In 1982, five Sisters of Saint Joseph purchased at public auction a 17-room Victorian house in the deeply depressed north end of Springfield. In 1984, they opened it as a charity, simply to help neighbors — of whom only one in four has a job, 40% do not speak English, 61% are single-parent households and their average annual household income is $7,271. The Gray House staff and volunteers offer help with food (feeding 160 people weekly, for $250), shelter and jobs, as well as legal, educational and medical guidance. Its style is to gain small victories through one-on-one mentorships — completing job applications, learning to read signs at the bus stop or supermarket, earning a GED diploma or U.S. citizenship, enrolling in a community college. The staff cares for children at Kids Club, an after-school and summer program where homework and reading are required activities; kids, often for the first time, go on field trips to museums, the theatre and baseball games. The Gray House does a whole lot with very little: it helps 8,000 people on an annual budget of just $180,000. If you want to make a big difference, here’s your chance.