Sharing with the White House Tennessee Community

Guest host Krislyn Mercer talks to Jennifer Groves and Kelley White on their charitable and giving impacts in our local community. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey guys, it's Carrie Ann, your host of the Hub and a founding member of ThriveHub. Our mission at ThriveHub is to empower new and inspiring entrepreneurs in our local community by connecting them with experienced business owners. Whether you need guidance on starting your venture, building your network, or tackling business challenges, we're here to help you get up and running.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

Hello everyone and welcome to the Hub Podcast. It's Kristen Mercer. Today I'm here with Carrie Ann Koshak, Sarah O'Cardi, and then we also have special guests, Kelly White and Jennifer Groves here with us. I'm gonna first start off by sharing a little bit about them for our local impact discussion that we're doing tonight. April's theme is local impact, so we're really excited to get to share a little bit about what they do in this community. First off, we'll start off with Kelly White. Kelly White is a mother of three, a wife, the owner of Insurance by Kelly, owner of the Parkside Building, local coordinator for AYA Exchange, and manager for Dirty Work Plumbing. Jennifer is the mother of one with two bonus, a wife, a helper, a community advocate, mostly behind the scenes, and a bookkeeper for a live at 65. We're really excited to talk through a couple questions with them, hear how they got started, and really shine the light on what they do here. Because to be honest, as we were getting ready and preparing, I feel like they don't even realize the impact that they make here, and I'm excited to get to share that light with this town. All right, ladies, so let's get started. I'm excited to hear. Will you start us off, Kelly, by letting us know a little bit about your role in our community?

SPEAKER_02 1:38

I am a rotary member in charge of the annual scholastic banquet and the Heritage Elementary Wheels and Motion program. I'm also a previous chamber board member, and although I'm not on the board anymore, I do still try to uh frequent the uh ribbon cuttings and sometimes other events.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

I love that. Super. And Jennifer, do you want to share a little bit about your community role here in White House?

SPEAKER_01 2:08

I'm just someone that likes to help out every now and then.

SPEAKER_03 2:11

I love it. That's sweet. I think that's how many of us get started and what we're doing here. I'm interested to know. Jennifer, you can go first on this one. What sparked your interest in getting started and involved here locally?

SPEAKER_01 2:25

That would have been uh Helena.

SPEAKER_03 2:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

When all the people in the mountains were freezing to death in the winter, and we started collecting coats with our church then, and we collected over 500 coats and blankets, and we shipped them over there, and we sent water filters and stuff for them, and that was when I knew I could give back to our community.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

That's awesome. What church do you attend?

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Cherry Bound Baptist.

unknown 2:48

Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 2:49

All right, and now for you, Jennifer, your passion to get involved locally.

SPEAKER_02 2:53

I've always been a social person who loves giving back, but I'd say it really started in my early 20s when I had a close friend that had cancer um reoccurring, and we decided to do a uh cancer benefit for her in Gallatin, Tennessee, and it was an amazing event. We raised over ten thousand dollars for her. And um after that I started volunteering with my church um down in at that time in Nashville, and we was feeding under the bridge. Yeah. Um, and I love that. And then it's just kind of when I settled in White House, I just wanted to do the same things that I was doing before here. Yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 3:32

And I'm interested to know what does being involved in your community look like to you personally? I feel like to many people that can look different, that can look like being at every single event or donating to every single thing, but I'm interested, since you guys are the ones who are making a lot of these things happen, what does that look like for you being involved in the community personally?

SPEAKER_01 3:55

I think you have to pick and choose because there's so many things that are out there that you can get involved in. And I found myself stopping at the blessing boxes, finding people that actually needed that help, knew it was real, took them to the grocery store, got them meat, eggs, milk, stuff that they could use other than just canned goods.

unknown 4:13

Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_03 4:14

Will you share a little bit about the blessing boxes for anyone who doesn't know? And also, do you know a number of how many blessing boxes we have currently? I I know we have a ton, I don't know if we have a number.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

I think we have over 20 in Robertson and Sumner County. Um, I have a sidekick, Emily, that hits all the other boxes that I can't hit. So I just drop the food off at the church and she picks it up and takes it north, so I hit the south side. Um, what does it mean to help the community like that through the blessing boxes? It's amazing. Yeah, I mean, you get to help so many people. Some everybody picks and chooses, obviously, but some people are gonna abuse it, but most are not. Yeah, most people are very prideful. You open your trunk and say shop out of your trunk, you'll be amazed how many people, even business owners that need help.

SPEAKER_03 5:00

Yeah, yeah. I love that. Thank you for sharing. And what does it look like for you being involved in your community personally?

SPEAKER_02 5:08

Literally, she took the words out of my mouth. I was gonna say, you have to pick and choose um where to help. You know, when I first moved to White House, I felt like I could do a little bit of everything, and I had my toes in every single area, and um I really got burnt out and um was taking attention away from my family where where it was most needed. Um so that I've learned to pick and choose where I can most give that's gonna be beneficial. Um, because if you're given a little bit here and there, a lot of times what you're doing is not beneficial, but if you can really pick and choose and and dive in where you do choose, then it helps way more.

SPEAKER_03 5:49

I love that. I agree. And I'm interested to know how did you know that it was the right thing for you? Like, so for you, how did you know that blessing boxes were it, that that's what you were gonna do, and then for you, that rotary being part of the wheels in motion, that's it. That's what we're going to do, and that's where I'm planting those seeds. Because I agree, I think there's many people in our community who experience that, they want to be part of everything, they get burnt out easily, so it's admirable to know that you guys have found your place and are happy with that spot. So I'm interested in how did you know?

SPEAKER_01 6:18

I think because everybody's lonely and everybody needs somebody, and if you're without food, then you're really lacking, and just having that someone that cares. Yeah, it it goes a long way. You find out people that have cold kids at home that need their electric paid that don't turn their heat on because they can't afford it. They lost their wife, they don't have groceries to pay for that and the bill. It's it's very touching out there. Yeah, I know Kelly knows.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

Yeah, with rotary personally, um, it was just a time in my life where, you know, towel plugged to Tau Plumley, but he kept inviting me, kept inviting me, and I just felt like I didn't have time to dedicate to rotary. And when I finally uh moved my office right next door to where it was gonna be at Colorado Grill Banquet Room, he was like, now you don't have an excuse. So I started going, and honestly, that is where I found my community. That's where I found my people. Um, and it was no longer a chore to show up and to plug in, and it was something I actually looked forward to every week. Like I look forward to my Thursdays. I take time out of my day to be there because that's just where my people are, and that's where I want to uh spend my time and give back.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

Yeah. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 7:31

Sweet.

SPEAKER_03 7:32

I love that you guys just felt it. You knew that that's where you were meant to be, and that's where you need to give back. So that's great. What have you learned from simply showing up and being part of something? So you've seen lots of things, hard things that have turned into miraculous things, and so I'm curious, what are lessons that you guys have learned simply by showing up and being part of something bigger than yourself that you were honestly never asked to be a part of, besides Tal pushing you, you know? Other than that, like no one said, Hey, will you guys please do this? It's something that you wanted to do and continue to do and make that choice. So, what have you learned from those experiences?

SPEAKER_01 8:07

I think we learned that the community can come together as one and give back. Um, shout out to the women's group of White House. Um, they help make dreams come true, let's be honest. I mean, um, with Jill's help, we got to push the food drive, the can drive, Kelly's help, we got to use her office and deliver food. I mean, it's just been amazing what the women group has come together and done for food.

SPEAKER_04 8:31

Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_03 8:33

I agree. For such a small town, we make a lot happen, and it's really inspiring to know that you're never alone no matter what you go through. You're gonna have White House in your back pocket. So it's great. And what about for you, Kelly? What have you learned by simply showing up?

SPEAKER_02 8:47

I would honestly say that I am blessed way more than I bless other people. Um when I do these things, it just makes my heart smile, and I get to go home feeling really good about things that I've done to help others, and I I just love the blessing it gives me back just from sharing. Yeah. And Karen, Sharon is Karen. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 9:08

I agree with that. And I was sharing with Sarah personally today that giving back to the community and being part of this is 100% what fuels me to continue and get to do it. So I love that we all have that same experience. And talking a little bit about White House Lady Squad, today actually they launched the White House Lady Squad Cares, right? As a nonprofit. Yes, so exciting. Do you guys have any details on that that you want to share? No, I don't know. No details, no details. Okay, we're we're finding out more as we go. How exciting, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

I don't have anything. I'm super excited to be involved in it, though. Yeah, that's awesome. Super.

SPEAKER_03 9:41

Yay! So exciting. That today's the day, so I love that we get to be together. All right, next we're gonna move into rotary specifically. So, Kelly, will you please share a little bit about what Rotary is and what their impact is here locally?

SPEAKER_02 9:53

All right, Rotary is a civic organization that is worldwide. They uh give back. We have rotaries in every single country there is, um, every state in the United States. It is, you literally can be a rotary member here and go to another country and visit their rotary meetings. It is an amazing organization. Um locally, what we do is in every location is a little bit different. With White House, we do the police environment banquet where we um gather gift cards from the community, the donations, and give the police officers and firefighters and first responders gift cards. We try to give a minimum of $100 each. Um, if we have more contributions, we give more than that, but that we try to do the minimum, otherwise the embroidery chips in to make that happen. But um we do the scholastic banquet, which is where we honor the top-tier students from the local three schools, White House Heritage, White House High, and Christian Community School. And we just honor those, give them a certificate, feed them a dinner from um local restaurants this year as Colorado Grill. And um we do wheels in motion where we have each school nominate a student that they feel is showing the characteristics of Rotary, which is more or less trying to do the right things even when nobody's looking, um, being a good friend, uh, things of that nature. And we honor each of or each school, Oakmont, Millersville, um, Heritage Elementary, and HB Williams are our four schools that we do. Um, we try to do those once a month during the school year. We also do dictionaries for every third grader in all those same schools, and we do Shop with a Cop and Fireman here in town in December. That is an amazing event. It is actually headed up by uh Sergeant Dan Hunter. He vets all the students in the area just to make sure that they are truly in need and not abusing the program. So every single donation that anyone gives towards that program, you know it's going to a great cause. And these kids and families are so grateful that it will just make your heart melt. And just to give a little plug, um the American Legion, or I'm sorry, the Lions Club actually piggybacks off us and they actually um donate a pair of shoes from the local shoe store right next to Walmart for every uh student that is in our program. So once they leave with shopping with a cop, they go over and get a pair of shoes. So we're very grateful that they do that as well. I think it hits everything. And I will say our uh local White House Rotary, we do not do anything outside of our community. We're just not really large enough right now. But uh Hendersonville location and Gallatin locations have larger, larger uh clubs. They will do things like build water filtration systems in other countries. I mean, it is amazing what some of these clubs can do with their donations because they're larger clubs. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:04

That's awesome. You guys are really involved in so many incredible things and have so many awesome people who come to your event. I love knowing all the people there, it's really fun. Um, I'm interested to know how could someone get involved if they are also wanting to join in on all of this and be part of the Rotary Fund.

SPEAKER_02 13:20

We welcome anyone that wants to be a part of it. Um honestly, you could reach out to me and I can get you an application. Um, there is an application process, you just fill it out. It's very simple, it's kind of your name and address, and you submit it to us as a club. We do vote on it. Um I have personally never seen anybody voted out or voted no, so it's just kind of a process, it's uh part of what we do. But um, and then just show up to meetings. We meet every Thursday um at noon at the Colorado Grill Banquet Room, and um it's just all we ask is really that you just have a serving heart. Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 13:58

I love that, and I'm gonna give a plug to myself and also Stay Positive News. You should go to staypositive.news to check out their newest article about wheels in motion, and they had a reel come out today that shows a newspaper article of me from 20 years ago almost, which is wild that I'm in news now, and then we're able to use that news article, and then I went with Kelly to give away the bike, so it all just worked together, and I think that's really sweet. So I love that. Thank you for sharing all about rotary. I'm really excited for more people to hear about it and get involved because it's so beneficial and it's been around for a long time, and more people need to know about it. So thanks. Next thing we're gonna talk about is the recent paint and sip event that happened. So if you are part of the White House Lady Squad, you probably saw that being promoted, and then maybe you realized that it was also a donation event to help someone else in need. So I'm gonna start with you, Jennifer, if you want to share a little bit about this paint and sip to event, how it came together, why it happened, and just your story of it.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Okay, um, how it started. Um, I've been feeding the people of the White House, as everybody knows, and I've come across some business owners that seem to need a little bit more help than others. And one in particular needed more help. And so I decided uh let's get with Kelly and my sidekick Emily and see what we can't come up with. And so we came up with a paint and sip, and it was at first we were just gonna charge like I think what 20 bucks. And I was and Kelly's like, absolutely not. We need we need to raise more money. I've never done anything like this in my life, so I I just went along with it and we sold all the tickets we we sold out. So never in my wildest dreams did I think that was gonna happen, but it was it was epic. We had a good time.

SPEAKER_03 15:42

Yeah, that's awesome. Kelly, will you share a little bit about that journey, getting involved and making that yes to say, yeah, we need to make more money and we need to do this. Immediately when she mentioned your name, it brought me back to you saying when you were in your 20s and that fundraiser event that you did. So I feel like that it was very natural for you to be part of this. So I'm interested to hear and what that looked like for you.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

Yeah, when uh Jennifer broached the idea, she was like, you know, we really should do something where um we have a paint night, and and you know, the money kind of well, we were originally thinking that just the money that people paid would it'd be like a paint class. And then I was like going back to the the cancer benefit I did, I was like, Oh, we can do better than that. You know, add in uh the um silent auction, um, charge a little bit more, you know, because the money $20 fee would just cover um the expenses of the event, and um so we we decided to go higher so that we knew that we were raising money for her that was actually truly benefiting um the the local uh uh White House business owner, sorry. Um and then it was just kind of snowballed. I literally reached out to um Rosanna at Colorado Grill, told her what was going on, and um asked her, you know, if if she would donate the room, the banquet room that I would pay for appetizers. Um, you know, I wanted her to, I didn't want to take advantage of her generosity, and she was like, No way. She said, I will um not only do that, I will go bigger and better. She donated the banquet room for us and bought all supplies.

unknown 17:28

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 17:29

So uh paint, all canvas, just gonna be coaches, all paint brushes, everything.

SPEAKER_03 17:35

Did everything I think that's something that's really impressive, you know. Whenever you say, Hey, this is happening, how can we get involved? Everyone wants to jump in and get involved. Do you have some more?

SPEAKER_01 17:44

Yeah, even at Thanksgiving and Christmas, Andy was well aware that I was doing food and stuff. He's like, I got turkeys. You want turkeys? Let's get turkeys. So, yeah, I I think I got 50 turkeys from it, something like that. Wow. So they're always willing to help. I love it.

SPEAKER_03 18:00

So, have you noticed an impact since that event? How are things going post-event? And then also moving forward, what is your goals in making other events like this happen? Do you have other needs that we can also support with in supporting the community and specifically the business owners that need this help and support?

SPEAKER_01 18:19

I think we all come together and just know that people need the help and support each other just mentally, physically, everything, just be involved, not just keep going through life like nothing is ever happening. You know, call Kelly, hey, how are you doing? Call Jill, hey, how you doing? You know, life's hard. You know, just be there for somebody. Yeah, that's important.

unknown 18:39

I love that.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

And then would you encourage others to try to host or collaborate on events like this in the future?

SPEAKER_02 18:52

Absolutely. I mean, if you see a need, be the person to feel it. Um, and if you're you're not that person to feel it, reach out. Um just like when Jennifer reached out about the um, hey, let's do a paint class for her. Um I I would love to have been my idea and and take credit for it, but it wasn't my idea. But when she wrote it to me, I was like, hey, I can do this. So I feel the need. If it wasn't something I could do, I probably would have said, Hey, I can't do it personally, but I know somebody that can help you. Um so if it's not something you can personally take on, then be that middle person to say, hey, I I personally can't do that, but I know somebody that can help you. Yeah, that's fabulous.

SPEAKER_03 19:38

I love it. The next thing we're going to go into is talking about the community meals and giving back and what that looks like. So are you ready, Jennifer?

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 19:46

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

Community meals, uh, how they came about. Uh they got rid of Snap, and uh that made our blessing boxes start really booming. Anybody been to a blessing box? You can't really eat out of a blessing box. There's snacks here and there, and there's cold beans and rice, enough to get you by, but nothing to make it suffice. So we were like, why not make a good meal, a warm meal for somebody? The first one I think was December, and so it was spaghetti. We did 50 meals, and I thought it would that was fantastic. And I was like, but what if we could start an email, a White House, uh White House Hungry White House Feed White House, something like that, um, and have seniors email us, tell us what they need, how many to feed, and we deliver it. And I was like, hey Kelly, you want to deliver food? And then I called the mayor and he delivered food, and I called the chief, and he was to deliver food, but then he had something come up, which I get, but I'm kind of still mad about that. Um get them on the lineup, yeah. Um, but everybody just coming together. Uh Jill's staff actually came and uh made soup for the second meal that we uh delivered food for, and we served a hundred people. So I think the need is really there. A lot of people coming to the blessing boxes were widows, just lost their husbands, didn't have that money, haven't had a hot meal in two, three months. When's the last time we haven't had a hot meal? So it just it just hits home. You know, I'm not from here, from the ghetto. So it just hits home a lot more. Yeah. That everybody needs help and no one's above anybody else.

SPEAKER_03 21:32

So I'm personally interested of how did people find you? How did they know? I know that the word gets out quickly, I know through Lady Squad and things, but how are we finding these people who have these needs and making sure that we can connect them and get them to the right people?

SPEAKER_01 21:50

We have a list of people uh that wrote to the email that we st I'm still connected with. I still help pay their bills if they need if they're Diabetic, if they need sugar-free stuff, or uh a lot of them are grandparents taking care of their grandkids.

unknown 22:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

And that we did see a lot of that. And it's very eye-opening in our community. Most of these grandparents are so social security age. They're not living off of anything spectacular. And it's usually something happened to their kid. Something bad. So they're just making it. And then, you know, senior year. Well, we all know how expensive that is. How expensive senior photos and all that are. Offering to take someone's photo. You don't have to be good at it. But it's free. You know, it's the small things. I'll live by it.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

Yeah. I love this. This has been so moving. It's been awesome. Okay, and then Kelly, what did this look like for you to step into this effort and support something? How did you know? Okay, yes, I'll help. Was it just because it was Jennifer, or was it because you wanted to help just a little more?

SPEAKER_02 22:57

Probably both. I love Jennifer, and if Jennifer was behind it, then I know it's going to be a good thing. Um, so I always want to ride her coattails when I can. But um, you know, I had the space. I had a space, an office that wasn't being used, so I was like, ooh, I have a whole room we could store the food, which turned out to be a great blessing because honestly, when we put it out on the lady squad in the Hip White House, I'm talking the community showed up. They were dropping off like boxes and bags of food at my office.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

I bet I went through 10,000 cans donated by the community easily. Easily.

unknown 23:36

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 23:37

Com between Emily and I, we donated the monies for the community meals and such and help with canned goods and stuff. But the way the community showed up, I've never seen anything like it.

SPEAKER_03 23:48

That's awesome. And how can the continue the community continue to keep showing up? So we know that you do things like can drives and things, but you're also helping with bills. So what does this look like? How can we support you moving forward?

SPEAKER_01 24:00

Send the money to Kelly, and we'll make sure she can get it to everybody. Kelly? If everybody knows me, I'm I'm technically savvy, not technically savvy, I'm terrible with any technology, so I give it to away to everybody else.

unknown 24:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 24:15

Kelly, or yes, Kelly, do you have any comment on that?

SPEAKER_02 24:19

Well, I would just say if somebody wants to donate, just reach out. We'll figure out a way to get the money and give it to Jennifer for sure.

SPEAKER_01 24:27

Yeah, or I bet Jill would be okay with donating to that 501c. For sure. And memoing memoing it to community needs or something.

SPEAKER_03 24:36

Perfect. That sounds great. Yeah, we can attach some details on that as we figure out that a little bit more. But that's awesome. And I love that so much. I'm so impressed. Literally, as Jennifer's talking, all of us are sitting here with our mouth just wide open because it's so impressive. And I mean, all of us, we know these things, but to hear the behind-the-scenes details and how it all comes together and how much it really does come together is like so moving and so inspiring. And so I'm really grateful for that.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

And I will say one more thing is 99% of people want to help, they just don't know how to help. Or they don't know where to help, where is the most needed help. Um so if it's if if you feel like you have the urge to help and you have a talent or you have the financial means or you anything of that nature, reach out to someone that you know does these things. Jill, um, Jennifer, myself, um, we can plug you in somewhere, I promise you or Krislin. I mean, anyone of just just reach out. Say, hey, this is what I'm good at. I'm not, I don't have the money, but I'm really good at photography. And I would love to donate to maybe some people that need help, or hey, I don't have a lot of money, but I can do this. Um, someone loves to cook.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

If you love to cook, reach out. I got lots of people that love food. Woo! Yes. I'm loving quite a few few families and stuff and some seniors. And if you like to cook lasagnas or casseroles, let me know.

SPEAKER_03 26:03

Yeah, that's great. We'll definitely make sure that we're getting people involved. And I love that because I agree. So many people worry, okay, maybe I don't have the financial means to actually get involved, but you don't need those financial means at all. You know, your your servant's heart is enough, and you being there is enough. And so I love that. And honestly, even just going and picking something up real quick and dropping it off, like it doesn't have to be I'm gonna go donate for an hour or my time for an hour, it can be I'm just gonna go run and pick something up. So I think that's really just knowing that there's always a space for you no matter what that looks like, and just connecting you to the right people to make sure that happens. And so that's really special to us here at Thrive Hub. So continue following along so that you know where to get connected and what that looks like. And as we're wrapping this up, I want to ask just a couple of questions about how all of this giving back to the community has impacted you both personally and in your professional life. What has the return been on something that you did starting from your heart, but knowing that in the long run it has bettered you both as a person and as a professional?

SPEAKER_01 27:03

I don't usually pump the business into anything. Um so I just keep it usually self. I don't bring my kids or husband into it, even though they should be involved. I love you, honey. Um you do support financially. We do love you. Right, right. Um business-wise, you know, we go up to the seniors that are and stuff, but it's not about the business, it's more about the connections because they lose so many more and they're lost. You know, and I think I see it more now that my husband is in Medicare, you know, the phone calls that we receive and stuff. Um people are super confused out there. Yeah. And just to help out just a little here and there, a little comfort goes a long way.

SPEAKER_03 27:54

Yeah, I agree. I'm thinking of like the words comfort, friendship, guidance, support, all of those things that we all want to feel, and we're making that possible here in our community, thanks to you guys. So, Kelly, what about you? How have things changed in your life since giving back in such a meaningful way, both personally and then also in your business life?

SPEAKER_02 28:13

I'm the same as Jennifer. Um, I don't know that I've ever plugged my business in. I there's just no reason to do that. Yeah. Um, personally, that doesn't mean it's anything wrong with it if you do, um, but it fills my cup. And in my line of business and in all the things I'm involved in, I feel like I'm my cup is constantly depleting. And this is just something that fills it back up. There's a few things that I do that um I are my joys, and the giving back is my joys. It's it's more of a personal level for me just to help give me some joy back.

SPEAKER_01 28:54

I do have a lot of health issues, and giving back is that you don't have to look at thinking of pain if you're busy.

SPEAKER_03 29:06

Wrapping up officially is going to be what does community mean to you, and what do you hope people take away from this conversation today?

SPEAKER_01 29:20

What I hope people take away from the conversation is community is important and everybody needs somebody. Um, we're all equal, it doesn't matter who we are. Just hold a door open for somebody. Say good morning, uh smile. You'll be surprised at the small things and the responses you get from that. What am I taking away from this conversation? Is that the next question?

SPEAKER_03 29:44

What does community mean to you?

SPEAKER_01 29:46

Community means a lot more to me now that I can give back. Um being part of the community is harder than I thought because you can see a lot more of the suffering that happens in our community that a lot of people don't think exist and um don't think the blessing boxes are needed. Um, and it's it just goes deeper than that. I mean, yes, I've already said that that they are abused in some ways, but there are a lot of people out there that need them, and that's why they're there, and that's why they were started.

SPEAKER_03 30:21

All right, Kelly, what does community mean to you and what is something that you hope they take away from listening to this podcast?

SPEAKER_02 30:30

I I I hope if nothing else, I hope people realize that um no matter who you are, that you do have a God-given talent, whether it's talking or giving or sharing or um showing up, um, being kind, opening a door, you know just anything like Jennifer said, um that you will reach out to see where you are best needed or or um where you can share a light. But um community to me is like a hug. Um you know, you don't always need a hug, but when you do, you want someone there to give it to you, and that's where your community comes in. Um you know, I may not need a hug very often, but when I do, you know, you're always looking around like who's my pupil? Who who have you invested in all year long, all month long, all week long, all day long? Um, because that's the people that's gonna give you a hug.

unknown 31:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:25

Okay, well, I'm emotional now. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for not only coming onto the podcast, but also for all you do for the White House community. We would not be who we are without your help and your sidekick's help and everyone who makes it possible. So I'm really grateful and I'm super grateful that you came on the podcast. I know it wasn't easy. You know, we trials and tribulations, but we made it happen. And so I'm super grateful. And so, from all of us here at the Thrive Hub and Jennifer Groves and Kelly White, we want to say thank you and continue serving your community. Keep thriving.