Starfish Award Winner: Yes! Gallery

Yes! Gallery in the historic Wickford Village of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is known for handcrafted gifts and artisan-made finds, but for owner Julie Beebe, the shop serves a larger purpose.

“I’ve always seen owning my business in this village as a platform to do good,” says Beebe, who owns the gallery with her husband, Palmer. The pair are second-generation owners of the business, which was founded in 1980.

“I’ve always seen owning my business in this village as a platform to do good.” — Julie Beebe

Beebe’s community fundraising began about 15 years ago after learning that the local food pantry struggled most in the summer when children no longer received school meals. Beebe created an in-store campaign where customer donations translated into future shopping discounts, raising more than $5,000 in just weeks.

“People were thrilled to help,” she says. “That’s when I realized what we could do together.”

Just the beginning

Since starting the campaign for the local food pantry, Yes! Gallery has been on a giving streak. Over the years, Beebe and her team at Yes! Gallery have repeatedly mobilized Wickford Village’s close-knit business community to help individuals and organizations in need.

When a local child faced a serious illness, Beebe and her team organized a school’s-out block party with food, music and raffles, bringing in $13,000 in just a few hours.

Then after an electrical fire destroyed the boat house and livelihoods of a longtime father-and-son wooden boat-building team, she helped lead a large-scale fundraiser that doubled as a community reunion.

Magical experience

Beebe has found value in serving her community more than just handcrafted gifts and artisan finds.

“When neighbors show up for neighbors, it’s magic,” she says. “The money matters, but the connection and support matter just as much.”

Today, Beebe and Palmer coordinate weekly food pickups for the MAE Organization, which serves homeless people in Rhode Island. The couple has also invited customers to bring in coats and blankets to the store to serve people experiencing homelessness.