It’s always heart-warming to see a community step out of left field and create something truly special. A dear friend of mine, along with a group of clever, community-minded people, recently did just that by founding the Ocean Grove Film Society. With a thoughtful plan in hand, they sought funding, secured a venue, and gathered support through a local grant. It all came together beautifully. On opening night, over 60 people attended and by the end of their launch month, 83 had signed up as annual members. A stunning show of support. Every month, a local caterer donates a platter of homemade cakes, sweet treats, and fresh fruit donated by Happh Apple. A raffle is held to raise additional funds, with all the prizes generously donated by local businesses and individuals. It’s not just a movie night, it’s a community celebration. Although Ocean Grove is 70 minutes from home for me, I was honoured to be invited to join. And honestly, who could say no to the joy of gathering with like-minded souls to dive into a powerful story on the big screen? As of this writing, they’ve screened three films: Judy and Punch – a quirky Aussie comedy/thriller The Old Oak – an English social drama with heart The Teacher Who Promised the Sea, a moving Spanish historical film (subtitled) Each film has offered something different, thought-provoking, emotional, sometimes confronting but always uniting a roomful of people in 90 minutes of shared focus and emotion. Recently, the committee put out a call for raffle prize donations and I saw an opportunity to help. I reached out to my network, and the response was humbling. People offered Irish woollen socks, handmade jewellery, body care products, kitchenware, and more. These little gestures are now helping to grow the Society’s capacity, one ticket, one prize, one community member at a time. I can’t always give financially. But I’m lucky to have an incredible network to call on. And sometimes, that’s just as powerful.