Interview by Ella Schreyer. Photo by Jan Osborn while practicing social distancing.

Erin Schreyer followed the lead of another photographer and reached out to her neighborhood to enlist their help. Dallas Doing Good heard about her Front-Porch Project and thought it would be a great way to bring people together and benefit our local nonprofits. The Front-Porch Project asks photographers (professional or amateur) to take portraits of families on their porches, documenting the unusual days during the coronavirus crisis.

Erin’s daughter, Ella, 14, is an 8th grader at Highland Park Middle School. She plays volleyball for the school and is also an editor for the yearbook. We asked Ella to use her journalism experience and interview her mother for this story.

Read down to the end of Ella’s interview to see how you can get involved!

How did you come up with the idea of taking porch photos during this time of social distancing?

I saw a news story about a community in Colorado Springs that did this, and I thought we could easily duplicate it in Dallas. Then I wanted to add in a charitable component to help our community during this unprecedented time.

What are some of your favorite nonprofits in Dallas?

North Texas Food Bank, Genesis Women’s Shelter, Hunger Busters, and Brother Bill’s.

What is your favorite part about living in Dallas?

The friendly people, great restaurants, and strong faith community.

What inspires you during this time of isolation?

Seeing all new levels of creativity, caring, and humor emerge.

Why are you doing this? What’s your motivation?

I love to help and I thought this would be such a unique time in history to capture a family photo. If I can help bring joy to families and also encourage local donations at the same time, its a win-win.

How to join the Front-Porch Project and share your photos on Dallas Doing Good!

1. Gather your isolation team on your front porch.

2. Ask a photographer (amateur or professional) to take a portrait of your team. Take photos from a safe distance, staying 6 to 8 feet away.

3. Make a donation to your favorite local nonprofit. Any amount will be appreciated.

4. Email your portrait to hello@dallasdoinggood.com and give us the name of the nonprofit to which you donated.

5. When you see your photo on Dallas Doing Good, tag a friend and encourage them to join the #frontporchDDG fun!

Most of all, HAVE FUN!

If this story has inspired you to support the North Texas nonprofit community, visit our How to Support Nonprofits During Social Isolation page to learn how you can get involved!