MelroseKind To Host Community Viewing Of 'Come From Away '

MELROSE, MA —The local nonprofit Melrose Kind will host a community screening of the hit musical "Come From Away" with keynote speaker Kevin Tuerff on Thursday, August 31 at 6 p.m. in the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School auditorium.

"Come From Away" tells the story of 38 planes – carrying 7,000 passengers – that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada when US airspace was shut down on 9/11. The “plane people” nearly doubled the population of the little town of Gander.

Although the townspeople were ill-equipped for the sudden population burst, they greeted their guests with kindness and compassion, laughter, tears, and lots of food. Kevin Tuerff was a passenger on one of the planes and was overcome with the response of the Ganderites. When he returned home, he wondered if his own community would have come out with such kindness.

“We are honored to have Kevin speak at our community viewing of Come From Away,” said Maribeth Darwin, co-founder of MelroseKind. “Not only is the musical fabulously entertaining, but Kevin’s story aligns so well with the mission of MelroseKind to lead with kindness and empathy.”

Tuerff’s nonprofit, Pay It Forward 9.11, encourages others to perform eleven acts of kindness from September 1 through September 11. MelroseKind will be participating in the program and asking community members to come out and join in.

“Kevin will not only speak at the event,” said Darwin. “He’ll be there to chat after the musical ends. He’s happy to sign copies of his books and offer ideas on eleven ways to be kind.”

In partnership with MelroseKind, Melrose High School summer reading includes two books that were used as source material for Come From Away: "The Day the World Came to Town" by Jim DeFede and "Channel of Peace" by Kevin Tuerff. Both titles are available at the Melrose Public Library and stocked at Molly’s Bookstore on Main Street.

“Everyone we talk to about the musical is excited to see it,” said Stephanie Nelson, co-founder of MelroseKind. “One of our local merchants bought 30 tickets and plans to share them with her clients. It’s a great way to come together with people you care about.”

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of ten dollars, but the community viewing is open to all and tickets will be provided to those who are unable to donate.

Melrose Coop Foundation is the Platinum Sponsor of the MelroseKind event. Cambridge Savings Bank is the Gold Sponsor. FitLife and Melrose Rotary round out the Silver Sponsorships, with Hinge Fitness, Eastern Bank, and Wakefield Cooperative Bank as Bronze Sponsors. MelroseKind is actively accepting additional sponsorships. Reach out to [email protected] if you are interested.

MelroseKind was founded eight years ago to encourage community members to come together with kindness. For more information, visit melrosekind.com.