BeTempered
We believe that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness, and that the key to unlocking this potential is through personal development. Our podcasts are designed to help you cultivate the skills and mindset you need to achieve your goals and live the life you want.
BeTempered
BeTempered Episode 82 - Inside the Support Systems That Change a Child’s Trajectory with Allie Shafer
What happens when a child cannot focus in class because the lights were shut off at home, there is no food in the cupboard, or their clothes have not been washed in a week. On this episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Eaton Community Schools Success Liaison Allie Shafer to shine a light on the non academic barriers that quietly shape whether a student learns or simply survives the day. Allie shares what her role looks like in real time as she listens without judgment, builds trust with families who have every reason to be cautious, and works through the maze of agencies, benefits, and applications to make sure heat stays on, meals stay consistent, and kids have clean clothes to wear.
The conversation highlights a struggle that affects far more than people realize. Laundry becomes a barrier when loads are stolen, coin machines cost more than families can spare, and kids wear the same outfit day after day until the social pressure becomes overwhelming. We walk through real solutions that communities can create together, including vouchers, church supported laundry rooms, mobile wash setups, and volunteer wash hours that bring dignity and confidence back to children who need both.
We also spotlight programs that are changing lives. Shoes for the Shoeless brings a level of care that you can feel the moment a child steps into a pair of shoes that finally fit. Christmas for Kids reaches up to a thousand children across the county with support from churches, neighbors, and local businesses that refuse to let kids go without. Throughout the conversation Allie models courage as she advocates for families in difficult situations and still protects the boundaries she needs to care for her own children.
If you have ever wondered where you can make a real difference, this episode gives you a clear place to start. Sponsor a laundry load. Clear a lunch balance. Cut a lawn. Bake a birthday cake. Share this episode with someone who can unlock resources or create space for ideas that matter. Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr invite you to listen, reflect, and take action.
Connect with Allie Shafer, Success Liaison for Grades K through 5 at Eaton Community Schools, at ashafer@eaton.k12.oh.us
Listen at betempered.com or support the show at patreon.com/betempered
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SPEAKER_05:I want to share something that's become a big part of the Be Tempered mission. Patreon. Now, if you've never used it before, Patreon is a platform where we can build community together. It's not just about supporting the podcast, it's about having a space where we can connect on a deeper level, encourage one another, and walk this journey of faith, resilience, and perseverance side by side. Here's how it works. You can join as a free member and get access to daily posts, behind-the-scenes updates, encouragement, and some things I don't always put out on other platforms. And if you feel called to support the mission financially, there are different levels where you can do that too. That support helps us keep producing the podcasts, creating gear, hosting events, and sharing stories that we believe can truly impact lives. And here's the cool part. Patreon has a free app you can download right on your phone. It works just like Facebook or Instagram, but it's built specifically for our community. You'll be able to scroll through posts, watch videos, listen to content, and interact with others who are on the same journey. At the end of the day, this isn't just about content, it's about connection. It's about building something together. Not just me and men putting out episodes, but a family of people committed to growing stronger through real stories and real faith. So whether you just want to hop on as a free member or you feel called to support in a bigger way, Patreon is the door into that community. Because at the heart of Be Tempered has always been simple. Real stories, all truth, resilient faith, so that even one person out there that hears what they need to hear, and Patreon helps make that possible.
SPEAKER_07:Welcome to the Be Tempered Podcast, where we explore the art of finding balance in a chaotic world.
SPEAKER_04:Join us as we delve into insightful conversations, practical tips, and inspiring stories to help you navigate life's ups and downs with grace and resilience.
SPEAKER_07:We're your host, Dan Schmidt, and Ben Sparr. Let's embark on a journey to live our best lives.
SPEAKER_04:This is Be Tempered. Father, thank you for allowing us to be here today. We lift up every family in Preble County who is struggling, the ones who worry about the next meal who sit in the dark because electricity is turned off, feel embarrassed because they can't provide hygiene, clean clothes for their kids, who are drowning in bills, brokenness, or hopelessness. God meet them where they are. We lift up Allie, Schaefer, your servant in the community as a success liaison. She stands in the gap. She advocates, she comforts, she listens, she finds solutions. God strengthen her, refreshing her, cover with her with your peace and endurance. She is being the feet of Jesus in the hallway in the homes. We also lift up Deb, who is once again fighting lymphoma. Lord, surround her with her healing, hope, and supernatural peace. Wrap her in your presence. Reminder, she is not fighting alone. Father, use this conversation today to awaken our hearts, break our hearts for what breaks yours. Amen.
SPEAKER_07:Amen. All right. What's up, everybody? Welcome to the Be Tempered Podcast, episode number 82, Dan. 82. Very confidently. Can we get a confirmation on that, Kevin?
SPEAKER_04:Confirmed. He is correct. 82. Number 82. 10-4 ghostwriter.
SPEAKER_07:Hey, today on the podcast, we're honored to shine a light on someone whose work sits right at the heart of what it means to lead with compassion, purpose, and service. Our guest Allie Schaefer has spent the last eight years as success liaison, success liaison.
SPEAKER_04:Nailed it.
SPEAKER_07:Serving students and families in Preble County schools through the Butler County Educational Service Center. The success program, which reaches nine Butler County districts and all five districts in Preble County, exists to help families overcome the non-academic barriers that often stand between a child and their ability to learn. Whether it's food, clothing, housing, medical or dental care, mental health support, or navigating benefits, success liaisons step into some of the hardest and most personal moments families face. And they do it with dignity, respect, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to succeed. Allie embodies that mission. She just doesn't just connect families to resources, she walks with them. She advocates for them and builds the kind of trust that can change the trajectory of a child's life. She lives with the BCESC core values integrity, family focused, compassion, and respect. Outside of work, Ali and her husband Ricky have built a beautiful life together. 11 years of marriage, raising three amazing kids, sharing a love for cooking, organizing, being outdoors, and of course, anything involving coffee. She brings that same warmth, steadiness, and heart into every school building she steps into. And what she loves most about her role is the collaboration, the teamwork, the way the agency rallies around families. As she said herself, I love working here because I get to be alongside individuals dedicated to making a positive impact. So today we get to hear the stories behind the work, the moments of challenge, the victories, the tough conversations, and the quiet wins that nobody sees but absolutely matter. Allie Schaefer, welcome to the Beat Tempered Podcast. Welcome, Allie.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, we're we're grateful for you coming here to share your story and to talk about a lot of things that a lot of people don't know. Me being one of those. You know, last week, I think it was, we were at a career fair and Ben and I's table happened to be next to your table, and we had some conversations there that really struck me about some of the things that you see on a daily basis that you deal with. And uh just really as you were talking, I could see your heart, I could see your your care and your compassion for the kids, their families, uh, you know, and some of the challenges that a lot of people face in our area. And so you're on the front lines um, you know, with some amazing people that help you. But um, you know, I'm anxious to hear your story and to to get into some of those uh challenges that you see, and and maybe there's some some people out there that could get involved to help in some way. And so that's that's kind of how we got here today. So thank you for coming.
SPEAKER_01:Sure.
SPEAKER_04:We know you're excited.
SPEAKER_02:A little scared. This is uh a little outside my comfort zone, but I'm excited.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, you're good. So how we start every podcast is we like we like to get a story about you, and and that'll that'll kind of lay the foundation to what you're doing now. So talk about what life was like for you as a child growing up.
SPEAKER_02:Sure. So um, born and raised in Preble County, um, I grew up in West Alexandria, so went to school at Twin Valley South. Um my parents divorced when I was young. Um, and so always had the opportunity to kind of um live in those two different households, um, both wonderful households. Um, my my dad lived um the majority of my childhood with um his parents. So I had the opportunity um during my time with him to be around grandparents all the time, which was a blessing. Um and then with my mom in her house, um, again, always had the chance to live around my grandparents, live in close proximity with them, which was amazing. Um grew up with um two sisters, Tara and Madison, I think some of you know them. Um and then when my mom married my stepdad Mark, he also has two daughters. So when we were all together, there were five of us girls in the house, which was um yes, I'm sure you can imagine. Um, it was a lot of fun. We had a wonderful childhood. Um, my parents both did an amazing job in raising me. Um in those early years, I really had a strong bond with my grandmother, my mom's mom. Um she, I really look up to her in so many ways. And I think that she really um shaped me and kind of set me on a path in a way. She is, I mean, anyone you talk to, they're always like, oh my gosh, your grandma June is the most wonderful person I've ever met in my entire life. And they're right, she is. She just has she has a heart of gold. She's such a giver. She um, I mean, she would just do any and anything and everything for anyone. And I saw that, you know, at a very early age and and kind of I lived that through my, you know, my entire childhood because with my grandmother having, you know, such a belief in helping people and wrapping around people, that passed down to my mom, which then passed down to me. Um, so I just got all of this wonderful, um, just all of these one, I have all of these wonderful examples, you know, from a very early age of what it is to love people for who they are, to wrap around people when they're going through difficult times, to see people, to really see people. Um, they just really shape me in that way. And then again, on my on my dad's side of the family, growing up with um my grandparents in that household as well, you know, my grandmother, my dad's mother um was very, very strong in her faith. Um, very strong in her faith. And that was something that she talked to me about a lot, and we went to church all the time. Sometimes I'm like, I look back on that and I was reflecting um for the podcast, and and I thought, oh my gosh, like I remember sometimes. So she she went to the uh Baptist church. And so I swear there would be times we would be at church like all day long. It was like you and I'm like, okay, well, we already did Sunday school and we did church, and then we had a mother-grandmother event, and then we have to go back to church at six o'clock that night. So um, you know, faith was very important to her. And so she really set a lot of foundational blocks for me in that way, um, which has been very important in my work. So um the other thing that that comes to mind when I think about my childhood and the family that I have and that I come from, you know, I think about two things. I think about very um honest, giving, warm people. And I think about um the way that they all work so hard. And that was always such an example for me. Um, you know, I always saw my mom work hard. She, my mom actually went back to nursing school when I think I was, she'd have to quote me on this, but I think I was like in high school when my mom pursued her nursing degree, um, which was really tough because, you know, like I said, I have two other sisters. And then when Mark's girls were there, there were five of us. So it was really, and I, and I watched her kind of, you know, go through that and and really pursue her dream and work hard toward that. And that really is a theme of our our family. It's kind of the example that is set is just that when I when I look at them individually, I just see um hardworking people, people that that just whatever it is that they do, they do it to the best of their abilities and they take a lot of pride in that. And I um, you know, I just I can't help but think that that that got me to where I am, where I am now. Um being able to to come from, you know, a place of, you know, sometimes people shine this negative light on on divorced families. But I, you know, when I reflect on it, I really think that I kind of got the best of both worlds because I I I got to see, you know, I got to see both both sides. And I I I have brought in so much from both sides into my life and into what I do now. I see that, you know, for me, I think it was important. Um, but yeah, when I when I reflect on on living, you know, in West Alexandria in Preble County, I just I personally I have very um I have very good childhood memories. I have uh memories of, you know, a childhood in a a close-knit community and in a close-knit school where it felt it felt like home. It felt like people know who you are, people, people see you, people care about you, you know, the teachers in your classroom, they know who your parents are. Maybe they went to school with them. And um, and I know that that's not that doesn't feel great to everyone, but for me personally, um I I enjoyed living in that in that small community with um with just people that like like I said, that you just you felt cared about. Um but yeah, I mean, in a nutshell, you know, that that was kind of my my childhood. And then um, you know, like I said, I went to Twin Valley South after I graduated um from Twin Valley South. I thought I wanted to set off and embark, you know, go see what these big cities have to offer. Um, so I started, so I um went to college at the University of Toledo for two years. Um, I was studying criminal justice. And yeah, I know, I know. Everyone has that reaction. I'm like, do I not seem like a criminal justice person or no? Um really, really, my goal was I really wanted to be a juvenile probation officer. That was just, I thought what, I thought that's just what my calling was. I mean, I really did. And so, you know.
SPEAKER_07:Did you did you have any experience with that? Had you been involved in any with the family members that did that, or what was what was what do you think the reason was?
SPEAKER_02:Not really. Um, I it's just something, just the whole system has always been very interesting to me, you know, how people get involved in the system, how we can support them to try to get them on a better path. And I really felt like if I focused on kind of that juvenile probation role, I thought maybe I can intervene and try to change things for these kids so then they don't end up being adult offenders. Like I that was my thinking. Um, and I had some experience with the court system, uh, not personally, but had some experience. Yeah. But um, you know, and and actually had an opportunity to do some like job shadowing, um, did some time with Dave Linloff, which if you guys know Dave, it was we had some ex I had some experiences for sure. Um, and I just I really thought that's what I wanted to do. So I did two years at Toledo. Um at the time, their criminal justice program was only a two-year degree, and I really wanted to pursue a four-year. So I kind of had to um shift. And I started doing research on schools that were strong in criminal justice programs, and EKU, um, Eastern Kentucky University popped up, and I thought, well, I guess we're gonna go for it. So um, yeah, halfway through my college experience, I uprooted and moved to Kentucky. I didn't there were a few Eaton people who were there, um, but really other than that, didn't didn't know anyone. Um and so then I finished I finished college at EKU and graduated with my criminal justice degree, my four-year degree, which I was very proud of. Um, so did that and um right out of college, well, in the middle of all that is when I met Ricky too. So I would come home from from college and work at Gels and that we met and connected um right before I was going into my senior year at EKU. So um, but had a few jobs out of college after I graduated, and I realized I'm not so sure that this is what I should, this is what I should be doing. The work is important and I'm so grateful for the people who do it, but I just quickly realized that I needed to be somewhere else. Um and it it was kind of crazy the way that things unfolded with this success liaison position. So at the time um I was working for the Preboel County Prosecutor's Office, a division of that called Victim Witness. So you work with um victims of crime and supporting them through the the process um that they go through. And I and I really enjoyed that job. Um and I honestly I was approached about the success liaison position. I wasn't looking for a job. I wasn't, I mean, nothing like that. Um just kind of one of the um the girls from the team, she approached me and she was like, hey, I've been doing this job at National Trail. We're running a pilot program, we're looking to expand. And we would love to have you if you would consider it. And I mean, it's one of those moments where you're sitting at your office desk in this role that you're like, I like this job. I like the people I work with, you know, I'm kind of in a groove here. And it, and I was like, at first, I'm like, oh, I don't know. I like, I don't think so. I I'm pretty set here, like, you know, thank you, but no thanks. And then, you know, it's one of those things where you go home and you start to really think about it and it's that like pull. You just feel it, you know, you feel that like I think I should take a closer look at this. I think there there could be something here. Um and so I did that and decided to pursue the success liaison position. So um yeah, after that, I started at Twin Valley South, which was an honor. It was so cool to be back um in your old school.
SPEAKER_07:In my old school. What was it a was it a tough decision to make that transition? You kind you said you kind of had already been thinking that maybe there needed to be a change, and this happened, right? For whatever reason. So um, you know, was there s was there something about the old job that you were doing that was like, okay, I really don't like this, or was it more about the kids?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I tell you, the the most challenging part of the old job was at the time, um we had like it was an on-call response. So if there were um, if there were calls in the middle of the night, we responded to be with victims of crime, um, specifically in domestic violence situations. And that was challenging for me at the time. I had two little ones at home. And um that part of it was um challenging for me. Now looking back on it, it was challenging for me because, you know, making child care arrangements at two o'clock in the morning or whenever your phone would ring. Um, but also, you know, emotionally, that's it's the work that victim advocates do is really, really, really tough. Um, we're blessed in this county. We have amazing advocates. Um, but it's it's difficult. And I loved the people I worked with. I felt so supported and the work that they were doing was so incredible. But, you know, there were moments in that role where I was like, I don't know. I love the people I work with. I I love supporting victims, but is this where I'm supposed to be? And you know, you can't really push those feelings down. When they're there, they're there. Um, you try to sometimes because you're like, I'm just having a bad day. This is not really that bad. I'm just having a bad day. But um, and I think it was just the perfect, you know, I think it was just God's timing. I mean, um, I can see that now. At the time, it was like very stressful for me because I thought, oh my gosh, like I'm taking such a chance on this. They've they've run this program as a pilot program at National Trail for half a stinking school year. And I'm gonna take this leap of faith on a super steady career, you know, with great benefits and great people I work with and a job that, you know, yeah, sometimes it has hiccups, but for the most part, I'm doing okay in this, you know, in this work. So it was um it was a huge leap of faith. Um but I'm so glad that I did it. But I I struggle with change. I'm just a person that, you know, it's not easy for me because I always am thinking, like, am I making the right decision? You know, right? Like all the things that we all roll and play in our heads. And I don't know. There was just this quiet little like, just do it, just do it, just do it, just do it. And I did it. Sometimes I still can't believe I did it, or I found the courage to do it.
SPEAKER_07:Just because you were you were in that comfort zone, and and again, change is hard for most people. And the scary thing to do is to take the step. Yes, but you took the step.
SPEAKER_02:I took the step.
SPEAKER_07:So you go back into your old school. Yes, into a new position. That's kind of unknown.
SPEAKER_02:Unknown, unknown to the school as well. Because you have to understand, you know, when the districts decided, yes, this is going wonderful at National Trail, okay, Preble County, your other districts, do you guys want this? And they say yes. Well, it was foreign to teachers too, right? So, like, you know, I'm at South on my first day, and it's like, okay, come to me with all the things. Like, I want to be helpful, I want to support families. And the teachers are like, and the staff are like, we don't even I don't even know what you do yet, you know. We don't I'm like, I don't either. I don't either. We're gonna have to figure this out because I don't know either. Um but man, it just it quickly took off. Um it was like once, you know, once teachers had and staff had a good understanding of how we could be helpful and supportive to families, and they and they saw um the support and how supportive it could be to families, it was just like this, just this beautiful kind of thing. You you just watched grow. And then, you know, during my time there, you know, not only did you start to have like the school and the staff had an understanding of what we do, but then it started broadening, like the community started hearing about our work. And then you would get the churches call you and they would say, Hey, we see you doing this in the school. How can we help you? What can we do for you? You know, we want to help kids, like just tell us, you know, where where can we plug in? Um and so that was really amazing to see too, because I say it all the time and I mean it. Um we really cannot we cannot do this work without the support of our community. It would be impossible. So yeah, but when I think back to those first couple months, I was like, oh, I don't know. I don't even know if I made the right decision here because it just took a while to to grow it.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, but something was on your heart. I mean, I think we've all been in different situations like that where you just get a feeling and you know, you don't know why. And then all of a sudden, this opportunity, you know, someone sits down with you and says, Hey, why don't you consider doing this? And you're like, No. But then you go home and lay at bed at night and you're like, you know what? Maybe I can have a bigger impact in that. And uh, you know, I it kind of goes back to even what we're doing right here, right now. You know, there's many times where we're just like, what the heck are we gonna talk about? Like this is this is not us, you know, we're really putting ourselves out there, but every day it's just it's just like the conversation with you last week. And, you know, and as you're talking about some of the stuff that we'll get in here that um, you know, that that you guys do, and and a lot of the needs for our our community, you know, I just kept hearing this voice just saying, Allie needs to be on the podcast. Like there's someone out there needs to hear, you know, what the success liaison role is all about and what the needs are, because there's people that listen that have giving hearts that can help, and that and that's what we need. So um, you know, there's a reason that that that happened. So, okay, so now what I want you to talk about is what what does the success liaison role, what does that look like? What what do you do for the schools?
SPEAKER_02:Sure. So I think I think it's important to start with the fact that every Preble County district now has a success liaison, which is so exciting. Um and what we do in the schools essentially is we help we wrap around families and help them by supporting them with needs that kind of fall outside of the school setting. So typically that is around um like a lack of basic needs. So what we do is we receive like what we call referrals from um typically staff members in the school buildings. It can be anyone though. That's what I one of the things I love about our program. If you're just a neighbor to someone and you're like, you know, I see this mom struggling, you know, I know she just separated with her spouse, like anyone can make a referral to our program, which I love. But typically they come from school staff. Um, and and really what they do is teachers will pop in, they'll send us an email, they will call us and they'll say, Hey, like, I'm noticing some of these things in my student, or the parent just um, you know, let me know that this is happening in their home. Will you please reach out and see if they, you know, need some support? So typically what that looks like is, you know, I'll pick up the phone and call the parent and I'll just let them know, hey, you know, um this was brought to my attention, just reaching out to try to see, you know, how I can support you. Could we sit down and just talk about, you know, your situation? Um, and once I have an understanding of, you know, what you're going through, then maybe we can create a plan of support. Now, obviously, for people who don't know me, you know, when someone from the school is calling you and they're saying, you know, talk to me about this, um, that can be really terrifying for parents, right? Like, I mean, they're like, I don't know this lady, you know, she's calling me wanting to know what we have going on. Um, and that's why we we really say in our program that the relationship that we build with people is so important. With we call them clients, with the clients that we serve, it's so important because um, you know, for someone to tell you and to talk about how difficult things are and how much they're struggling, they have to, they have to trust you and know that, you know, you're only asking them because you want to help them and be helpful to them. Um, because it can feel very scary for some of our clients. Many of them, you know, grew up not having positive childhood experiences, um, maybe from like their own family or um, you know, from experiences that they had in school or whatever it might be. Many of them didn't, you know, unfortunately didn't have people they could count on um, you know, as children. And so breaking through that sometimes is really challenging. But I feel like you just you do it with love. You when you call them, you you put you try to put yourself in their shoes, you know, and and think about like what would it feel like if I was receiving this phone call and how would I want it to go? How would I want someone to talk to me about this? And I I really try to, you know, every time before I pick up the phone and make those phone calls, I really try to put myself in their shoes. Um and then, you know, after that conversation with the parent, if they're like, you know, I think I would like to come in and talk to you and, you know, see what, see how you can help, then usually I bring them into my office and we kind of again, we just chat about what they're going through, what led them to this point. And then we create a plan of support based on whatever it is that they share. Um, so you know, if it's like a mom saying, I'm facing utility disconnection and I'm really afraid because, you know, it's cold outside. If we don't have electricity, like this is gonna be really a challenge for me. Then what we do is we um we link them to community resources that can be helpful. And not only do we just link them, but we help them fill out the applications. If there's some red tape that we have to try to break through, which sometimes, you know, with with larger agencies like job and family services, sometimes there are some tricky applications and some red tape that you really you have to work through and help the families because it's very challenging. Um we help them with with that whole process. And then any other needs that that come up along along the way and uh in our journey with them. Um we primarily, like I said, we deal with a lot of basic needs, concerns.
SPEAKER_07:How do you those are those are difficult conversations?
SPEAKER_02:Yes.
SPEAKER_07:Have you had moments or instances where they say we don't need help and they hang up?
SPEAKER_02:Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_07:How do you handle those?
SPEAKER_02:You know, my philosophy with those phone calls has always been like, don't give up on them, right? Because the reality is if I'm in their shoes and Allie Schaefer's calling me from the school, I'm probably gonna be a little bit like, oh, they cannot know. Nope, I'm not telling them. They cannot know. Who knows what she'll do with this information, right? I mean, so typically what what I do is just like that gentle engagement over time, right? Because we know in most of those situations, I know that the family needs help and and the challenges that they're facing are not gonna go away. So it's not, it's not, you know, a matter of maybe they're not open to it right now. But if you can just gently build a rapport with them, you know, you see them in the building and you just say hi to them, or you try to have like small interactions where you can build trust with them. Um I have a family that comes to mind when I think about that. Um I called them because I knew they were in a really difficult situation. And I called them and they were, they were not open, very polite about it, but just like, no, no, thank you. And then I think over time their their situation just got more, just got challenging. And they, I think they couldn't really manage it anymore. And again, I would try to have those small interactions in the building with them, or um, you know, if if there were opportunities where like, like for shoes for the shoe list or programming like that, I would send it out to them just to try to build some trust. Um, and then fast forward, it was probably, it was probably like I'm guessing two school years later. That would be a guess, but I'm guessing. Um finally I got a call from them. Hey, can we can we sit down with you? And it was that moment where I was like, it works, but you have to have the patience. You know, you have to have the patience and you have to give people the space and allow them to have services on their own time. Because that's the beautiful thing about our program. It's voluntary and it's meant to be supported or supportive. It's not meant to be something where families feel like they have to do it. Um, they do it because it's for most, you know, situations it's helpful to them and they and they want to. Um, but I think about that family, and it's that, it's just that dance with resistance, you know, that you have to sometimes you just have to ride that wave with them. And that's hard. That's really hard for teachers and staff in buildings because they love these kids. They love them like their own. And they're like, why won't the mom just work with you? Why won't the family just work with you? And it's hard, especially when you know they need the help, but it's being honoring of the person. And that's a lot of that's important in our jobs too.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, it just takes time.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Talk about the need. You know, Preble County is not a we're a rural county. There's five schools, uh, school districts in the county. Talk about the need in our little small area.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. The need, what I will say about the need is it would surprise you. It would surprise you. Early in my years, um, when I would speak at churches or like, you know, things like that, people would come up to me afterward and they were like, gosh, we really have kids coming to school that like aren't wearing socks or don't have lunch money on their accounts or don't have you know electricity on at home. And I'm like, oh yes. They've always been there. It's just we didn't really have an opportunity to see them or to help them. Um really the the need in Preble County, it's those things that we take for granted when we walk in our house. You know, it's opening that cupboard and having pretty much anything at your disposal. It's having clothing that fits, that's not your sisters or your cousins. It's having a winter coat to put on when you walk out the door. It's having you know, a pair of shoes that fit you, a pair of socks to wear that that are clean. Um it's having a car that's reliable when you know you have to work because that's the way you support your family. You know, it's all of those things that we access every single day, that running water that you take a shower with every morning. Um, it's all of those things that we touch every day that we don't think twice about, but that some of these families are struggling so much they cannot, you know, they cannot provide that to their children. And then when you think about that, and then you think about the children in the classroom, you know, and when they're facing these things at home, whether it be, you know, our electricity was shut off yesterday, or um, you know, in November we didn't get our SNAP benefit, and food is so, so tight right now. Um, when they have those worries on their mind, it's so hard for them to sit in a classroom and to be fully engaged academically. And so I think like I said, I always tell people the need would surprise you. We see it every day in our work.
SPEAKER_07:You know, one of the conversations that we had last week at the career fair, you were talking about laundry.
SPEAKER_00:Yes.
SPEAKER_07:And the need for washers and dryers. Yes. And that's that's what really got me. You know, you hear the stories about the kids not having proper nutrition. Uh, we obviously know about the shoes for the shoeless in that program and those things. I mean, all these things again that you said we take for granted.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:But when you talked about the washer and the dryers, that's when I was like, holy cow. So, so talk about that specifically, because there was a couple instances that that you shared. Um, you know, the struggles that a mom has that got to go down and wash laundry and go back up and make dinner and then come back and the laundry's gone.
SPEAKER_02:Yes.
SPEAKER_07:So share some of those stories if you would.
SPEAKER_02:Sure. So, you know, and I think I think I talked to Ben about this. Was this last year at Shoes for the Shoeless? Yeah. I think you asked me, you said Where are the other needs here in Pebble County? What is something that like, what is a need that is there and it's real, but like we haven't been able to problem solve fully yet. And I think I told you laundry. Yeah, it's laundry. Um, because really we we have some community resources for laundry, but my dream and my vision is to have laundry access for the entire county for folks to be able to utilize. And Ben has done some research for me and he's been so helpful in trying. We're we're trying. We're trying. And we talk about how laundry should not be complicated, right? This is something that, again, we go home, we throw a load of laundry in, throw this open, and we think nothing of it. But the reality is laundry is challenging for families who um are in a low-income status. It just is, depending on their living situations. I think I shared with you in Eton, we have some folks who are living like an apartment style living, and they do have access to washers and dryers, but there's so many challenges around that. Um, you know, they have, they've shared with me the heartache of, you know, putting in a load of laundry. Um, and, you know, mind you, the loads of laundry to wash, I mean, it's expensive, you know, it's probably like, I don't know, I'm guessing, but like double or triple what we pay a load, you know, like in our home setting. Um, but you know, it's like when they finally get the money and the means to be able to do that laundry and prioritize that. Um, the devastation of, you know, sometimes, and we hear it, um, they'll put the load in, start it, and then um either their clothes will be taken out of the washer and sat on the floor, and then a person will put their laundry in and utilize like the cycle, um, or the clothing will be stolen completely. Um, and of course, you know, we work with a ton of families, but a lot of our clients are single moms. And and, you know, for the for them, um, when something like that happens, it's devastating. And of course, we we can rally around them after the fact and after that happens. Um, but this this challenge around just having, you know, clean clothing, it's just such a it's such a struggle. And, you know, we we see it, and I think when I think about the families we serve, I think about how they are tasked with trying to, you know, kind of budget the money for the month, you know. Um, and I think none of us are blind to the fact that everything is very expensive right now. It's very expensive. And they're they're struggling financially, just like you know, all of us are. And I think that laundry is one of those things that it just gets kind of pushed to the side, right? Because yes, it's necessary, but when you compare it to food or when you compare it to the other needs that these families are facing, it takes a back seat. Um, but what I will tell you is for children, that can become very challenging in a school setting, right? Because then there are concerns that come to us from teachers, which are very fair about, you know, hygiene and things like that. All of the things that come from, you know, not having not having clean clothing. And socially, the impact that that can have on children can honestly be devastating, right? I mean, because as humans, it's unkind, but it's natural, especially with smaller children, that right, you pull away from from people when they have, you know, an odor or um something like that. So socially it can be really hard for kids, and into those teenage years as well, you know, and um so my dream is to have a place, and we and we've talked about this so many different ways, but just to have a place where families can go and just do as much laundry as they need, right? Because to me, that's such a basic need as well. I don't know that we necessarily classify it as that, but like, right, I mean, just having a clean shirt to put on. Um and so my dream is to have a place where people can go and and where they know that, like, hey, you know, I'm gonna be able to do my laundry here. This is a safe space. This is a place where you know, I can I can get that that taken care of and I can check that off of my list.
SPEAKER_07:So ideally, where would that be?
SPEAKER_02:I don't know. We've talked about this so many times. Um, you know, I do know that, and again, like with Ben, we've both kind of done some independent research, like how are other people doing this? What does this look like? And I know that um in some counties, like they will partner with laundromats and they will do like vouchers, right? So like the laundry mats are obviously already there, and then um the families receive a voucher for like so many loads of laundry. Um, I think it goes based on your family size. Um the one of the challenges is though, in in Preble County, we don't have very many laundry mats like still available. So I don't know, like, I don't know necessarily what that would look like for us. But then I, you know, I'm a dreamer. And I'm like, well, what if, you know, so for every pocket of Preble County, right? Because Eaton kind of tends to be that central hub where we focus everything, but I know that, you know, the families that who we have living in Camden or in the National Trail School District, it's challenging for them transportation-wise, sometimes to get to Eton. And so whatever we do, I want to be mindful of the families in those pockets of the county and making sure that we can offer that service to them and it be available. So then I started thinking about could we partner with churches in every community? And it could essentially be, you know, an outreach that the church does. I don't know. I've thought about it so many ways. And I and then Ben, you you have done research with Yeah, loads of love, I believe.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. And then so that's one where they partner with, I believe it's seven generations is the laundry soap. And then um, but they partner with laundromats and they have a conversation. There's like an hour's like, you know, might be a two-hour gap uh in a day where people will go in and they'll serve for them. So, you know, they bring in their laundry, you do the laundry for them, and it's like a mission. Um, and I think you know, we had that conversation. And then the other one, which is just a it feels like to me a no-brainer would be what you said about the churches, right? Um I believe you might have said it when we were talking the other day about, you know, Jesus washed feet. Yeah. Like, wouldn't it be awesome if the church can wash clothes?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Um, what a mission statement that would be, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02:I envision this. I envision this space where like if we could get some churches on board, you know, where families could come and do laundry and also just be like talk to, you know, like just hey, how are you? Like, is there anything we can help you with as a church? Can we, you know, if if it's not prayer, like what what can we do to support you? Um, because that is a common theme amongst the families that we serve. I know I do, I take for granted the amazing people that I have in my life always cheering me on. These people, some of the clients who we work with, they really don't have a lot of people in their corner. Um, and so when you think about there's a lot of downtime when you're doing laundry, you can have a lot of conversation doing laundry, yeah, you know. Um and I just think churches are a safe space too, you know.
SPEAKER_04:Like, yeah, it's it's one that when we had the conversation, I believe I believe we started the conversation at shoes for the shoe list, and I believe the kids were playing at the pool one day and we're talking about it there.
SPEAKER_02:Started back up. Yeah, it's one that started dreaming again.
SPEAKER_04:Yes, and it's one that angers me because you know, you you talk about like uh the parents and they're trying to do it, and it's stuff we take for granted, and they're sitting here, you know. Me personally, you think government shut down, and it's like, well, in my life, do I really can I tell that the government shut down? No. Like me personally, where I'm at, no, I can't. But then you hear about the snap benefits gone. And then we had the conversation at the uh career day, and you're like, you know, these people are trying to figure out, okay, do I do I buy a little bit of food for my family or do I wash clothes?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Well, then what's like the biggest crisis in my eyes right now in the school system? Um, just overall, not just, you know, with families with needs, is what mental health?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:So imagine a first and second grader walking in and all the kids, nobody wants to be around them, nobody wants to stay around them.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Third, fourth, fifth grade comes around. It's the same as that thing.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:What do you think that person or that kid, that child's view of themselves is? Yeah. What's wrong with me? Why does nobody want to be my friend? Why, you know, these are such small, in my eyes, such small problems that there should be tons of solutions for, right? Yeah. Like if if we are, you know, I view myself as a Christian, if if, you know, all these churches and stuff in our county, like if we're really about it, then be about it. You know what I mean?
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Um well, and to be fair to our churches and to our community, they don't know until they know. You know, and I and I really haven't done a great job of like the outreach piece of it. Um, but maybe like we talked about, and this is where my bravery came from for the podcast, because I thought maybe if I go on, maybe someone will be willing to to think about it.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. And have an idea. Have an idea.
SPEAKER_02:We could do a committee where we just brainstorm because I do think that um, yeah, it's just laundry is so simple and it's something that we do every day and we think nothing of it. But for some of the families that we work with in our program and the children that we see in the school buildings, it's important.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. And that's what for me, and when I say churches, I think that's the biggest thing that that I say that I think people view it as like building or like the the leaders of churches, and I feel like that's not where we fall off. You know what I mean? I feel like the leaders in churches are amazing. I feel like they're great people, but then there's the people that are churches, which is the church in the Bible is like the people like of Jesus, right? The followers, like wherever you're gathered, like you cannot belong to a church, but you gather and you talk about God or or you act in the you know, the way that Jesus acted, I believe that's church. And one that hit me for today was Matthew 26. It says, For I was hungry, you fed me. I was thirsty, you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, you invited me into your home. I was naked, you gave me clothing. I was sick, you cared for me. I was imprisoned, you visited me. Then the righteous one will reply, because this is Jesus talking, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink, or a stranger that showed you hospitality, or naked and gave you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison or visit you? And then the king will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to the one of the least of these brothers and sisters, you were doing it for me. Like it's not about like, yes, you're serving those people, and uh we need to serve those people, but like it tells you, like, if this is what you're about, like it's all over scripture, you know? And that's what breaks me because it's like, man, you know, that's why people are against religion a lot of times, is people say they're a part of church because they go to it on Sunday, but are they really living the word? Are they really leaving what Jesus tells us to do? And I don't know, that's what when I talk about the church, it's almost like not the the buildings and and that, but the community, right? Yeah, there's a need in our community, let's do something about it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Well, and I think about you know, I I think about these kids. You know, I think about the kid in the corner of the classroom that's away from everybody. And um, you know, again, it goes back to mental health, but you know, these kids, a lot of these kids already lack confidence. Oh, yeah. And you take a child with dirty clothes or with, you know, like what we've seen, we've we've talked about a little bit, the shoes for the shoeless. I mean, that was an eye-opening experience for me as well. Was it getting involved in that and and uh the the shoes for the shoeless program is amazing. I mean, what an amazing program to be a I mean, I was so touched by it. I we brought most of our team from Catron's Glass last year to um to National Trail. And um because again, it was just one of those things, you know, we get so caught up in our daily lives, our the busyness of all the stuff that we have going on, and you see certain things, but until you actually hold a child's hand and walk with them through the gym, and you sit down and you take their shoes off and you take their socks off and you get to know them, yeah, and you go get them a new pair of socks, and you go get them a pair of shoes that's the color that they like, that fit, that are clean. Like you do not realize the need that's out there. I did not realize the need that's out there. And then you add into the fact last week when we're talking about the whole laundry situation, and I just start, I again, I can, you know, I just think of holding that child's hand as I'm walking through the gym, as I'm putting shoes on them, and I think about they get up to school the next day, and that whole week they've been wearing the same set of clothes. Maybe they went through gym class and they've sweated, maybe they've been outside and it's rained. All the things that we take for granted, that the the need in our community is so great, you know, we can do more. And that's why I wanted you up here was to talk about this. And I don't know what the answer is, if it's the churches with the laundry, if it's doing something with the schools and and applying for grants to to I don't know what it is, but I I hope and pray that someone out there is listening right now that has potentially has some resources, that has ideas that we can pursue. Because I think if we want to break a cycle, yeah, if we want to make a family better than what they've got, which we all want that, right? We want our kids to be better than what we are.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:There's people out there that need help, and we need to be the ones, like you said, we are the church to help those people.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:The shoe for the shoeless, I'm sure you got many stories, and but yeah, like some of the Iowa opening stories was was it last year or it might have been last year or two years ago when kid came in with no socks and he said it was my my brother's turn to wear them. And then all of a sudden the brother comes in and they're huge on him. And it was because of they're his dad's socks and he was able to to wear them. Just stories like that. I mean, I'm sure you get tons of them, but those ones just break you, right?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Yeah. And and again, it's people talk like all the time, you know, people say to me, I just, I had no idea. I had no idea. And it, you know, with with children in that situation and with families in these situations, they a lot of times, you know, they suffer in silence. That's what they that's what they know, you know. And um sometimes like we and it goes back to you said, like, when you call them, do you get resistance? Well, yes, of course. Like they never in a million years did they dream someone would pick up the phone and just want to help them, right?
SPEAKER_04:Um especially the day and age we live in now. It's like you call and offer me help. Okay, well, what do I have to give back to you for you to help me? Like, why would you just want to help?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:You know, that's sadly the world we live in.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you're right.
SPEAKER_07:How do you yeah, you know, I'm I'm sure there's days you go home and you're just crushed by conversations that you've had or by things that you've seen. How do you how do you go home? You've got three children, you got a husband, you've got a house, you got all these things, you know, to to maintain and to do. How do you separate that?
SPEAKER_02:Well, it's I mean, I'll be honest, it's hard, it's difficult. Um I think the m I think I used tools to help me. Um number one, I think it's always about like my faith in believing that I don't do this work alone. Um I've always kind of had this mindset of like I really do feel closest to God when I'm in this role and doing this work. For me, it's not necessarily in church. And I know that that kind of because I know it's important to be in church. Um, but that's where I lean on him to kind of be like, I got this until tomorrow. I promise, you know, I've got it. Um, so it's just it's faith and also, you know, just trying to shift my focus to being home and being present because as difficult as it can be to hear the stories and to to kind of take all of that in all of the time. Um, I believe that, you know, my kids deserve, and Ricky deserves um for me to be present for them when I'm home too. Um I'm not perfect at it. There are days that are not great. Um, because I I just worry, I worry about some of these situations so much. And I and I not only do I worry, but for the kids and for their families, I wish it could be different for them, you know? And I feel like my brain is always like, okay, well, maybe we could try this, and maybe we could try this, or if I called this person or this agency, and maybe we could advocate for that. And so it's hard to shut down that noise, but but typically what I have to remind myself of is that my family deserves time with me, um, where I'm focused on them too. Just as much as I'm focused on the families that I serve, um, they deserve that. And and truly, I know this sounds weird, but like exercise too, because it helps me. Um, I usually do my workouts in the evening. And it just helps me kind of work through and process some of that. Um it was, I didn't always love exercise in that way. Um, but I use it as a tool because um what we see and what we hear and what we deal with um on a regular basis, it is heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. And sometimes it feels, you feel like, oh my gosh, like I'm just running in a hamster wheel. I say that all the time. I'm like, I'm just running in a hamster wheel. Um, but yeah, it's something that you try so hard to check it out the door. Some days are better than others, but you use tools. And I lean on, you know, I lean on my family a lot too. Like when it's really rough, you know, my um my sister Tara is a foster parent. She lives in Dallas. And so we, you know, share stories and frustrations because sometimes, you know, our the things that we're experiencing are similar. Um and I lean on my family sometimes when it gets really heavy. Because you just have to. I mean, poor Ricky has he's been my unpaid therapist for many years, many years. I think he could probably tell you what I'm gonna say before it even comes out of my mouth. Um but yeah, I do my best with it, but it's hard. I mean, I would be lying if I said, Oh, you just walk right in your door and here we go. Yeah. It's not always like that.
SPEAKER_07:No, no, but you know, what's amazing for me with you is, you know, hearing your story growing up with with your your grandparents and and your parents, you know, that caring heart, you know, seeing that servant leadership. I mean, that's it, that's what you're doing.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:You know, what you're doing is serving others and and there's a burden to that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:And I think it's important, you know, like you said, with exercise, with conversation, you know, to not hold things in because It can get really, really heavy because when you have a caring heart, you're thinking of others.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:And then you sometimes forget about yourself. And so it's important to uh to recognize that. And I think you have. It doesn't mean that it's easy. Right. It's not.
SPEAKER_02:Holidays are probably the most challenging time for me.
SPEAKER_07:And that was another thing you talked about was the need in our area. How many people were in need?
SPEAKER_02:Oh my goodness. So, so we um we do Christmas support for the entire county. Um, it's a program called Christmas for Kids. Our team leads the um kind of organizational pieces and parts of it, but the community and everyone in the community makes it happen, right? We just kind of organize it. Um, and I think what I was sharing with you guys at National Trail is, and of course, this did not surprise us again with kind of where we are right now. Um, we are well over 900 children in Preble County who are registered for Christmas assistance this year. Um, there was some some mention of, and I don't know where we are with our current number, but that we might hit a thousand kids this year. Um, so again, it just it speaks to the need. Um you know, it's just in in in the Christmas for kids program, it's incredible because again, we organize it, we do all of the pieces and parts, but the community fully makes it happen. I mean, we still, I mean, we have people reaching out like on our um Facebook page, like still asking for tags. Do you have any tags left that haven't been taken? Churches, you know, hey, any kids who we could help with, even if they're last minute. I mean, it's it's incredible to think that, you know, 900 kids have their Christmases taken care of just by people who care. And that's the thing that makes this work so special is we do, and I think that's why I was called to come back to Prabhupada County and to give to this county, it's because we have so many caring people in this community. We really do. I mean, like yesterday, you know, we had a snow day, which was awesome. Um, but yesterday, two people messaged me. One person from a church, hey, we haven't, we haven't been able to reach out to you yet, but how can we help? How can we plug in? And then another one, hey, you know, we'd like to do a donation. Can you help us? Can you help guide me through that process? Like just people who just want to give. Um, and it's amazing. But the holidays are difficult for me personally because um a couple of reasons. We know that we have children who you know their family situations are difficult. And for many of those children, school is a safe place, it's a super safe place. It's not uncommon to see behaviors and tears um before long holiday breaks like Christmas and and Thanksgiving. Um because for some of our children, it is the best place they've ever known. And um, you know, that that is just their reality. So I sometimes over Christmas break, you know, I struggle with that because we we know what these kiddos are facing in their home lives, in their situations, in the worry that comes with that. Because, you know, the reality for me um is these are the not only the children I serve in my professional role, but these are the kids in my community. These are the kids that sit next to my kids at school. These are the kids that I care so much about in their families. And um you see the struggle, and sometimes during the holidays, it's hard to be fully present when you know people have so many things going on. It's almost like you get this little pang of guilt a little bit, like gosh, we are blessed beyond measure. You know, you see your kids opening gifts or you know, just all of the things, and you just you think about the people who are going through difficult times, and it's very humbling. It's very humbling work. Um but I really would not have it any other way. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:It's amazing. I can see the I can see the passion and the care in your eyes, uh, and and hear it in your voice. And you know, our community is amazing. I mean, it really is. We have some amazing people, amazing leaders. Uh, you know, a lot of times all we hear from from people is negative things, and and that can draw you down, but man, deep at the heart of our small community are some amazing people who care and who want to give back and who want to help others. And and I hope that those that are out there that are listening, that maybe you feel like you're not doing enough.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:How can they get in contact with you to at least have a conversation to say, hey, how how can I how can I help? What can I do? What can I give?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:How how can people get in touch with you?
SPEAKER_02:Um, well, they can always call, um, you know, call my cell phone. That's what most people do. Um, they can email me at my at my school email. Um, would be happy to have a convenient a conversation and see how they want to connect. And that's the that's the beautiful thing, is we have so many different people who help our who want to help and help our program in so many different ways. Like we have churches who they focus on helping us with shoes. And then we have some community members who focus on helping us with lunch account balances. And, you know, like it's just, it's whatever is on their heart. Like we had a new um thing pop up last year, last school year, where we had a community member who she wanted to bake like nice cakes for kids for their birthdays, like free of charge. I mean, it's just it's incredible. And then, you know, as families, as we're working with them and needs come up, then we're like, oh yeah, she we can plug her into, you know, working with her. So yeah, any any way that people want, it doesn't have to be money, you know, it can be time. It can be time, it can be, you know, I this single mom needs some help with getting her grass cut. You know, could you cut her grass? It it could be so many different things. So yeah, I would be happy to. They can call me, email me. Yeah, I can give you all that information.
SPEAKER_07:And yeah, you don't have to give it out here live. Yeah, no, I don't definitely be answering phone calls all Christmas break.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:We'll make the connection. You can reach out to us. We'll have uh we'll put a link on the podcast to the school email.
SPEAKER_01:Perfect, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:So that way they can can reach out to you that way. And then if more comes from that, that would be good.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:All right. Last question.
SPEAKER_01:Last question. Okay.
SPEAKER_07:You made it.
SPEAKER_01:I've gone almost all the way through. Woo!
SPEAKER_07:If you could sit on a park bench and have a conversation with someone living or deceased, who would it be and why?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. So she's living. It would be Brene Brown. Are you guys familiar with her at all? Okay. Well, I love her. She's amazing. So she does a lot of things, but she's a professor, she's an author, she's an advocate, and she's done and a researcher, and she's done tons of research around courage, vulnerability, empathy. And I just think she is such a rock star. She is so um like fearless. I think that's what I love about her so much because she has the courage that sometimes I wish I had. You know what I mean? Like she just, I don't know, I can't even describe it, but I would, I would just love to have like 15 minutes with her and just I don't know, talk about whatever. I just think it would be so fun. And and actually, I really think that you guys would would like her content as well. It's it's very real. Um, but her famous motto is always courage over comfort. And I think it like it sticks with me because sometimes in this work and in advocating for families, you do have to have courage, right? Because people have strong opinions sometimes about the families that we serve. Um and sometimes going up against that can be challenging. You have to have courage sometimes to help people understand that you may think you know what's happening with these families, and you may you have these ideas, right, about what you think they should be doing. But I know the real stories behind it because I sit with them and I listen to them and I know why they are where they are. And sometimes it takes courage to sit in a room when people think a certain way about a family, but you know the truth and you try to get them to see that. And so I think I just she's just a role model for me because she's always talking about well, and vulnerability, which is not something I do well either.
SPEAKER_04:I don't think anybody does get vulnerability.
SPEAKER_02:So, and she's always talking about how you need to be more uh vulnerable. And again, it it strikes me because it's something that I ask of my clients, but I don't do very well myself, right? Like, I mean, we ask them to be vulnerable, right? We ask them like, tell me everything, tell me what's going on. Um, so I just feel like I would love to meet her. I would love to just have conversations with her, pick her brain about so many things.
SPEAKER_07:Courage over comfort. I think that might describe you.
SPEAKER_01:Uh I don't know. Try.
SPEAKER_07:You had the courage to leave your role where you admittedly said you were comfortable in your position. Yeah. Right? I was not an easy position, but you were comfortable to to step into the unknown of this new position at your old school.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Probably a little pressure there.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Into a role that really wasn't defined, you know. No, not at the time. To try to, I mean, I take some courage. Oh, thank you.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, it takes some courage. Thank you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_07:Well, you got to add anything?
SPEAKER_04:No, no, you're amazing. I I think the thing that Dan talked about was he saw your passion at the and every time we have a conversation about any of this, you can just see the passion. That's why you're so we're blessed to have you in Preble County. We are for these families.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it it is, it's amazing because you know, I I know the things that that I deal with on a daily basis in the business world and with family and all those things. And then as you're talking last week, like then I sit back and I think, really, Dan? Like, you're letting whatever bother you. And there's a kid sitting somewhere in a classroom who hasn't had his clothes wash in seven days because mom can't afford it because she's got to go and put fuel in her car to get to work or to go buy food, or in some cases, it can't even buy food. The only meal they get is at school. Boy, when you really start thinking about those needs, it really makes what I think is a big deal or a burden to me. Like, I feel like a turd.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I I mean, and I I hope that something will come from this, whether it's with the laundry situation, if we can get something worked out there with some churches. Maybe it's just getting a group of community leaders together that can come together and understand truly what's going on and what the need is, and then kind of put a plan of attack together and say, okay, here's here's our priority list. Let's how can we go out? Are there grants available to do this? Are there churches that want to get involved in this? What does that look like? You know, what are the costs associated with that? I think, you know, you mentioned, you know, I think about, I know how much laundry is done at our home with seven people there. It's I don't think the laund the washer and dryer ever shut off, but you know, you think about I can go put a load of laundry in and I can go do something else. Yeah. But you got to go to the laundromat, take, you know, however many loads of laundry that takes, you know, a couple hours out of your day, and you really can't leave it, right? In most cases. So you got to sit there. So what are you doing? You know, I it just takes time. And and and anymore, time is a valuable commodity. And if you're in a struggling position, I could see where that would go to the wayside.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:And it's sad because it's sad for those kids, it's sad for the parents because they don't want that.
SPEAKER_02:They don't. And that's the thing. Um sometimes that's the misconception that we're up against in our role. Um, is you know, that parents don't. And we work with with parents, with families, moms and dads, grandparents who are raising their grandkids, and they want the moon and the stars for their kids. When you sit down with them, you see the love there, you see, you see so many things. Um, but sometimes their situations just don't allow them to be able to provide in the way that they want to. Um and just it's so it's just important to just to try to keep reminding people of that. You know, these parents, we do like we do, our whole team, we sit with them, we see they want so much more for their kids and they love them. But sometimes their situations are just really, really difficult. Yeah, they are.
SPEAKER_07:Is there a question I should have asked you that I didn't? Anything you want to share that I should have brought up?
SPEAKER_02:You know, I just I always think that it's so important to give credit where credit is due. And I just feel like I'm able to be in this role because a few people in Preble County had the dream to bring it here. Um he would they would never want me to probably say that, but um, Jeff Ginter, who's a pastor in New Paris, was a pastor. He's retired now, right? I think so, yeah. Um in Jeff Parker, who was a superintendent at National Trail. Mr. Parker tells a story all the time where, you know, he's good friends with Jeff Ginter, and Mr. Parker saw a pamphlet about the program that had been running in Butler County and he was like, We have to have this, we have to make this work. We have to try to change cycles for these kids and help them in the academic setting by helping the family as a whole, by supporting the parent. And it it's because you know, that dream that he that he had, you know, and then talking with Jeff Ginter, that's I mean, that really is that's why we're here today. And then, you know, because they had that dream, then we had agencies and funders who came to the table and they said, We'll support you, we'll help you, make it happen. And it's because of those funders and because the school districts value us. I mean, it's the whole reason that we're able to be here and to do this work. And so I think it's really important to thank those people um because we wouldn't be here today without them.
SPEAKER_04:Think of how many lives they changed.
SPEAKER_02:I know. Yeah. And and you know, Mr. Parker used to always talk about, and Jeff Ginter did as well, if we just change one, it's worth it. And that that kind of like I hear that in my head all the time because when I'm on the hamster wheel, right? Because I told you guys I run on it a lot. Um, I hear them say that. And I think they're right. If you just help or change the trajectory of one family, it's worth it. I mean, it is, it's worth it. Um, and I know it's so many more. I mean, our team, you know, and that's the other thing. Like, I mean, I have to brag on our team because you know, I know this interview is kind of about me and my journey, but I work with some incredible ladies. I mean, they they are they're rock stars at what they do. And I sometimes I get emotional thinking about how proud I am of them because it it takes special people to to do that work every day. Um because it's challenging. And they just they do an amazing job. And yeah, I just really wanted to publicly, I guess, say thank you to all the people who have been on the journey and allowed us to be here. Um because we wouldn't be here without them.
SPEAKER_07:Well, I just want to say thank you. Yeah, yeah. Thank you for doing what you're doing because um it's definitely not an easy role, but it's one that I think is perfect for you.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you for saying that.
SPEAKER_07:And um, you know, it's perfect for our community, for the schools. Um you know, I I hope that again that that something is gonna come from this that will continue to help the families and the kids again to to break those cycles. Uh, because you know, in most cases, these kids are are gonna stick around in our communities. Yeah. And so, you know, we want them to have a positive experience where they can look back and say, hey, Schaefer helped me. You know, Mr. Parker helped me, whoever it is. So in return, I'm gonna help somebody else. And I think that's that's the beauty of um having some faith. It's the beauty of being vulnerable, it's the beauty of just wanting to help and care for others to uh to improve where we live and what we do. And so uh super grateful for you.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, thank you. Yeah, thanks for letting me come on. You're curious.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, thanks for having the courage to come and do it. Courage over comfort.
SPEAKER_02:Last night I was like, well, maybe I could get the flu. Maybe I could bring you for the flu.
SPEAKER_07:I didn't text you intentionally because I was like, I'm not gonna give her any avenue to back out.
SPEAKER_01:I know, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:No, this was powerful. Allie, I appreciate that. I again it opens my eyes. I hope it opens whoever's listening. And uh, and something's gonna come from this. We're gonna get this laundry situation figured out. Yeah, we're gonna do something.
SPEAKER_04:So I believe we will. You know, that's the whole reason. It's kind of the same thing when Dane and I first, I mean, this is way out of my comfort zone still. Well, we say communication major from Dayton, a degree from Dixie.
SPEAKER_00:Um greyhound. Go grey hard.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, listen. But no, so we always say that. And when we first decided to do it, you know, it was just one person. Like we can just help one person. Yeah. And uh now, you know, we're on Patreon and we have a community of people that we believe or think the same way, you know, they support us. And hopefully, you know, if none of those people actually have the capacity to fix this situation, hopefully somebody, well, you know what? I bet so and so would have it and they could share it with them. And, you know, if the more we share the story, the more we have opportunity for solutions.
SPEAKER_02:So Or if they just take the time to pray for us in our work. Yeah, and if they don't pray, just to lift us in in their thoughts, because yeah, praying for the families, praying, praying for the people who do this work.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, and if you're the biggest thing, I think, is to actually see the need. So shoe for the shoe, like those dates like we'll shared on our B Taper page, but those are the days that you come in there and your world will be, I feel like, wrecked and your eyes will be opened. Because you'll see it's not, you know, Allie's not talking about, you know, in some other nation or you know, some other state.
SPEAKER_07:No, she's talking about in your backyard, these are the needs of of the families, the kids, and you see it and well, and that's the most powerful thing with the shoes for the shoeless thing is at the end, you know, after the kids leave and they ask, you know, somebody get up and share something. And every time, man, you talk about just heart-wrenching stories that you just I don't know. I think when you're in it and you actually see the need um and you feel the need, then it makes you want to do more, or at least does for me. I know. Yeah. So amazing. Thank you again, Allie.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you guys. Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_07:Everybody, please like and share and do all those things that we need you to do so that we can help Allie and uh the success liaison team and all the county schools in Preble County and down in Butler County, and uh go out and be tempered.
SPEAKER_03:Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt. This is my goddamn hand Catrin's glass.
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SPEAKER_03:Patrons, a clear choice.
SPEAKER_05:I want to share something that's become a big part of the Beatempered mission: Patreon. Now, if you've never used it before, Patreon is a platform where we can build community together. It's not just about supporting the podcast, it's about having a space where we can connect on a deeper level, encourage one another, and walk this journey of faith, resilience, and perseverance side by side. Here's how it works. You can join as a free member and get access to daily posts, behind-the-scenes updates, encouragement, and some things I don't always put out on other platforms. And if you feel called to support the mission financially, there are different levels where you can do that too. That support helps us keep producing the podcast, creating gear, hosting events, and sharing stories that we believe can truly impact lives. And here's the cool part. Patreon has a free app you can download right on your phone. It works just like Facebook or Instagram, but it's built specifically for our community. You'll be able to scroll through posts, watch videos, listen to content, and interact with others who are on the same journey. At the end of the day, this isn't just about content, it's about connection. It's about building something together. Not just me and them putting out episodes, but a family of people committed to growing stronger through real stories and real faith. So whether you just want to hop on as a free member or you feel called to support in a bigger way, Patreon is the door into that community. Because at the heart of Be Tempered has always been simple real stories, raw truth, resilient faith, so that even one person out there that hears what they need to hear, and Patreon helps make that possible.