A gift of friendship and purpose
Donna Brown (left) and her friend Peggy Gurnett.
Why Peggy Gurnett gives monthly to South Boston NDC
Margaret (Peggy) Gurnett and Donna Brown go way back. They first met through a parish book club at Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid years ago. That connection deepened in 2009 when Donna became Board President at Sancta Maria House, a former shelter for homeless women in the South End — where Peggy was already a volunteer.
It was through this shared commitment to service that Peggy came to admire Donna’s leadership and ultimately decided to become a monthly donor to South Boston NDC, inspired by her friend.
“She’s very good at working with a group of people and bringing consensus,” Peggy said of Donna. “She’s definitely a leader, a very strong leader, and gentle in a way, too. But she can be fierce if she needs to be; she’ll stick to her guns.”
Peggy recalled one moment in particular that left a lasting impression: a meeting where Donna was advocating for Patriot Homes, South Boston NDC’s affordable housing for veterans. “I was very impressed by the way she conducted herself. She was fierce. She was fighting for people. We need that balance.”
That moment of advocacy resonated. Although Peggy wasn’t initially involved with South Boston NDC, knowing Donna was engaged with the organization gave her confidence. “That’s really all I needed to know,” she laughed.
Peggy, who was born and raised on Emerson Street and lives in the same East Eighth Street home she moved into as a child, has seen South Boston transform over the decades. Through all the change, her commitment to her neighborhood has never wavered.
She’s especially concerned about the impact of unchecked development on affordable housing. “Developers are all over the place,” she said. “They don’t care about the neighborhood and end up pushing people out. Anything we can do to stop those people from conquering South Boston is a good thing, in my opinion.”
That conviction led her to turn her annual donation into a monthly gift.
Peggy understands how crucial consistent support is for nonprofits. “They always need help from people who live in the community,” she said. “I think it’s very important what the NDC does.”
South Boston NDC’s current project is McDevitt Senior Homes, which will convert the former St. Augustine’s Convent into 35 units of affordable housing for very low-income seniors.
Now retired from a long career at Raytheon, Peggy fills her days with purpose. She volunteers, works out at the YMCA, walks her dog, attends daily Mass at Gate of Heaven, spends time with family, and looks out for neighbors — especially the young girls next door who recently invited her to their school’s Grandparents Day. Her calendar is full, but she always makes space for what matters most: supporting the community she loves.
“I want to repay Donna for all the good she did for Sancta Maria House in some small way,” she said. “That’s the pressing reason for me giving, but the secondary reason I give is I’m all in favor of providing affordable housing for people who are not in the wealthy income bracket that I see all around me.
“We know the fabric of society is changing all the time, but let’s take care of the people who built this town.”
And to anyone thinking about becoming a monthly donor? Peggy’s advice is simple: “I’d tell them about the good work you’re doing,” she said. “You might want to consider doing the same.”
-----------------------------------
To start a monthly giving program, visit https://www.sbndc.org/#donate or email Ginger at ginger.deshaney@sbndc.org.