kindnessactivist.blogspot.com/2023/11/kindness-ripples-from-stranger.html.
Thanks to Betty’s sister Ann for sharing her sister’s meaningful story with us.
For more inspiring stories of regular people just like Betty, read our weekly Impact Heroes posts at www.howsyourimpact.com/impact-heroes/ or on social media @howsyourimpact on Facebook and Instagram.
(Photo credit WTOP/Sandy Kozel)
