When Kurt Gerold and the North Street Community Church in Hingham started The Anchor of Hull six years ago, he set out to help those who are struggling with substance use disorder and their loved ones. Now he needed help to continue serving the community, so Gerold turned to Hull resident and marketing content creator Joe Berkeley to help him tell his story and raise funds.

Kurt Gerold of The Anchor of Hull. [Joe Berkeley photo]

“At The Anchor of Hull, we now have multiple meetings a day, anything from AA, to sewing club, drum circle, meditation group, accountability group, etc.,” Gerold said. “Hundreds use the space a week and many thousands have been helped throughout the years. We have put a lot of work into the space to make it what it is today, but a lot more can be done.

“I have failed when it comes to raising money. It came down to either I could focus on raising the funds, or help the person who was dying in front of me, and the person won 100% of the time,” Gerold said.

“The second I saw the Tree of Remembrance at The Anchor I knew I had a great location for our interview,” Berkeley said. “My view was that winter could be seen as a disadvantage. So I made it into an advantage. We contrasted the stark beauty and isolation of winter in Hull with the sense of community and hope provided by The Anchor. It is a warm light at the darkest hour.”

“Despite being very sick, Kurt did a great job on the interview. A lot of good stuff ended up on the cutting room floor but the piece is four minutes long and I could not justify making it longer,” Berkeley said.

The interview can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURbRa5QGKk. It has been posted on Humans of Nantasket Beach, on the Anchor’s website and will be used for fundraising.

If you would like to financially support The Anchor of Hull, visit www.theanchorofhull.org/donate, and more importantly, if you or a loved one is struggling, reach out to The Anchor at 781-534-9327.

Berkeley writes, shoots, and directs from his studio in Hull. He wrote Tom Brady’s #1 commercial of all time, according to boston.com, collaborated with three former presidents of the United States on a commercial for the National Medal of Honor Museum, and makes a difference in his community with his passion project, Humans of Nantasket Beach. As Omnicom acquires IPG, Joe Berkeley LLC is dedicated to remaining an independent creative shop. He does not answer to shareholders, he reports to a higher power.

More information is at www.joeberkeley.com.

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