Our Story

During the summer of 2020, our Executive Director, Natalie Schmidt, lost a brother to his 10-year battle with alcoholism. She describes him as the sweetest, most giving person she ever knew. For years, everyone around him tried to help him recover, but he wouldn't have any of it, and after his death, the entire family struggled. As the months passed and the holidays approached, a sense of dread loomed over the family - Natalie couldn’t imagine how they would get through the holidays without him.
Natalie found herself wondering how she could take this painful experience and turn it into something positive. She realized that while she could no longer help her brother, there were plenty of other people in need whom she could help. Then several chance encounters led to Natalie wrapping Christmas packages in a stranger's kitchen and out of that she formed the nonprofit Better Together Initiative Inc. During the organization’s first Christmas they provided about 30 families Christmas. It was a powerful experience. There were lots of tears from both the people we helped and our volunteers. We were all reminded how the love from one person can bring healing to another, that we are truly better together. And as they say—the rest is history.
Then something magical happened in 2022, Better Together Initiative Inc aligned with another local group who was also doing great things—Clandestine Kringle! We are so incredibly excited!!! In 2021, between the two teams we served about 100 families, and we are expecting to help a similar number of families this year. We hope you will join us on this journey and help build a better community. This promises to be the best Christmas season ever.
be the best Christmas season ever.