Interview with Rachel from MANA House

Get to know our friend Rachel from MANA house and how she works in people's lives and to help them, cause as much she does to help others we can't forget who she is as a person.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Hey, thank you everybody for tuning in to Bread of Life, uh, the new episode here we have. We're going to have a wonderful, wonderful surprise and and a great guest that we're going to bring onto the show today. Something that we're going to do, another morsel I know from from the Lord that has brought his spiritual appetizer for us he for us here. So without further ado, I'm going to introduce this lovely lady we had a we had a moment to uh meet with and uh help out some people. She yeah, she has a great heart, so I definitely want to uh introduce her. So anyhow, Miss Rachel.

SPEAKER_00 0:49

Rachel Hi, hello.

SPEAKER_02 0:51

How are you? How are you?

SPEAKER_00 0:53

I'm doing good. It's a good Saturday. It's not too hot out today, surprisingly, the weather.

SPEAKER_02 1:01

That's right. That's right. So before we get going and anything else, can can we give a description of uh your your title and who you are and and what you do for Mana House?

SPEAKER_00 1:12

So yes, of course. So my name is Rachel. I'm the community engagement coordinator at Catholic Charities Manna House. I've been in the position now, this is going on my fifth year, and my um my role there is very unique. I help engage with our community. Um, I help steward partnerships, donations, and bring in volunteers. I put on events, and I'm a huge advocate for the veterans that we serve at Mana House.

SPEAKER_02 1:49

Amen. That in itself is a beautiful thing to be that type of person. So, manna house, what is manna house for our listeners out there so they can know who you are?

SPEAKER_00 2:01

Of course. So, manna, we stand for Marine, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Of course, we have the Coast Guard, but if we put the C at the end of our name, it would have been called Manic. And I'm not sure how that would have sounded to the public, but we serve all branches of the of the military, and we are a transitional housing program for male veterans that are experiencing homelessness, and so they're able to come into our program and we have wraparound services that um help our veterans um come from surviving to thriving, and their ultimate goal is to find that affordable, permanent, stable housing.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Now, is there is there anywhere where anybody, if they wanted to donate, they can donate to you guys your home or where you're at at Mana House?

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Yes, definitely. And so I actually run our donation room and um and so we take items from you know to hygiene uh from hygiene to um socks and underwear, pillows, bedding, to even small kitchen appliances and um cleaning sub cleaning supplies because since I've been there, um I've really gotten to understand the needs of the veterans that we serve. And um when people think, oh, they must need interview clothing, but honestly, a lot of our veterans are moving into more of the trading type of school, um trading types of jobs. And so um we've been actually in need of more like working boots, like steel toe, or um, you know, everyday wear like jeans and bright shirts, because um many of them are just going into that type of um trade or even into um the food industry actually. And so um with that, I've also witnessed that many vet veterans who are entering into their um apartments, sometimes that apartment is still empty. And by providing things like cleaning supplies, small kitchen appliances could help make that apartment that new home for them and they feel like they can accomplish something. And so the fact that you know a coffee maker, it can mean so much for a veteran to have that for their new apartment.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

Uh yes, you are just yeah. Okay, I'm sorry, Amira.

SPEAKER_00 4:43

Oh no, I was just going to add that um just the smallest things can really make a lasting impact on the veterans that we serve at Manna House.

SPEAKER_02 4:53

Yeah. You're absolutely right, actually, Richard. Like um I don't know if you remember, but I I mean with me, I remember I uh when there was a time where I was homeless, like I I I remember you utilizing like the VA and they had some programs. Yeah. They have some really kind people that just went out like above and beyond like a person like yourself that had just a heart for it.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

Had such a heart for it.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

And and um, well, thank you. And um, I really work with our community and individuals, and I make those connections, and then we create a collaborative effort, and somehow it just always ends up um working out, and we make a huge, huge impact on the veterans that we serve. Like currently, we've been in the news um at Mana House, we actually um got awarded a$100,000 grant to help the veterans that are um living at Mana House with any dental work. Oh wow, that's great. And it's just with collaborative um partners that that made it happen, and so that's just an example of just how um how like the community can really make a big impact. And so I'm I'm very, very excited to be on this podcast and just to talk about how we can just better the communities that we serve.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

You're yeah, wow. I'm I'm grateful, we're grateful for you and to have you here. Like we've been uh talking about this for some time now.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

And I know we've been I've been in um so I've been talking with Cameron and he's been telling me that well, we've we've been um in plan planning this now for about a month and a half now. So I'm really happy that it's finally come into fruit into fruition.

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Most definitely, most definitely. Let me ask you, let me ask you these questions now. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Honestly, interacting with the veterans. And so my position, I get to really learn and um and uh engage with the veterans to see, well, what is it that I can help you become a better version of yourself or make you the best person that that you know that you can be with the support. And when and so honestly, many of them have come into through through through our doors defeated, and they don't know how to start over, they don't know what next steps to go, and so and many of them just feel like they're a number, like they aren't feel they aren't being heard, and so I I honestly just listen. And by being that ear, you I've I've gotten to really understand, like, yeah, they honestly just need that friend or that support so that they know that what they're feeling is is valid and we can get through anything. And so I've really, you know, seen veterans come full circle and just they came into our program pretty defeated because they've either they've lost their apartment and or just maybe they had a really bad health issue that led them to the hospital and then into our program. Many of them have different situations when they come into our doors, but they are all um, but they all you know have have those same feelings, I I would say, or um and just feeling like they don't have that support. And I want to show them like I can be that support. And so by lending that ear and learning what they're dealing with, I try to you know make make them feel a lot better. And so when I have my donation hours open, they've come and you know, oh Rachel, I've I've been wearing these shoes for months, and so I give them a brand new pair, and they're just like over the moon, and just they feel so much better. And so that's why um that's what I love about my position, is I really get to bring that happiness or just that light back into those eyes that I that have been dim for so long. I I hope that makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

Right. No, it definitely totally makes sense. I I want to know what what's your that's a beautiful thing about what you're saying, first off, but like I I want to also know like what is what's your why? Is that your why, honestly, in this life? Like, what's your why? Like what's uh what's driving Miss Rachel?

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Because we want to know more about you a little bit, more whatever you can tell us, but well you know growing up, my my mom taught me at at a young age to always try to help others in any way that you can. And so when I was 10, I started volunteering and um working with my community and just learn about what was happening and how I could um get involved. And so I was heavily in in involved with a lot of my school um uh organizations, and then that led me to you you you know become more um like put my foot in the door in the wider community, and so as I was learning to really serve my community, I really you kept that as I entered into my college years, and so um I left Arizona and I pursued um a bachelor's in the Midwest. Okay, and that's good.

SPEAKER_02 11:08

Bachelor's in what? What what was it? What was your accolades' achievements? What was it?

SPEAKER_00 11:13

So I actually went to uh a small liberal arts college in a very small town called Monmouth College in Illinois, and I had no connections whatsoever. I just really wanted to kind of branch out um and figure out like how I can how I can leave an impact, pretty much. Like my mom, she really she was a big um influence and how she really presents herself and how she's always so helpful. And so I really wanted to um find my impact. And so her impact was with youth, and um, and so she's a teacher now still, and she has such an amazing um connection when it comes to um teaching youth and everything, and so I wanted to find that niche of you know my my passion in helping others, and so in college, I you know, I went and and I did that, and I realized, you know, I loved helping the less fortunate. And so um when I um and so after I finished my master's, I moved back to Arizona, and I decided I'm gonna go serve in the less um in the less um fortunate community, um, and put my um communication skills. So I I have a master's in in communication, um, but with um with an emphasis in advocacy and um health.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

And so I went and tried to um advocate for um affordable child care in um rural communities. So I lived in Globe for a year.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

And what helped me really it was it was hard, um, but it was it really was a it was really mind-changing because I realized I was always like even though I was raised I I I wanna say like I was kind of raised like, you know, middle class. I wasn't, you know, rich, but I but I wasn't, you know, poor. I I felt like I was pretty I I had a pretty good up upbringing. And so um when and so when I decided to go into this path of serving rural c rural communities and I I realized wow my life has is so much better compared to what other people and um and so I really had a kind of humbling experience and I wanted to further understand and understand and just gain more experience in learning how rural communities or just the the or or or com or communities that just aren't represented in society, I wanted to understand and bring light. And so after my year of serving in Globe, um I continued that route in the nonprofit sector, and I actually worked at St. Mary's Food Bank.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Okay. That was probably interesting. Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

And um, it was only for the summer, and so I really gained a lot of my um experience in the nonprofit sector through um, so I actually was an Americor Vista um through all of these experiences by serving the rural community, and so I chose to um live um in a in a underrepresentative or or live in in a poverty community to understand more. And so by putting myself in these positions, I really learned. And so when I was at St. Mary's Food Bank, I actually I actually helped jumpstart a um delivery food program for homebours.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Oh wow, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 15:37

And so yeah. When did that start?

SPEAKER_02 15:39

Like was there when did that when that came out?

SPEAKER_00 15:42

That started during um COVID. It it was like during um it was in 2020. It was in 2020, 2021 when I was at St. Mary's food bank.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

And that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 15:55

So it was right before COVID got really big. Yeah, but it it really helped um during COVID times because it was already set up for homebound seniors to receive food boxes, so and it's still going until this day.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

That's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

And so knowing that that program is still going and I helped steward that makes me feel really awesome. And so then knowing that I could help you, knowing that even though I may not that so knowing that my impact may not be, you know, be grand as you know what people hope, knowing that my impact could still make something, I realized that's that's something that I can live for and keep going. And so um after my time at St. Mary's Food Bank, that's when I came to Manna House. And so I was a volunteer, and I did so well that Catholic charities hired me after my volunteer year.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

And what time what year was that? Was that 2021, 2022?

SPEAKER_00 17:06

So I actually got hired on officially in 2022.

SPEAKER_02 17:11

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:13

That's awesome. And so even yeah, so um I've been with Catholic charities now for this. Is this will be my like my fourth year kind of technically?

SPEAKER_02 17:23

So good job. Hey, I love that. I love that consistency, your heart, you're there, like that is just that's awesome. Wow.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

And so now where where I'm at, I really came into this position not really knowing wow, there's this huge gap and not a lot of support and homelessness and veterans. And so I kind of made it my mission to learn and understand that issue, and I really changed the program and just um make a better organization of how veterans can receive those resources and support.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 18:06

And I I've been doing it now and I I love it still. So and that's why I continue to do what I do.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

So what's your what's your thing about veterans? What do you how do you feel about them? And let and and too, let me know too, because since you're a man of house, I know you have different branches of service. What have you noticed on each branch of service of each man?

SPEAKER_00 18:32

No, that's a really great question. And so um, well, I I my family was also um they it grew up is is a military family. My great-grandpa was um he has served as well as my grandpa, and so even my dad, he even tried to serve, but they denied him due to medical issues. And so knowing that my family has served its country, I wanted to say, well, how can I give back? That's right. Because I I was presented to um enlist right after high school, but I was afraid, and I um a part of me wished that I could have, you know, taken that opportunity, but in a way I feel like God led me to get back in a way where I can still serve and support veterans in the way um that uh that God has has given my life now. And so I really feel like I just have a knack for understanding the veterans because honestly, I've I've I put the time and effort and I've reached out to so many different groups and I work with so many different individuals, and by really understanding what the veterans are facing at Mana House, I can share that. And and so honestly, the veterans at Mana House are what keeps me going, and honestly, seeing them tr uh graduate is just so rewarding and just um humbling all all at once, it's just a really great thing to uh witness. And so um and so with those different branches, our actual our most common um branch that we do receive are army and marine, and so we rarely ever get any Coast Guard veterans, but we've had a few since I've been in there, but many of them um come from uh the Army, Marine, and then the Navy. Okay, and so um a lot of the Marines I've realized are very um they I've I've seen kind of two two sides. So when they when they come into our program, they've they really keep to themselves at first, and they try to find other Marines while they're there. Because a lot of them when they enter um our program, many of them are like, oh, what branch you served, and when they and and so they really understand, you know, um how to talk, and so they kind of stay in the same um area, but they what's really cool of of what I've witnessed them is they've really become helpful while they're at Manna House and they become kind of the go to, oh, help out, and um, and so when I even have events. They're the ones that are like, let me help you, Rachel. And they and so they they they are the doers and the helpers when um they're at manna house. And along with the army that I've witnessed, they are kind of the ones that are like, okay, um they will help when needed and they're very strong.

SPEAKER_02 22:29

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

And um they definitely um also kind of stick to their own kind of tiered, but they definitely are more um strong-minded, they definitely want to speak their mind, and then with the Navy veterans that I've you know witnessed, many of them are just very helpful and caring, but some of them have been pretty still keeping to themselves, and so but honestly, um I I interact uh the most with the with with with Marines that are at Manor House, and they're the ones that are just always helpful and just very talkative too. Yes, and so um that's just what I've just witnessed with being and um uh uh and uh talking with the veterans there.

SPEAKER_02 23:34

What a great moment for you and what a awesome experience. You know, when we were talking, I forgot to ask you, Rachel. I forgot to ask you about your wonderful family. And siblings and you have any children and because we've got to get to know who you are because you listen, you're doing all these great things. It's like it's amazing to me how you how the Lord has used you in such a beautiful way, like extending his hand and being truly that, working for the Lord, right? Because I know you follow Jesus, right? That's that's who you are, his way, his truth. And I see that work in your life, and that's really amazing because I know the men need that. But I want to see how like where's this because I know you've talked a little bit about it, but where does it stem from?

SPEAKER_00 24:21

Tell me well, um, a lot of it comes from my mom, but really I had a really great support um on on on my side. My my parents had were always, you know, there during um the time when I really needed them and even during college. And so they I felt like you know, having a good sub support net network really made me become the person that that that that I am today. And they we would we also grew grew up going to church every Sunday and really just following um and doing what what was right. And so my parents really gave us a good work ethic and um honestly just being true and being who you are. And my parents have never wavered in in like they can they in in being and staying true no matter how p many people try to, you know, sway it or try to, you know, change it, they've always stood their grounds, and that's what's really made me become that strong person too. And so um I and so with my family, I I have a 10-month-old, right? Um and so he is my world, and it's been quite an adjustment in, you know, ma uh managing and um work life and being a mom and um being also um a uh a a committed wife, but it's so rewarding to now be able to shape um my son into being this respectful gentleman that my dad taught my brothers, and so I also have two older brothers, and um, and so we were just raised to always help others. So my brother, so he um he's so I have two older brothers, like I said, and so my older brother, he um he's a music teacher, he actually teaches um young students uh piano, and so he works with different schools, um, and he even um does private lessons to help in that and he does it in a very cool way, and um it's so fulfilling for him. And then my oldest brother, he's actually a pharmacist, but he is also he and his wife, they have um a family too, and they're very involved in their Catholic community. They uh play um at uh and so both of them are we are also a very musically inclined family, and so one way that has always kept us kind of centered too in our faith has been music. And so um my and so my oldest brother, he and his wife, they um sing and play piano at uh multiple uh uh parishes across the valley. And so and so and and with them balancing, you know, work life and their children, um it's just it's so cool just to see how we how God can give us all of these amazing things and we can and still be able to um just I I can't put a word to it, but just how we're just so many different how we can be so many different instruments, I guess. And um make up who we are, and so my family is very um and so family is very important um and helps me stay centralized in what I do.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

I um I am one thankful and grateful. Uh please let your husband know that we were thankful for the time. And I know you being mom is like, oh, I need time. And you're giving us this time. And I and I really, you know, kudos to you, you know, being a mom. Yes, yes, ma'am. And I won't keep you too long, okay? I mean, you know, a few more minutes we'll of course we'll do that. Of course.

SPEAKER_00 29:04

I want people to know, you know, who you are, and then you know where they can donate when they need help and who they can pray for, and you know, of course, because I'm always um so many people ask, well, what what do veterans need, or what can we do in the community? And um and no idea is is a wrong idea. And so if I and so if anyone has any questions of how they can donate or even make an impact and want to volunteer at Mana House, they can reach out to me and um we can make it happen. And so I'm always about um trying to trying new things to see how it can um support and affect the uh veterans that we serve.

SPEAKER_02 29:55

Can you can you would you mind giving me the uh over here on the on the air, your information that you most people can donate? Donate to, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:04

Yes, and so um again, my name is Rachel. I'm the community engagement coordinator, and so I handle all of our donations. And if you have any questions, you can reach out to my number, either call or via text. Um, my number is 480-490-2380. You can also reach me um through my email R M A S C H at C C A Z dot org. And you can also visit our website at www.manahouseaz.org. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

Well, no, wow, that's that's yeah, you're welcome, of course. I love it. Yes, I I listen, Rachel, one day I want to know.

SPEAKER_00 31:11

I wanna I really would love I would love to, you know, I mean you background, whatever check is fine, but I'd love to be able to go there and and speak sometime if I can encourage some people and just so you know, the um the uh impact that you when when you and Cam came um to donate those blankets, the veterans are still talking about it. And so the smallest the smallest gesture that um any group that that that comes to manna house, just by coming and bringing these items, you're already making an impact and making a difference for the veterans. And so by the fact that you are meeting us at the door, it's gonna make a huge, huge difference. And so thank you so much for the opportunity to be on this wonderful podcast. And I look forward to working with you guys, and I look and I would love for you to come and do um a Bible or like um a type of um service in our all faith chapel. I think that would be beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 32:25

Okay. I would love to do that. I I am I appreciate you and and your time and getting to know who you are. Hey, listen, and this is recorded, so listen, this is gonna be wonderful, right? Like it's all you, of course. You can listen to it and download it, but also imagine like your children in life future. Like they'll you always be known who you are. And I think it's so important for people to know who you are because there's very far and few in this world that have the that really exude and share and and use the fruits of the spirit that God gives them in a genuine way. Like your parents, kudos to them, hats off to them, uh, for raising you that way. I'm trying to do the best my way too with my children the same.

SPEAKER_01 33:10

It gets difficult.

SPEAKER_02 33:11

You know, but um can be. Yeah, I have two wonderful, two wonderful boys and two wonderful girls.

SPEAKER_01 33:17

And uh wonderful.

SPEAKER_02 33:19

Yes, I am truly grateful. So I wanna I definitely don't want them tainted in this world, but I I am doing my best to show them what this world could be like and they need Jesus, they need the Lord, they need they need to know who they are in Christ, they need to know how strong they are and how God loves them, and they need to keep stepping, you know. And yeah, I I I love that. And I know these veterans, I pray for them. Like I know they're gonna need that, you know, they have that with you, and that's so grateful when I pray. But hey, before we let you go, Maracha, I want I want to pray with you too. Is that okay before we let you go?

SPEAKER_00 33:49

No, I would love that. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 33:51

Yeah, I just I I really do. So let me uh I'm gonna do that right now for us. So Heavenly Father, I just say thank you. Thank you so much for your daughter here, Lord. Thank you. Thank you for Rachel, Lord, thank you for her heart, her spirit. Thank you for who she is. Thank you that you have made her in her mother's womb the way that you made her so that she can do what she's doing today. I pray, Heavenly Father, that you just empower her with wisdom and in your spirit. That you take care of her her home life, increase her and her finances, increase her and her family and and whatever else is needed, whether it be health, whether it be rest, peace, wh whatever they may look like, Lord, I pray that you give that to her. Double portion. I pray that you continue to use her to be a a beaking of light, a beacon of light to these wonderful veterans that need to know that they are loved and that you love them, Lord. It's because of you, Lord Jesus. So thank you. So as we part ways, Lord, we're we're not gonna part too too much and too much of a distance. We're gonna still connect, and and I pray, Lord, that we we do great things for your kingdom in Jesus' almighty name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 35:08

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 35:09

Yes, ma'am, amen. And before I let you go here, I'm gonna give a commentary here with my website before we let you go. That uh if anyone listening to it, hey, it's uh the bread of life with jj at gmail.com. The bread of life with jj at gmail.com. Hey, and also, yeah, that's people want to reach out and pray and they need prayer. I am here as well for them that way. But you know what though, when we start doing things possibly in the future, Miss Rachel, like I would love to uh like maybe uh bring you back in again and see where the Lord is taking us from this point and then moving forward and where we're at in the future, you know, Lord willing.

SPEAKER_00 35:49

So I would love that. Just let me know. And it's wonderful working with both you and Cameron. So thank you.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, and thank you for your time and and also for those listening. I hope that uh they can reach out and anyone needs help or prayer, we're here, and even Manahouse is there. So thank you. May God bless you.

SPEAKER_00 36:10

Thank you so much, JJ. Of course. I hope you have a great day.

SPEAKER_02 36:13

You too. Jesus loves you. Have a good day.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

Thank you.