Grounds for a Change believes in creating community with awareness and creativity and being the grain of sand in still water, that makes a ripple.

I got the inspiration to create Grounds for a Change while still living in Los Angeles.

As I was finishing a can of Trader Joe’s coffee beans, I stopped and thought about how many of these enter the landfills after a single use.

I started to fantasize about all the next lives a simple coffee can could become. And one thing kept going through my mind, again and again. Reuse it and find a way to fill it to benefit someone else.

The vision was born. Decorate the coffee cans with mod podge, tissue paper, inspiring quotes, images from magazines, newspapers, beads, glitter, etc. etc. And then fill them with brand new wash cloths, gently used or new jewelry, travel size toiletries, toothbrushes, little toys for kids, crayons, little play-doh’s, the list became endless.

I asked Trader Joe’s to start saving their giant cans they used in store, when they used to hand patrons little cups of coffee as they shopped. Putting the word out to my acting students and to friends about what I was doing, and donations came in from all over the country.

The first time these were decorated, packed and delivered, it was literally just me and a few of my acting students. The two times Grounds for a Change was active in LA, all the items benefitted the Downtown Women’s Shelter.

Time did what time does and it passed.

I became a mother and very soon afterward became a single mother to the most incredible little girl I could ever hope to experience. In my single motherhood, life found us living in Arizona, minutes away from immediate family and support. The blessings of being near our family are immeasurable. The support my daughter and I received from all forms of family literally saved our lives. What else to do, except pay it forward.

Grounds for a Change experienced a rebirth, alongside us.

The first event was held at the Mountain Artists Guild in Prescott, AZ. We had roughly eight volunteers and several donations and were able to create and pack about 15 cans.

The second and third events were held at the Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott, AZ, and our third event in November, 2025, had over 20 volunteers, many of which were children who were invested in being of service to other people — to someone they knew they wouldn’t likely meet but know that they made a small impact with their creativity, time, and donations.

Thanks to the growing number of volunteers and donations, we were able to decorate, pack, and deliver over 40 cans to the women and children’s shelter over at Stepping Stones in Prescott Valley, AZ.

Grounds for a Change is ever evolving and growing and can only exist with your donations, time, and creativity. We are ever so grateful for your support!

Please check back for details for our event in February, 2026.

Email: MT@MichelleTomlinson.Net to get involved.