A mission, a vision, and a village of Friends.
Gathering Friends was started by one woman who refused to let other women walk alone.
Today, it's carried forward by her daughter, and a growing community of women who've made the mission their own!
About our Founder:
It began with Darlynn.
Gathering Friends to Give is a community-first nonprofit and village for women in the Metro Detroit area stepping into new phases of life; offering a dignified, elevated alternative to traditional giving through curated closet “shopping” events, a collective of free professional support and resources, scholarships, and so much more.
But here’s how it all started…
In 2013, Darlynn Johnson had a realization: too many women in her community were quietly carrying everyone else through life's hardest moments… with no one to carry them in return.
These women deserved more than charity. They deserved support from a community of friends with the capacity, expertise, and heart to offer it
And so: Gathering Friends was born.
What began as a small community gathering grew, year after year, into a network of women showing up for one another with the kind of real, hands-on help that makes a major impact, and inspires others to pay it forward, too.
More than a decade later, Darlynn's vision has touched hundreds of women across Michigan and beyond. Her journey is marked by resilience, grace, and an unshakable commitment to the women and girls who deserve a village that has their backs.
Why we exist
Women are often told, "It takes a village." But too few of them ever find the one they deserve. That’s why we’ve created Gathering Friends to Give exists; to make sure no woman has to ride the waves of life alone.
We do it through three core programs:
The Closet
The Care Collective
The Ashley Johnson Scholarship.
Each of our services is rooted in the belief that women deserve dignified, hands-on, high-quality support from a warm, heart-first community that she can become a part of
Meet the women behind the village
GF is led by a small, devoted team of women who bring heart, expertise, and lived experience to everything we do.
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Elisabeth Erin Johnson is the President – or Madame President, as she’ll joke with a wink – and Head of Finance and Strategy at Gathering Friends to Give, a role she stepped into when her mother Darlynn was ready to pass the torch. She’s here to keep Gathering Friends to Give true to its mission, and ensure all of our generously-donated resources are deployed to their maximum potential!
The mission became personal when she became a mother and found herself drawn to something she'd read: that in motherhood, it's easier to slip into isolation, but choosing to be seen is where the healing and joy live. When she’s not stepping into her “Madame President” shoes, her and her husband and their three little ones split their time between Brazil and Michigan, and she’s forever a firm believer in the power of a good dance party.
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As Director of Programs + Impact at Gathering Friends to Give, Lauren Libkuman oversees The Care Collective's programs, events, and volunteer engagement, building experiences that leave women with resources they can truly use, and a renewed sense of their own strength.
When it comes to what inspires her to do this work, Lauren says: "My hope is to help create a village where every woman feels seen, cared for, and empowered to overcome whatever challenges life places in her path." Lauren believes people do their best when they feel genuinely supported, and she shows up to make that true for every person she works with. Outside of the organization, you'll find her with her husband and son, elbow-deep in the dirt in her garden, or dreaming up her next dinner party.
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Cameo Paschal Fair serves as Community, Engagement & Development Lead at Gathering Friends to Give, where she helps connect Friends to the GF2G services they may need in ways that feel human, accessible, and welcoming. She’s driven by a deep belief that no one should navigate life alone, and that helping women in ways she herself has been helped in the past is both a great privilege and a responsibility. Paying it forward, and bringing her full effort to everything she touches, are the values that guide how she shows up every day.
Outside of her work with Gathering Friends, you can catch Cameo under the spotlight as an actor and dancer. Beyond her love for the arts, she’s also a devoted student of African and African American history and literature.
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Moriah Brewer, PhD is the Director of Research & Grants at Gathering Friends to Give, where she tracks funding opportunities to expand the organization's reach, and leads its research arm. Her work has always centered women and women-identifying people ( Black women in particular), and is grounded in a belief in dignity, authenticity, and the importance of building lasting connections and communities. Moriah also conducts community-engaged research and sees community-mindedness as one of the most powerful solutions to the social challenges people face every day.
She holds a PhD in Sociology with a focus in race, gender, and education, and has consulted with higher education institutions, government entities, and nonprofits throughout her career. When she's not working, you'll find her on her farm in Georgia (home to a growing fur and feather family of goats, horses, and ducks), and relaxing on the dock while her husband fishes.
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Danielle Dominique Hargro brings her experience as an entrepreneur, business leader, Alcohol Recovery Coach, and passionate advocate to Gathering Friends. Through her work and her own journey, she has developed a deep belief that every woman deserves to feel seen, supported, and reminded of her worth.
As the founder of Green Maids of Detroit, Danielle has spent more than a decade building businesses and leading others, but what matters most to her is using what she’s learned to encourage women as they take their next steps. Whether through business, recovery, wellness, or service, Danielle is motivated by a simple desire: to help women see what’s possible for their lives and to remind them that they don’t have to move forward alone.
Outside of her work with Gathering Friends to Give, Danielle enjoys walking, spending time with her daughter Dakota, and is always looking for ways to encourage, connect, and pour into the women around her.
Want to be part of what's next?
Whether you're here to give, to lend your expertise, or to find the support you've been needing, we’d love to welcome you to the village with open arms!