1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: And we continue now a part two of our conversation 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: with Belinda Lato, right after these brief messages from our 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: general sponsors. 5 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: So we went to this vehicle that was underneath like 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: a bridge on the interstate kind of area where you 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: go underneath, and it was kind of park there, and 8 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: I remember trying to get like an address, like where 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 2: am I supposed to go? And who am I supposed 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: to serve? Oh, it's my daughter and we're here. And 11 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 2: it was a husband, a wife, a daughter, and a son. 12 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: So it was a family of four and they had 13 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: fallen on hard times. 14 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: I want to come out what a daughter, a son, a. 15 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: Mom, and a dad in a call car? 16 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: Yes, under a bridge, Yes, in Tampa, Yes, okay, Yes. 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 2: They were trying to get into a shelter and they 18 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: were on a wait list to try and get in, 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: and so they didn't have anywhere else to go, and 20 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 2: they couldn't do a form online like to ask for something, 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: so they actually called us and I went out and 22 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: I served them. When we have somebody in a vehicle 23 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 2: or in a motel, we don't take like a cake 24 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: mix and frosting that goes in our birthday in a box, 25 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: but we actually take like a physical cake so they 26 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: can have that opportunity. So we came out to them, 27 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 2: and I remember serving her and just the joy that 28 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: she had. They were very thankful. They said that they 29 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: hopefully within the next week or two, we're going to 30 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: go into the shelter and we're going to be taken 31 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: care of. And I said, well, I will pray for you, 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 2: and I hope that this at least brings a little 33 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: bit of joy to you. And they were in the 34 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: process of trying to, like I said, get in that shelter. 35 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: So after I saw them that time, I never had 36 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: the opportunity to go back or to see them again, 37 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: and their phone was turned off, so I'm not quite 38 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 2: sure what happened, but I prayed for them, so I 39 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: hope all worked out. Well. 40 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,559 Speaker 1: There's a I'm not going to do the long form 41 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: of this, but there's a thing called we call them 42 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: a turkey person, and it's the people that go out 43 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: on Christmas and do desperate neighborhoods and they give way 44 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: hams and gifts and turkeys and everybody in those neighborhoods 45 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: will take them because they don't have any but they 46 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: leave and they never go back. And the people in 47 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: those communities, we've heard of folks like that as Turkey people. 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: The people that show up give us stuff, we take 49 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: it because we hain't gotten done, but that they leave 50 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: and we never see them again. And it makes you 51 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: wonder if they're doing that because they really care about 52 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: those people, or they're doing that to make themselves feel 53 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: good and look good in their communities. It is so 54 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: refreshing to hear that you know that Jocelyn is working 55 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: at a fast food. It is so refreshing to know 56 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: that other that you talked about. How you continue to 57 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: go back to these same homes and so you start 58 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: to know these people and you can mentor them. On 59 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: the face of this, it sounded like you showed up 60 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: for people's birthday game mcake and left. That's not at 61 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: all what this is. No the birthday celebrations. The hook 62 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: the work is after the birthday celebration. 63 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: It's almost like a catalyst to kind of allow us 64 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: to get to know these children and. 65 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: Talk about that. 66 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's truthfully, it's an entry way for us to 67 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: get to know these kids and their needs and what 68 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: we can do to kind of help them. 69 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: Also, the not just the kids, but the people serving 70 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: the kids are doing the best served the kids that 71 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: are largely under resourced. I mean, you're making their lives 72 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: easier too, as I hear you, That's what's dawning on me. 73 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: Well, sure, I mean not only the foster families. They 74 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 2: do a lot, right, They've got a lot going on, 75 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: and they've got different things they're juggling. Some of these 76 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: kids have therapy appointments and this and that, and they're 77 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: trying their best to provide them the safe home. And 78 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: I'm sure they're very overwhelmed. Parents that are losing their children. 79 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: I can't even fathom in a million years what that 80 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: must feel like. And I never want to, and I'm 81 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: grateful that I don't have to, but I want to 82 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: make sure that I can make it as easy as 83 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: I can for them to love on them in some 84 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: capacity and let them know I'm here, even if they 85 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: just want to talk, even you know, as we get 86 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: to know these children, So birthdays are an entry way 87 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 2: for us to get into the lives of these children, 88 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: to help them, to guide them, to just let them 89 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: know again, I think it all revolves around that they matter. 90 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 2: They matter. They just need a little bit of love 91 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 2: and attention and guidance. Even the roughest and the toughest 92 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: and the ones that have been through so much, they 93 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: just need that extra touch of love that I think 94 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 2: sometimes they don't feel they receive. 95 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,559 Speaker 1: So when I coach some manassas, I coach some tough 96 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: boys from the hood, tough kids, and we often judge 97 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: books by their cover, and that is so cliche, but 98 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: we really did. I can't tell you what it is 99 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: like to look at a I'm going to say a 100 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: former gang member, because kids that played for me were 101 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: not allowed to be on gangs. And now I'm under 102 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: no rose colored glasses of some of them snuck off 103 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: of good stuff. But by and large, we really worked 104 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: hard to break some of that cycle. But whether they 105 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: were active or inactive, based on where they came up 106 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: and how they came up. A sixteen seventeen year old 107 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: boy from the hood who's been out about that is 108 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: also playing football. We can just suffice to say the 109 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: pretty tough kids, and they've also developed, much like a 110 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: turtle does, a very hardshell on the outside to be 111 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: able to cope with their circumstances. There is nothing in 112 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: my experience like watching that shell literally melt away, like 113 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: melting wax, and you finally get in to see the 114 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: humanity and the sweetness and the child underneath all of it, 115 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: because even in these sixteen seventeen, eighteen year old, very 116 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: very tough boys, it's still there. One of the reasons 117 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: why I was I don't even know if in today's 118 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: world it would even be considered acceptable, although I'd still 119 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: do it and would. I would hug my players a lot. 120 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: I wanted my guys to know that it's okay for 121 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: a man to hug a young man in a mentoring, 122 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: loving way. And you wouldn't believe how they fought to 123 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: me for if you can just imagine. But over time 124 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: it was one of the most rewarding experiences of everything 125 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: I did, is because to watch the shell moult away 126 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: and to get to that little boy inside there that 127 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: just was dying for love and care and concern through 128 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: these birthday things. Have you seen those shells melt? 129 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: Oh? One thousand percent. Yes. I always like to quote 130 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 2: Doctor Seuss. It's my very favorite quote in the whole world, 131 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 2: and it says You never know the value of a 132 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: moment until it becomes a memory. And so for me, 133 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: I hope that these moments that I can give them, 134 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: that I can spend with these children, that I can 135 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: watch their shells kind of disappear through time. I hope 136 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: that for these children they become memories that they'll carry 137 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 2: around with them for a lifetime and remember, somebody loved me. 138 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 2: Even our cards, we accept that. That's what we use. 139 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: Handmade birthday cards from people they don't even know. That's 140 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: what we ask for because to me, that just signifies 141 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: that somebody they don't know made them, that care about them. 142 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 2: And if we can just impart that into these children 143 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: that have been through these difficult times to let them 144 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 2: know you're loved, I'm telling you a million times, that's 145 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 2: that's what we're meant to do. 146 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: So here's another quote a staff member at an after 147 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: school center. We will never forget the day that one 148 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: of the little girls in our center, who barely speaks 149 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: because she's so shy, taught more than she ever has 150 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: and was so excited to have a special day to 151 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: call her own, which had never happened before. That's the shell. 152 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: That's what I'm talking about a kid that won't even 153 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: speak because they're shy. A lot of that is a 154 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: defense mechanism, right, and I have a day of our 155 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: own to come out just because someone took the time 156 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: to celebrate her birthday something as simple as that. Yes, 157 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: Jemia Holder, this year was really difficult. I ended up 158 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: losing my job, so I'm home with my mother taking 159 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: her back and forth to chemo. This year wasn't going 160 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: to be a good birthday for Wisdom. Wisdom, my sin 161 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: was her daughter. It was really overwhelming for me just 162 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: to see her face when they came up with a 163 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: birthday prize for her, just to make her day special 164 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: from Wisdom seven years old. They made me feel so 165 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: happy because they in my heart and they've made me 166 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: so special on my birthday. Y'all are some of my 167 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: favorite people because y'all gave me a better birthday seven 168 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: year old out of the miles of. 169 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: Babes, and we stayed in touch with that family. 170 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: I was just about say tell me about Wisdom. I 171 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: got to believe you know who they are. 172 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: Wisdom in Heaven are two little girls. 173 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: And Wisdom and Heaven are the children's names. Yes, Okay, 174 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: go ahead, that's great. 175 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, Jamiah just lost her mother about three months ago. 176 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 2: She was taking care of her with chemo, taking her 177 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 2: back and forth the doctor's appointments, couldn't found a job 178 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: just because her mom was so sick, had the girls there. 179 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: Her niece got dropped off by her sister, and her 180 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 2: sister just left and so then she inherited her niece 181 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 2: since she was really just trying to do her best 182 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: by everybody. And so Jamiah has just been a loving, 183 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: beautiful person that we've gotten to know just because we 184 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: served her daughter wisdom. And they're doing okay. They're a 185 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: little behind in school and so kind of working on it. 186 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,959 Speaker 2: But that's just a prime example of investing in our 187 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 2: families and loving on them. Just not with the birthday, 188 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: but after the fact. 189 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: You had such a bright smile and then you started 190 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: crying and. 191 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I'm so happy. It's just it brings me 192 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 2: such emotion because I never expected any of this, and 193 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: I'm sorry. 194 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: It's where passion, it's opportunity, and the passion news is 195 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: out of you. I think oftentimes we make a really 196 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: poor value judgment when we see you poor people. And 197 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: what I mean by that is I'm thinking I can't 198 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 1: get over the story of a mother and a father 199 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: and two children in a car under a bridge. And 200 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: I think it's easy societally to say those are bad parents. 201 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 1: Anybody who's got two kids and a car under a bridge, 202 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: I mean, there's got to be something they can do 203 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: to go make a little right. I mean, how haven 204 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: be I just you know, and then you talk about 205 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: your first experience, the poor grandmother with the three kids. 206 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: But their mother's in jail. Why wouldn't she doing something 207 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: to keep herself out of jail and put those three 208 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: kids in front of whatever it was she was doing 209 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: to get in jail. I mean, we can start passing 210 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: these value judgments all day every day, but there's two things. 211 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: One that you said, the children did not ask to 212 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,359 Speaker 1: be put in this position. So make your value judgment's 213 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: all you want, but don't judge a child that they 214 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: didn't choose the zip code or situations at the moment 215 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: of their conception and birth. So whatever societal ills you 216 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: think their parents are bringing upon us, they're tenfold for 217 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: the children because they're living and experiencing it every day. 218 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: So let's be careful about the value judgments, especially as 219 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: it pertains to the kids of the folks who are 220 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: in these situations. The second thing is that maybe is 221 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: more profound to me, and I would love for you 222 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: to comment on what I'm about to say. Is, Yeah, 223 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: they're in a car under a bridge with two kids, 224 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: and I am certain there have been some bad decisions 225 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: that led to having two car, two kids, and a 226 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: husband and wife and a car under a bridge. And 227 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 1: God only knows if they really husband and wife are 228 00:12:54,800 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: just common law folks, right, But they called, They called 229 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,079 Speaker 1: you to come and try to give their child some happiness. 230 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: So clearly they have love. They have a consciousness of 231 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: their children's needs, and a want and a desire to 232 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: try to do something for them. And at the very 233 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: basics of it, they have mirrors. And I can only 234 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: imagine the pain that they feel when they're looking at 235 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: themselves in the mirrors knowing they have two children in 236 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: a day car, living under a bridge. So for whatever 237 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: circumstances got them there in the first place, one the 238 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: children didn't ask for it. And two, the mere fact 239 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: that the parents are asking for help means there is 240 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: some slimmer of hope in there, and there is something 241 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: inside them to say, yeah, we're broke, and I'm broken 242 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: and I'm messed up, but I still love my child 243 00:13:55,679 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: and I want something for them. Help. Right, is there 244 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: not some kind of societal thing going on there that 245 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: is at play here and that you have to juggle, 246 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: you know? 247 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: I try my best never to judge any situation, because 248 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 2: couldn't we all just be one step away from homelessness? 249 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: I mean, couldn't we lose a job tomorrow. Couldn't something 250 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 2: happen to one of us, somebody get FMLA or be 251 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: out sick, or your husband. I mean, we're all really 252 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 2: just one step away. Anything could happen in our lives. 253 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 2: So who am I to judge anyone else? That's the 254 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: first thing, and that's how I feel about it. I 255 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: remember one time a volunteer approached me because she served 256 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: a home that was really in a very nice subdivision. 257 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 2: Now I knew the story behind the home, but the 258 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: volunteer didn't, and we do try and kind of tell them, 259 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 2: But I remember her coming back to me. She says, Wow, 260 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 2: that lady that I served with that child, she lived 261 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: in a really nice house. And I said, yeah, she did, 262 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: but did you know that she just lost her husband? 263 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 2: Nine weeks ago and she's alone with four children now, 264 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: trying to make it in that nice house. Did you 265 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 2: know that? And she looked at me and she says, no, 266 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 2: I didn't know that, And I said, so, we never 267 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: judge situations and we never ask about if they're reaching 268 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: out to us. The object is they most likely have 269 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: a need, right why else call they care? There are 270 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: some things missing there, and so it's not for me 271 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: to judge. I'll leave it to the Lord to judge. 272 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 2: I'm just going to make sure that these innocent children, 273 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 2: as you described, are taken care of. 274 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: I got expected to say that, and I think it's 275 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: a great lesson, which is if someone's reaching out, it's 276 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: not to rig a system. They're not con artists. There 277 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: may be one in seven thousand, there might be, but 278 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: is it worth the one in seven thousand of being 279 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: guarded for to actually help the other six nine hundred 280 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: and ninety nine the legitimately need help, regardless of what 281 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: you think about their circumstances, where they come from, and 282 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: ultimately children who never asked to be in this position 283 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: in the first place, and the opportunity too, in the 284 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: depths of lots of despair and trauma, and God knows 285 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: what else is going on in their lives. To make 286 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: one joyous happy day for a child is gold? 287 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: So true? So true? You know throughout these children. I remember, 288 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: and it came about again very organically, because I feel 289 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 2: like everything has with celebrate birthdays. My sister's birthday a 290 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: year ago was on July the seventh, and she just 291 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 2: had it again. And I remember her saying to me, Belinda, 292 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: is there a child on my birthday that maybe I 293 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 2: could give something to? Is there a child that shares 294 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 2: my birthday with me? And I looked through my records 295 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 2: and I found a kiddo named Jose and I said, yes, maloney, 296 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: there's this little boy. She said, well, can I donate 297 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: specifically to him? And I said sure. So I went 298 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 2: out to the house. I met the single mom and 299 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: the brother and the sister, and I delivered to Jose. 300 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 2: And my sister had don't I needed some money to 301 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 2: me to be able to do that, to celebrate, And 302 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: I went out and I took a picture and I 303 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 2: sent it back to my sister. About an hour later, 304 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 2: maybe hour and a half, my sister calls me crying 305 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: and she said. 306 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 3: I feel so good. Thank you for sending me this, like, 307 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 3: I loved it. This made me feel good on my 308 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: birthday to be able to do this for him. And 309 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 3: I said, no, thank you, Malani, because you've made a difference. 310 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 3: And so my mom's birthday is August the fifth, So 311 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 3: as soon as she saw that Malani had done this, 312 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 3: she was like, oh, I. 313 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 2: Want to get a kid for my birthdays. They're a 314 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: kiddo that I can share my birthday with. And so, 315 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 2: sadly enough, you know, it didn't used to be this way, 316 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 2: but now we have more than one child. Every single 317 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 2: day of the year. There's not a day that goes by, 318 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 2: not Christmas, not New Year's that we don't have children's 319 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 2: names that need to be celebrated. And so my mom 320 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 2: did the same thing, and I was able to get 321 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: a picture from my mom and send it to her 322 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: the very similar response like I love this. And so 323 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 2: we created a birthday twin program where for your birthday 324 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 2: you can celebrate this child. It's on our website. You 325 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: can if I can get pictures. Believe me, I try 326 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: and do it as best as I can, and as 327 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 2: much as I can. Doesn't know what's happened, but I 328 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: certainly try, and so it's just a way for everybody 329 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 2: in the world to kind of help these kids be 330 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: able to be celebrated. 331 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 1: And so now you've gone to the other ender spectrum 332 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: and you take care of really old folks and nursing 333 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: homes that don't havevertise. 334 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 2: I'm a nurse. I'm a nurse. It's what I do. 335 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 2: So so many of these you know, seniors, they're alone, 336 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: they maybe lost children along the way, or they're you know, 337 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,239 Speaker 2: especially during COVID, they were under restriction and facilities were 338 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: locked and people couldn't get in to see them, and 339 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 2: they just need love too, And so we try our 340 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 2: best to love on our seniors. We go out Mother's Day, 341 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: Father's Day, we take them little, you know, goodie bags, 342 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 2: and they're so happy with a little child sized pack 343 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 2: of tissues and you would have just thought you gave 344 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 2: them everything in the world. It's just it's that interaction. 345 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 2: It's such attention again that that just kind of simple 346 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: act of kindness. It just goes such a long long way. 347 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 1: I get that you're reaching into your pocketbook and helping 348 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 1: out with the first kid and the grandmother and the 349 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: people and the thing. But in four or five years, 350 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: you've now served over six thousand people when you've got 351 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: fifty active volunteers and two hundreds something. Actually, and now 352 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: I think you've quit your job as a nurse have 353 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: become the executive director. 354 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: That's true. 355 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: How does this work? I mean this costs money. 356 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was scary at first. I wasn't sure. And 357 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 2: I still do PRN nursing just to keep my license 358 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 2: active and because I've done it for so very long. 359 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 2: But it was a very scary jump. But because of 360 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: the volume now of what we do, I had to 361 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 2: make the jump, and so I truly could not think 362 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: of a better thing that I would want to do 363 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: every single day, no matter how it gets hard. It 364 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 2: cost a ton of money at the beginning, we were 365 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 2: buying all the cakes ourselves, literally a lot into making 366 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 2: sure that this happened. But no matter where we're at 367 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: in our bank account, no matter what happens, I will 368 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 2: never stop hearing me so clear on that celebrating these children, 369 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 2: and I hope that everybody sees the worth and the 370 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 2: value behind while we're doing it. And I know it's 371 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 2: not a necessity, right, It's not housing, it's not shelter, 372 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: it's not food. You know, but for the emotional wellbeing 373 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 2: of a child, it means everything. 374 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: So where do you get the phones? Are you raising money? Money? 375 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: We have somebody donating the cakes and the gifts. I mean, 376 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: how is this working? 377 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've been so blessed to be able to find 378 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 2: bakers that help us. They bring cupcakes and different things 379 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 2: to our parties now so we don't have to buy 380 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 2: them all out of pocket. 381 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: We people donate that. 382 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. Sometimes we have bakers and stuff that donate our 383 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 2: cupcakes and our different cakes for us. We often run 384 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 2: low on the same things, and they're items for toddlers 385 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: and items for teens. For a teen sometimes what we'll 386 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 2: do is we'll give like a love increment gift card, 387 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: especially for our foster teens, so they feel like they're empowered. 388 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 2: So if their friends say, hey, you want to go 389 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 2: to the movies or hey you want to go to McDonald's, 390 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 2: they're not like, oh I can't afford to, Well, no, 391 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 2: I've got a McDonald's gift card. I can go. I've 392 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 2: got So we do like a small increment gift card, 393 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 2: and we do like bath and body sets, things like 394 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 2: axe deodorance and sprays like it goes a long way 395 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 2: for a teen, and that's the area that we always 396 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 2: seem to kind of struggle with because you know, as 397 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 2: they get older, it kind of gets harder versus the 398 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 2: smaller ones that we get toys. But we rely on 399 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 2: our community, We rely on individuals. We have monthly party 400 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 2: partners that we ask to come alongside with us and 401 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 2: give a small amount every month to kind of help 402 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: us be able to continue the volume of what we do. 403 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: Wow, So you're developing relationships in the community that are 404 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: just yeah. 405 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 2: Small businesses trying to reach out to. You know, it's 406 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 2: been so hard because I've worked full time as a nurse, 407 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 2: and so I haven't had time to be able to 408 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 2: network any of these companies. And I'm so involved right 409 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: now even in the programming and the day to day 410 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: and making sure that all these kids are getting their 411 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: boxes and that everything's done, that I don't have the 412 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 2: time to go knocking on the doors of businesses. So 413 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 2: I try my very best to get out there, but 414 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 2: it's hard. 415 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. We have interviewed just the widest 416 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: range of people and some have massive organizations now with 417 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: thousands of people and big, big budgets. Some operate cafes 418 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 1: where people can just come in and pay what they 419 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 1: can afford to pay, and it's just all over the place. 420 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 1: You are a shining example of exactly what we're talking 421 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: about when we began this whole thing of an army 422 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 1: of normal folks, and that no one tagged you, no 423 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: one you want, you didn't join. You just saw a 424 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: need and filled it. And little by little over the 425 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 1: course of time, you've built a a kind of, for 426 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: lack of a better term, just a mom and pop 427 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: shop and did a little social media and got a 428 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: few people to help here and there, and here you are. 429 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: Now you've got an organization serving kids and putting a 430 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: smiler face and using it, as you said, as a 431 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: as a conduit to be able to get into people's 432 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: life and mentorm and everything else. And the way it 433 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: trains you to do this you just saw a need 434 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: and filled it. So what does that say to the 435 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 1: rest of the people around our country that know there 436 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: are issues in their communities, have the ability and don't 437 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: not And I mean this only in the bust of ways. 438 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: What is your increag to people? 439 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, through your experience, Yeah, this has been the most 440 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 2: humbling and the most gratifying experience I could have ever 441 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: asked for in my whole life. As I said earlier, 442 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 2: it's given back so much more to me than I've 443 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 2: given out. And so if there's a need or you're 444 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: wondering what can I do or how do I do it? 445 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 2: I urge you to just sit down and it will 446 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 2: fall into place. But you've got to take that first step, 447 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: you know, start with something small. And I never thought, 448 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 2: I never dreamed. I still don't even feel like I'm 449 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 2: worthy of sitting here today having this interview with you. Honestly, 450 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 2: like I'm nothing special at all. I just want these 451 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 2: kids to feel loved. And so if they have something 452 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 2: they see in their community that they gravitate towards two 453 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 2: whether it's pets or food or there's so many needs 454 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 2: all around you, just start with one small step and 455 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: watch and see if that doesn't grow. 456 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: Did for me that is a response that almost everybody gives. 457 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 1: Just take the first step. B understand that the government 458 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: has proven woefully inadequate. All the smart people on CNN 459 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 1: and Fox using all the big words, they're not fixing anything. 460 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: It's just people like you and me having the temerity 461 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 1: to take the first step on something they're passionate about 462 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 1: that they have a small ability to help in stay 463 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 1: consistent and watch it grow, and you're shining example of that. 464 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 2: It's scary. I won't say it's not scary to do it, 465 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 2: and you often feel like you're ill equipped and not 466 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 2: able what do I do now? But I assure you 467 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 2: all the answers will come as long as you are 468 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 2: committed to the cause that you're passionate about. 469 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: If people are listen to us and want to find 470 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,439 Speaker 1: out more about Celebrate Birthdays, where do they find you? 471 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, they can go to our website at Celebrate Birthdays 472 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: dot org. That's the best place to find information about 473 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 2: us and see some of the videos and the pictures 474 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 2: even of some of the kiddos that we've talked about today. 475 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: So if somebody says, I want to do that in 476 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: my neighborhood, how they talk to you? Can email you somewhere? 477 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 2: Oh please, I encourage them to email me. I encourage 478 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 2: them to call me. I will gladly speak to them 479 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 2: and guide them through the best way that I can. 480 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: They email you where, Yes. 481 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 2: They can email me at info at Celebrate Birthdays dot org. 482 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 1: I couldn't this be in every city in America. 483 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 2: I hope that one day it is. I think that 484 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 2: it deserves to be, and I certainly think that people 485 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 2: need to know the worth of the self esteem and 486 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 2: the uplifting enhancement that a birthday can give for a child. 487 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 2: It seems so very simple, and it seems like something 488 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 2: that's not even important, But I assure you, from watching 489 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 2: kiddos cry to grab my leg, that it is one 490 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 2: of the most valuable things out there. It really truly is. 491 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: Okay, it's not fair to ask you a favorite, because 492 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: there's probably a lot of favorites. Yeah, Okay, beyond the 493 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: ones you've told us. Leave us with something that's going 494 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: to inspire somebody, a story of celebrating a birthday that 495 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: you'll never forget, or that really sums. 496 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 2: Up so many I literally like my brain as flooded 497 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 2: as you're asking me. 498 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: They give me the most recent one, how about that? Okay, 499 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: the most recent one that you know that impacted a 500 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: kid's life. 501 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 2: Okay, there was a little girl named Skyler, and Skyler 502 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 2: was turning four years old. Skyler had just been taken 503 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 2: out of her home, where she had been kept in 504 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 2: a dog cage. A what you heard me. She'd been 505 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 2: kept in a dog cage a four year old. Yes, 506 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 2: she was still in diapers. She had never had a 507 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 2: birthday before, she was fed in the cage and kept 508 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 2: in the cage. 509 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: What animal does that? 510 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 2: I don't ask questions. I just am glad that Skyler's 511 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 2: in a safe home now that we were able to 512 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 2: go out and we were able to visit Skyler and 513 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: take her cake, and the family she was placed with 514 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 2: was working on trying to acclimate her, you know, to 515 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 2: come out of the corner and out of the kind 516 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 2: of cage. And she came and I remember her, like, 517 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,439 Speaker 2: you know, seeing pictures my volunteer, Billy Joe, delivered to 518 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 2: her and I remember just her joy watching Skyler and 519 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 2: she said she cried just kind of you know, looking 520 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 2: at her. She was still in diapers, having trouble speaking, 521 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 2: but she was in a safe place now and so 522 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 2: just watching and she got a birthday. Yes, we have 523 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 2: a picture of her and everything. Yeah, like I said, 524 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: she was still in diapers, in a onesie and they 525 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 2: were trying to really work with her. She was obviously 526 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 2: very very delayed from where she should be as a 527 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: four year old. But yes, I have a picture of her. 528 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 2: Billy Joe said, she smiled and it was just such joy, 529 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: such joy for her. So I don't think I'll ever 530 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 2: forget that. 531 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, so well, I mean, honestly, this can be done 532 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 1: really in any city in the country, as we said, 533 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: But I also I can't help but think this would 534 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: be awesome to be that this could be picked up 535 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: by things like the Roadary Club, the Optimist Club, churches. 536 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: I mean, why is what you're doing not something that 537 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: could be easily folded into organizations that already exist with 538 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: a number of built in volunteers ready to act. 539 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: And truthfully, I think that it's something that if people 540 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 2: knew about the need, they could. As I told you, 541 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 2: I have lived in Tampa for forty something years and 542 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 2: didn't know about this as a need. It's something you 543 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 2: don't often think about, right, it's not in the forefront. 544 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 2: If I hadn't found it, I probably would have never 545 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 2: done anything about it because I didn't know that it existed. 546 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 2: But now that we know that it's an issue, and 547 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 2: I'm sure it's a widespread issue because we get people 548 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 2: writing us from different states asking for help. From Colorado, 549 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 2: from which you can't do anything about it's difficult for 550 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 2: us to try and do that, and we're looking at it, 551 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 2: but it's a different, difficult process. So if our church 552 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 2: is stepped up as a community, just our own backyards, 553 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 2: our community, we work with rotary clubs back home, KEI 554 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 2: wantas clubs help us. So I just think it's an 555 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 2: awesome opportunity for all over the world to kind of 556 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 2: get on board and help. 557 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: So all these people that I hear say, man, I 558 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 1: have a heart to help, I just don't know how. 559 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, start with a simple birthday. 560 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: Here it is. 561 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 2: I love it. 562 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: I love it, and it is a little bit of 563 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: a call to action because anybody who's listening to us, 564 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: now that's a member of a church, a synagogue, a 565 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: rotary club, club, optimist club, the excuse is over because 566 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: you know the need exists, and you know how simple 567 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: it is. And all you got to do is call 568 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: you an email. 569 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 2: You I'll do it simple at that's what it starts with. 570 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 2: First step. 571 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 1: I love it. So if you hear celebrate birthdays and 572 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: you think this is just about dropping off balloons and 573 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 1: cakes to kids and then leaving, it's a much deeper 574 00:30:58,400 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: thing than that. 575 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 2: It's investing in their lives. 576 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know that sitting in a car with 577 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 1: four of my buddies eating popcorn and watching a drive 578 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: in back when I was in fifth grade was the 579 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: best thing in my life. But I can tell you 580 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: this that i've been in a cage, maybe it would 581 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: have been. And you really can change lives through celebrating 582 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: a birthday, and I think you're proving that. 583 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. I feel like we make a 584 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 2: difference for these children, I hope. So anyways, you're a 585 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 2: phenomenal person. Thank you so were you. 586 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 1: I love your passion, I love your story and I 587 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: can't wait for people to hear it. And I can't 588 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: tell you how much I appreciate you coming to Memphis, 589 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: and you know, maybe next time you can fly. 590 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 2: I'm gonna miss you. When I leave. I'm gonna keeping 591 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 2: in touch with all of me. I don't think you've 592 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 2: seen the last of me. 593 00:31:55,880 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 1: Somehow I believe that. Somehow, I believe that, somehow I 594 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: believe all of day. 595 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 596 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: It has been my absolute honor to meet you in pleasure, 597 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 1: and I just can't wait to see where you take 598 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: it from here. And I hope somebody reaches out and says, 599 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: you know, this isn't that hard. Now that Belinda's shown 600 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: us how, maybe somebody will do this in Memphis or 601 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,240 Speaker 1: Birmingham or Jacksonville or somewhere else. And all they got 602 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: to do is reach out and you'll tell them how. 603 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: I promise that is what an Army of normal folks 604 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: is all about. I really appreciate you being here, Thank you, 605 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: and thank you for joining us this week. If Belinda 606 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: Lato or other guests have inspired you in general, or 607 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: better yet, inspired you to take action by volunteering what 608 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 1: celebrate birthdays, by donating to them, or by starting something 609 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: similar like it in your own community, or something else entirely, 610 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: please I'm begging you. Let me know. I want to 611 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: hear about it. You can write me anytime at Bill 612 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: at normalfolks dot us, and I guarantee you this I 613 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 1: will respond to you. If you enjoyed this episode, please 614 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 1: share it with friends and on social subscribe to the podcast, 615 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: rate and review it, Join the Army at normalfolks dot us, 616 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 1: consider becoming a premium member. There all of these things 617 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: that will help us grow an army of normal folks. 618 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: Thanks to our producer, Iron Light Laps I'm Bill Courtney. 619 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 1: I'll see you next week.