Retirement Fund for Our Beloved Miss Alice

My friend, and also probably yours—Miss Alice—has been helping us and our kids cross the street to get to school every morning and afternoon, rain or shine, for 19 years! At the end of 2023, she is finally retiring. Not because she has a pension or 401(k) waiting for her, but because her knee hurts like hell and she needs time to care for herself, after all these years of caring for us.

Miss Alice has held back the traffic on Rose Street for us, and she's done it with presence and flair, so our kids and families can cross safely. And that's just the beginning—she teaches all of us, everyday, how to show up for ourselves and each other. There is nothing quite so warming as watching a kiddo beam up at Ms. Alice when she asks "How you doin' baby?" And if you've walked or driven by her even a handful of times, you've been graced by her beaming smile and wave and you know her answer when you ask her how she's doing: "I'm goooood!"

I have had the honor of getting to know Miss Alice during my boys' elementary school years, and have been graced by her joyous energy, her wisdom and her stories from decades spent as a caregiver to the elderly in Berkeley. And I know I am one among literally hundreds of Berkeley parents and caregivers and teachers and kids who know and adore Miss Alice, and who benefit literally every day from her spirit, smile, energy and protection.

I’m setting a BIG goal for this fundraiser for Miss Alice because she is such a BIG support to me and to all of us. She's given us every morning and afternoon, every school day for 19 years. And I know I'm not alone when I dream of a world where every human has enough, and can retire with enough.

So let’s do what we can do here and now to stand for the world we want—to stand for Miss Alice. To show her some of the care she has showered on us all these years. Let's show Miss Alice that she belongs, that we've got her like she's had us. Let's honor her with the financial support she needs and deserves and has earned so many times over.

She has joyously helped our families every single day for 19 years, and now we get to help her.

If you have more than enough for yourself and yours, would you please consider donating?

Imagine what we could raise if every family she has helped gave just $1 for every year she's spent with us?

And no matter what, would you please share this with folks you know who have more than enough?

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Steph Mackley (mom of Jonah 8th grade, Calvin 5th, both went to Ruth Acty)