Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Do Something More-Nonprofit Spotlights & Ways to Serve Your Community
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110. ‘100 Women Who Care’ and Combining Charitable Gifts to Make a Meaningful Impact (with Chapter Founder Jessica Farnsworth) | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:29:14 | |
In this inspiring replay episode, I revisit one of the most impactful conversations I've had on the show — a deep dive into the giving-circle movement with '100 Women Who Care.' I personally joined my own local Utah Valley chapter after recording this episode over two years ago, and I've been attending quarterly meetings ever since. Today, I wanted to bring back this episode to highlight why this powerful model of collective giving continues to grow — and why you might want to be part of it too. Jessica Farnsworth, a longtime leader with the Utah Valley chapter, shares the origin story of '100 Women Who Care', how these giving circles work, and the incredible impact that happens when women combine their resources to lift local nonprofits. You'll hear how chapters across the country are changing lives through “Impact Awards,” learn what actually happens inside a one-hour meeting, and discover the inspiring personal stories behind the organizations they support. And since this conversation was first recorded, the Utah Valley chapter has surpassed 100 members — growing their impact even more. Whether you’re local to Utah or living anywhere else in the U.S., there’s likely a chapter near you. Links mentioned in the episode: 100 Women Who Care Utah Valley Website 100 Women Who Care Utah Valley Instagram 100 Women Who Care Utah Valley Facebook KSL Article on 100 Women Who Care Utah Valley Reaching 100 Members Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 109. ‘Thanksgiving Heroes’ and Bringing Thanksgiving Dinner to Families Facing Food Insecurity (with Founder, Rob Adams) | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:30:37 | |
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in meal prep and family plans—but this episode will inspire you to think about gratitude in action. I sit down with Rob Adams, Founder of 'Thanksgiving Heroes', a nonprofit that rallies over a thousand volunteers and hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations each year to deliver full Thanksgiving meals to more than 3,500 families facing food insecurity. Rob shares the moving childhood story that inspired his mission, how a promise to his mother changed his life forever, and the miracles that continue to happen each year as strangers come together to feed their communities. You’ll also hear what it really takes to organize an effort of this scale—and how you can be part of it. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to give back this Thanksgiving—or a reminder that goodness and generosity are alive and well—this episode will fill your heart and renew your hope. 🎧 Listen now and find out how you can support Thanksgiving Heroes in bringing meals, hope, and connection to families this holiday season. Links mentioned in the episode: Thanksgiving Heroes SLC Volunteer Sign Up to Deliver Food Boxes Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 100. Celebrating 100 Episodes (!!!) and Sharing Nuggets of Wisdom and Advice From Podcast Guests | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:14:41 | |
On this episode I'm celebrating 100 Episodes of the 'Do Something More' podcast! At the end of each episode, I ask my guests to give general advice for how people can serve, volunteer, and give back to their communities. I took eight of those nuggets of wisdom and rolled them all together to mark this 100th episode. Come and be inspired and empowered and also get a reminder of the great caliber of guests we have on this podcast. They really all are incredible people trying to do good in many ways. And thank you so much for being here with the 'Do Something More' podcast! I hope you've found inspiration and encouragement on my small corner of the podcasting world. Links to the podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: 6. Carol Kimball and Finding Meaningful Ways to Serve While Raising a Family 9. Lori Muir with 'Ironman Q Foundation' and Supporting Cancer Families 29. Camber Hess and Using Service to Cope with Grief and her 'Infant Loss Stories' Project 38. Katie Bunnell with 'Live Your Dream Foundation' and Helping Single Mothers with Their Education 69. Anadine Marshall with 'Charity Vision' and Restoring Curable Sight Impairment Worldwide Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 010. Thank You to the Teachers | 23 May 2023 | 00:16:37 | |
There are lots of kids and students finishing up the school year, so this episode is dedicated as a 'thank you' to the teachers. I share an experience I observed several years ago that helped me feel appreciation for all the small, unnoticed things that teachers do. | |||
| 009. Lori Muir with 'Ironman Q Foundation' and Supporting Cancer Families | 16 May 2023 | 00:29:53 | |
This episode was so tender and special. I talked with my friend Lori Muir about the foundation her family runs in honor of her son, Quinton. He passed away from cancer in 2017 and it's so inspiring to hear the things his family continues to do to support other families on a similar cancer journey. | |||
| 008. Vaughn Kimball and Being a Volunteer Coach for Your Children's Sports Teams | 09 May 2023 | 00:33:19 | |
This episode is an interview with my older brother, Vaughn Kimball. He has experience working with youth in many different capacities, and for this episode he's giving advice on being a volunteer coach for your kid's sports teams. | |||
| 007. If You Want to Do Something Nice For a Mother You Know | 02 May 2023 | 00:12:14 | |
| 006. Carol Kimball and Finding Meaningful Ways to Serve While Raising a Family | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:37:47 | |
Today's episode is extra special...because I interviewed my Mom! I love my Mother and she is where I often go for advice and encouragement, especially with my own mothering journey. She's lived a full life and has been a great example to me of finding ways to serve, advocate, and be an integral part of her community, while also raising a large family. | |||
| 005. Amanda Webb and Volunteering in Your Child's School | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:24:25 | |
Amanda Webb has regularly volunteered at her children's elementary school for several years. She's helped in a myriad of ways including serving as PTA President, to being a Room Mom, to organizing the Book Fair. She has great advice and insights to share on the 'whys' for giving time in the schools as a parent and community member, and also some ideas for how anyone can be involved in their children's school. | |||
| 004. Using a 'Thank You' to Engage In Service | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:19:41 | |
For this week's solo episode, I address the 'elephant in the room' and remind everyone that my end goal for anyone listening to this podcast is to feel uplifted and inspired. I also talk about how utilizing a genuine 'Thank You' can be a great way to stay engaged with service or in your community when you don't have as much time or resources to give. | |||
| 003. Ellen-Anita Olson and 'Little Free Libraries' | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:19:35 | |
Ellen-Anita Olson is an avid reader and lover of good books. She has used that passion to serve others for the past 9 years through Little Free Libraries. Hear about her experiences and how she's been able to act on her goal of making books more available to children and families in the communities she serves. | |||
| 002. Judy Draper and 'Quilts for Comfort' | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:27:51 | |
Judy Draper has been sewing with the organization 'Quilts for Comfort' for the last 15 years. Hear all about how she's turned her love of sewing into serving the people and organizations in her community. If you've ever wanted to serve through sewing, she has tips for you as well. | |||
| 001. Introduction to the 'Do Something More' Podcast | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:12:12 | |
Hear the 'why' behind the Do Something More Podcast and also learn a little bit about the host, Melissa Draper. | |||
| 99. ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah’ and Creating and Supporting Mentoring Relationships to Empower Youth (with President and CEO, Jill Sundstrom) | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:27:28 | |
'Big Brothers Big Sisters' began over 100 years ago as an alternative to the juvenile justice system when a group of adults realized they could help vulnerable kids by giving them connection and meaningful relationships. Now with over 230 chapters in the United States, they have many programs to help youth reach their full potential in a variety of ways. On this episode I feature Jill Sundstrom, who is the President and CEO of 'Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah'. She shares some great stories and outcomes that show the impact this organization is having on the ‘bigs’ who volunteer with them and the ‘littles’ who they support. Listen to this episode to hear the many ways anyone can get involved in supporting the children and youth in your community. Or if you are part of a nonprofit, you might hear some great ideas for how you can continue to grow and evolve so you can not only help the people you serve, but give more opportunities for others to volunteer with your organization. Links mentioned in this episode: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 98. ‘Royal Family Kids Camp’ and Hosting Fun and Uplifting Summer Camps for Children in Foster Care (with Camp Director, Kenra Keddington) | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:29:33 | |
Kenra Keddington has been a Camp Director for Royal Family Kids Camp for 22 years. These are week-long summer camps for 7 to 11 year old foster kids. Kenra says their main goal every year is to pour love and connection into each participant and give them the chance to just be a kid again. The camps are 100% volunteer run, with some of their volunteers being previous camp attendees who return as teenagers to help create those same experiences they enjoyed as kids. Kenra shares some really sweet stories in this episode and gives the beautiful reminder that anyone can do something to help uplift the most vulnerable in our communities. Links mentioned in episode: For the Children: Royal Family Kids Camps Royal Family Kids Camp Salt Lake City Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 97. ‘I Love You, Bro Project’ and Supporting Men Through Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs (with Founder and CEO, Joe Tuia'ana) | 14 May 2025 | 00:37:50 | |
The story of Joe Tuia’ana’s nonprofit begins after he had the opportunity to help a man in a suicide crisis and literally love him off the ledge. After that experience, he learned that there weren’t any resources for men’s mental health and suicide prevention where he lived, so he decided to start creating them. Now he runs his nonprofit the ‘I Love You, Bro Project,’ where they sponsor support groups and hold workshops for men to help them find connection and purpose as they navigate mental health challenges. Joe’s heart and sincerity in the work he does really comes through in this episode and it left me feeling motivated to make sure I’m connecting and lifting up the good men in my life. Listen to hear more of Joe’s story and about the good, and necessary, work he is doing. Links mentioned in the episode: Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 96. ‘Utah County Search and Rescue’ and Answering the Call for Help (with volunteer, Deb Yokshas) | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:36:49 | |
Deb Yokshas is a volunteer with Utah County Search and Rescue, who handle all outdoor search and rescue operations in the county. Not only is their team of rescuers 100% volunteer, but they also each pay thousands of dollars of their own money to be certified and have the right personal gear. These are people who are committed on a whole new level to helping and serving in their community. Deb tells some great stories in this podcast about some of her experiences (I think she’s the kind of person you would love to talk to at a party and just listen to all the stories she has to share). She also talks about her own journey of joining Search and Rescue and the skills it takes to be part of the team. I promise after listening to this episode you will want to personally go find a first responder volunteer in your community and thank them for the good and tireless work they do! Links mentioned in the episode: Utah County Search and Rescue Website Utah County Search and Rescue Instagram Utah County Search and Rescue Facebook Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 95. Support a Cause That Matters To You By Running a 5k | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:24:53 | |
Training for and running a 5k can not only be a great goal to accomplish…but also a way to champion the causes you feel passionate about. Many nonprofits and other organizations use 5ks to create awareness and raise funds to support the work they do. In this episode I’m giving tips and encouragement so that the next time you see a 5k for a cause that matters to you, you can go and participate with full confidence. Give it a listen and be inspired to sign up for a race this summer. Links mentioned in the episode: Hal Higdon's Training Programs Episode 18: Abby Whiting and Organizing Her 'Physical Health for Mental Health' Run Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 94. ‘Choose Kindness PG’ and Promoting a Culture of Kindness and Service within Their City (with Co-Chairs, Rebecca Cardon and Ruth Horsley) | 16 Apr 2025 | 00:29:29 | |
‘Choose Kindness PG’ is a nonprofit located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It all started after some citizens felt there was division in their community. They went to the city council proposing a plan to promote a culture of kindness and service in their city. It began with organizing kindness clubs in the local schools, and spread from there to community events, and now they also celebrate a ‘Choose Kindness’ month in February. My guests on this episode of the podcast, Rebecca Cardon and Ruth Horsley, are the current co-chairs of ‘Choose Kindness PG.’ They share some great stories and experiences they’ve had while volunteering with this nonprofit, and also give a lot of fantastic ideas anyone could use to incorporate a similar movement in their own city. Division and discord is unfortunately too commonplace in our society right now, but organizations like this one and people like Rebecca and Ruth are proving that we have the power to change that within our own communities, one person and one small act of kindness or service at a time. Links mentioned in the episode: We've Been Loved Service Project Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 93. ‘Fish for Garbage’ and Taking Care of Waterways through Organized Trash Cleanups and Education (with President, Jared Winkler) | 09 Apr 2025 | 00:27:28 | |
'Fish for Garbage' is a nonprofit that was organized by a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts who noticed significant amounts of trash littering stream banks and lakeshores of popular fishing locations in Utah. They started by encouraging local anglers to collect garbage each time they went out fishing, and then began organizing official events inviting volunteers and locals to come help pick up trash. Now they organize around six cleanups every year in the spring and summer that mobilize hundreds of volunteers all over the state. They recently reached the impressive milestone of removing over 100,000 pounds of garbage since their first beginnings in 2015. My guest on this episode is Jared Winkler, the President of 'Fish for Garbage'. He tells a little more about the work they do with educating kids and others about taking stewardship for the outdoors, and at the very end I had him share some of the most ‘interesting’ things they’ve found in all the cleanups he’s been a part of. With the weather warming up and all of us spending more time outside, this is a great episode to remind everyone that picking up a little trash truly can make a difference. Give it a listen and you might even feel inspired to host your own local cleanup. Links mentioned in the episode: Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 92. Rebroadcast: The Power of a Compliment | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:14:41 | |
Looking for a very doable but also impactful way to serve someone around you today? Consider giving a genuine compliment, to a stranger or someone you know. It doesn’t need to feel forced either. Just take the good thoughts you’ve already had about somebody else, and have the courage to share them. You can do it through text, in person, or even write them a note. I originally aired this episode in August of 2023, but I wanted to share it again because in it I tell a cool experience I had several years ago that taught me the true power a compliment can have. Giving a genuine compliment really is a beautiful way ANYONE can serve. Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 91. ‘Turtle Shelter Project’ and Bringing Warmth and Hope to Homeless Individuals with Handmade and High Tech Vests (with Founder and Executive Director, Jen Spencer) | 26 Mar 2025 | 00:33:24 | |
Trigger warning: this episode mentions suicide Jen Spencer had spent 20 years as a meth addict and was living on the streets of Ogden, Utah during a particularly cold and bitter winter. She remembers the feeling of cold completely overwhelmed her, zapping her energy and even her will to live. During a particularly dark and broken moment, she decided to reach out to God in prayer. The answer she received during that prayer helped her to start a rehab program. Only three months into her recovery she learned about the technology of foam clothing and instantly knew this was something that could help many in the homeless population. It took a few years, but she was finally able to find affordable ways to use this technology and design a vest that could be given to homeless individuals. That was the beginning of her nonprofit, the ‘Turtle Shelter Project.’ Now through organized service events they are able to create and distribute over 1500 vests each year, but as Jen says it’s not really about the numbers. It’s about helping people be able to make the choice to stay one more day so they can find hope, healing, and recovery. Listen to this episode to hear Jen share her story, her relationship with God, and how she knows He has helped direct her every step of the way. Links mentioned in the episode: Turtle Shelter Project Website Turtle Shelter Project Instagram Turtle Shelter Project Facebook Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 108. Why You Should Make Service Part of Your Family’s Holiday Traditions (and Ideas to Make It Happen) | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:30:08 | |
The holiday season can be busy and full—but it can also be deeply meaningful. In this solo episode I'm sharing why the holidays are the ideal time to build service into your family traditions, and how simple acts of kindness can bring more joy, connection, and purpose to this time of year. You’ll learn realistic, doable ways to serve together as a family—whether you have toddlers, teens, or grown children. I also share lots of stories and give many meaningful ideas that you can easily fit to your own family and create memories that will last. If you’ve been wanting a holiday season that feels more connected, more grounded, and more meaningful—I hope after listening to this episode you will be inspired for how you can use service traditions to make it happen. Links mentioned in the episode: Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 90. ‘The Crayon Initiative’ and Recycling Old Crayons into New Ones for Kids at Children’s Hospitals (with Founder and President, Bryan Ware) | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:26:31 | |
Bryan Ware was out to dinner with his family one night when he wondered, could someone do something with all the restaurant crayons kids use and repurpose them? After pondering that question for a couple years and doing a little research, he finally started his nonprofit ‘The Crayon Initiative.’ Using his manufacturing background, he slowly figured out a way to collect recycled crayons, remake them into new crayons with a unique design, and donate those new boxes to children’s hospitals all over the country for sick kids to use. At the end of this month, March 2025, ‘The Crayon Initiative’ will celebrate 1,000,000 boxes distributed. That’s a pretty amazing feat for something that started with just a simple idea. Listen to this episode to learn from Bryan about how his nonprofit is able to navigate all the logistics of what they do, and also get the reminder that what can feel like failure is really an opportunity to learn and move forward. Links mentioned in the episode: The Crayon Initiative Instagram The Crayon Initiative Facebook Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 89. How to Make Donating a Regular Part of Your Life (Even When You Feel Like You Don’t Have Much to Give) | 12 Mar 2025 | 00:16:06 | |
Giving of our time and volunteering is important and a great way to serve in our communities, but in this episode I’m switching my focus just a little bit and talking about how important it is to donate money and physical goods as well…especially to the nonprofits in our community. Donations, large and small, are their lifeblood and they are truly appreciative of any amount someone can give. I’m sharing a few tips on how anyone can make donating a regular part of their life by learning how to take advantage of opportunities that pop up every day. These can work even if you feel like you only have small amounts to give, because truly every little bit helps. I know that it is important to many people to be able to donate to the causes that matter to them. I hope this episode can give you some simple ideas on how to make it happen. Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 88. ‘Birthday Box Foundation’ and Making it Possible for Every Child to Celebrate Their Birthday (with Founder and Executive Director, Emily Buss) | 05 Mar 2025 | 00:28:33 | |
While navigating her husband’s sudden job loss, Emily Buss wanted to still be able to provide a fun birthday for her daughters…but after looking around for community resources didn’t know how she could do it. A friend ended up anonymously sharing a list with the community, and packages started arriving on Emily’s doorstep…even down to the cute cat napkins her daughter had requested. From there Emily realized there was a real need in the community to provide birthday supplies to other families walking through difficult times, and that was the beginning of her nonprofit, The Birthday Box Foundation. Emily shares some sweet stories of those who have served the foundation and those who have been recipients of their birthday boxes. She also has a lot of great insights and advice for anyone starting their own nonprofit. The Birthday Box Foundation truly believes that birthdays are more than just cake and balloons, but a cornerstone of childhood memories. And they are committed to helping families be able to make those memories together, even in the toughest of times. Links mentioned in the episode: Birthday Box Foundation Website Birthday Box Foundation Instagram Birthday Box Foundation Facebook Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 87. ‘Kindness Through Letters’ and Spreading Love and Encouragement Through Thousands of Letters (with Allison Bond) | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:19:11 | |
Allison Bond is 28 years old, has cerebral palsy, and lives in Lincoln, Arkansas. During the COVID pandemic she decided she wanted to do something to make a difference and started writing letters to various people. Several years and almost 6,000 letters later…she’s touched a lot of people and lives. She writes to individuals in many different situations…people in prison or serving in the military to people affected by natural disasters or even people in her own community. This candid conversation is a great reminder that anyone truly can make a difference. Hear about some of Allison’s experiences and why she thinks we should treat others with kindness no matter the situation. Links mentioned in the episode: Kindness Through Letters Instagram Kindness Through Letters Facebook Kindness Through Letters Amazon List Kindness Through Letters PayPal Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 86. Phrases You Can Use When You Want to Help Someone | 19 Feb 2025 | 00:22:35 | |
I think many of us have found ourselves in a moment where we felt like we wanted to offer our service, or help, or assistance to someone…but we weren’t quite sure what to say or do. This is a topic I have pondered and studied for the last 7-8 years. I’ve even kept pages in notebooks where I’ve written down phrases and questions I have heard others use when they were trying to offer service or help to someone. So this episode is my attempt to share a small piece of that wisdom and advice. These questions and phrases I share have helped me to reach out to others, and I hope they can help you as well. I do emphasize in the beginning of the episode, offering assistance and help to people is a skill! And just like many other skills you have to practice to get better at it. So my ultimate advice is to not worry too much about what to say when you see a situation where someone could use your help, just step in and do it! Give it a try. Don’t let fear and apprehension keep you from giving the service that is so uniquely yours to give. Links mentioned in the episode: Episode 66: Using Service to Cope With Grief with Camber Hess Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 85. ‘Joyful Welcome’ and Supplying Essential Baby Items to Newborns and their Mothers (with Chair, Brenda Sanford) | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:23:01 | |
‘Joyful Welcome’ started after the founder saw a father leaving the hospital with his new baby wrapped in his coat. She decided to start making welcome kits with essential baby items for newborns and their families and distributing them to her local hospital. My guest, Brenda Sanford, is now the chair of ‘Joyful Welcome’. She learned about what they do at a local church meeting, and felt inspired to start volunteering. It was a short time later when the founder thought she might have to shut down her nonprofit, and Brenda courageously stepped into the role of leading ‘Joyful Welcome’ and keeping it going. One of the theme’s of this episode is finding joy in quiet service, and that is most definitely what Brenda and her fellow volunteers do. They’re a small but mighty group of beautiful grandma’s who meet weekly to assemble these gifts that they now distribute to 14 different hospitals. I also loved learning from Brenda many different ideas for how smaller groups and nonprofits like hers can raise money or get donations for their cause. Listen to be inspired and truly see that even a small group of people can help others in beautiful ways. Links mentioned in the episode: Joyful Welcome Amazon Registry for Donations Joyful Welcome Target Registry for Donations Smith's Inspiring Donations Program Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 84. ‘My Story Matters’ and Promoting Healing and Inspiring Hope Through the Recording of Personal Stories (with Founder and Executive Director, Amy Chandler) | 05 Feb 2025 | 00:31:44 | |
One of Amy Chandler’s missions with her nonprofit is to be a catapult for lasting transformation. She is the Founder and Executive Director of 'My Story Matters' and they’ve developed courses to help people take ownership of their story and have the tools they need to live with intention and create real change in their lives. Amy emphasizes that their curriculum is really for anyone, but she’s had the opportunity to lead these courses in many places, including the prison system. Amy currently visits the prison three days a week, and some of the stories she shares about her experiences there are beautiful and touching. Listen to this episode to learn more about 'My Story Matters' and why they truly believe everyone deserves a path to second chances. Links mentioned in the episode: Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 83. Using the Power of Community to Serve | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:13:53 | |
Service is a great tool for building a sense of community…and we can also use our communities to serve in big ways. In this episode I’m sharing some ideas I’ve seen from different organizations and people and how they use the power of gathering people together to serve and lift in many beautiful ways. I also give my thoughts on why using this power of community to serve with our families is a good idea too. Listen and you might hear an idea that could help you, your family, or your own nonprofit. | |||
| 82. 'Let Grow' and Helping Parents and Communities Foster Independence In Kids (with Co-Founder, Lenore Skenazy) | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:37:25 | |
She’s been in media outlets all over the U.S. championing the ‘free range kids’ movement, and I feel honored to have the opportunity to feature Lenore Skenazy on this episode of the podcast. Lenore shares how she became the standard bearer for this idea of helping parents foster growth in their kids by allowing them to have independent experiences. We also talk about the nonprofit she co-founded called ‘Let Grow.’ Its goal is to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids the independence they need to grow into capable, confident and happy adults. Lenore obviously feels so passionate about this cause and I love how it comes through in this conversation. I was enlightened and felt empowered after our interview, and I know anyone who listens will be too. | |||
| 81. 'Be A Little Too Kind' and Providing Homeless Individuals Hot Meals Each Week (with Founder, Jessica Lowe) | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:32:25 | |
As a culinary student at a school in downtown Salt Lake City, Jessica Lowe realized that instead of throwing out the food they prepared each week, she and her classmates could share it with the homeless people they often saw on their way to and from class. And that’s exactly what she started to do and continued to do for several weeks. After the class was finished, Jessica realized she wanted to keep serving food and meals, and her nonprofit 'A Little Too Kind' was born. Now each Thursday, she serves 130 hot meals, hands out 100-120 sack lunches, and also delivers other necessities to her ‘homies’ as she calls them. She prepares the hot meals herself, and invites others to help with the sack lunches and other items. I originally found Jessica on her Instagram account. The experiences she relates and her desire to share the love of God with all those she meets is so inspiring. Listen to this episode to hear more of her story and how she uses her experiences to share goodness in many ways. | |||
| 107. ‘Unified Sports’ and Promoting Social Inclusion Through Shared Sports Competition for Students With and Without Disabilities (with Teacher and Coach Haylee Whiteley) | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:29:09 | |
What if one program could transform an entire school’s culture—helping students with and without disabilities build real friendships, learn teamwork, and create a spirit of belonging? That’s exactly what Unified Sports is doing. It’s a high school program run through the Special Olympics that brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together to play in sports competitions—and it’s creating ripple effects of kindness and inclusion in high schools all over the nation. In this episode, I sit down with Haylee Whiteley, the Unified Sports coach and a special education teacher at Salem Hills High School. Haylee explains how this program functions, she shares stories that illustrate how it has completely transformed their school community, and gives many ideas for how others can start Unified Sports in their own schools or towns. Haylee's passion, heart, and all the hours of good service she's spent are evident throughout this episode, and it left me feeling so grateful for the good work people like her do in many of our school communities. Links mentioned in the episode: Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 80. Cindy Trussel with 'Lighthouse Charities' and Assisting and Empowering Refugee and Immigrant Families | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:40:05 | |
Cindy Trussel describes herself as a ‘doer’ and a hard worker. She likes to solve problems and has used that tenacity in many ways to serve and lift those around her. She came to the United States from Australia with her family as a young girl and knows what it’s like to navigate a new country and culture. After raising five biological children and then adopting three more, she felt pulled to the nonprofit world. She was involved in different ways and eventually found her life’s calling working with refugee and immigrant families. Now with the nonprofit she founded, Lighthouse Charities, their ultimate mission is to help the vulnerable and displaced be self-sufficient and empower them to achieve their own goals and dreams and be integral members of society. Cindy talks about the workplace programs she initiated with her nonprofit that now function as full businesses to help refugees gain reading, writing, and job skills. She also shares some tender stories of women who have been displaced by war and, after coming to the U.S., found their way to Lighthouse Charities and were able to gain work and language skills through their programs. As you can imagine, Cindy is an inspiring woman to talk to. You can feel the heart and passion for what she does. Listen to this episode to not only learn more about Lighthouse Charities, but to hear her own story and journey toward helping the thousands of people that have come her way. | |||
| 79. 'Light the World' Through Simple Acts of Kindness and Service | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:16:11 | |
It's the Christmas season and many of us are busy with to do lists and hoping to make this time a fun and magical one for our families and those around us. But today I am going to be sharing simple ideas on how you can 'Light the World' with simple acts of kindness and service. | |||
| 78. Chauncy and Kelli Johnson with ‘Snow Angel Foundation’ and Preventing Ski and Snowboard Collisions So Everyone Can Ride Another Day | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:36:57 | |
Chauncy and Kelli Johnson experienced tragedy on Christmas Eve in 2010 after a snowboarder collided with Kelli and their five-year-old daughter, Elise, while they were skiing. Elise and the snowboarder both ended up passing away, and Kelli spent several months recovering from a traumatic brain injury. It was because of these experiences and the passion they have had for skiing their whole lives that they decided to start their 'Snow Angel Foundation'. With this foundation they began the campaign ‘Ride Another Day’ to encourage safety and awareness for skiers and snowboarders and others recreating in the outdoors. They’ve taken their story and message around the country to ski resorts and classrooms to help educate others on the importance of being aware of personal behavior while recreating and being a good influence on those around you. We’re starting ski and snowboard season and I thought this message was an important one to help share, but I also wanted to share Chauncy and Kelli’s story of resilience through tragedy and how they’ve decided to use their hard experiences to help teach and educate others. Listen to this episode to learn more about them and the ‘Snow Angel Foundation.’
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| 77. A Simple Way to Serve Others By Expressing Gratitude | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:18:39 | |
Everyone needs to feel at times like they matter or that what they do matters. Expressing gratitude to those around us for the ways they have helped us and inspired us can be a beautiful way of helping others feel seen and loved…but it can also be a simple and profound way to serve. Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 76. Jacquelynn Sokol and Emily Larsen with the Springville Museum of Art and Fostering Beauty and Contemplation Through Life-Affirming Art and Experience | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:30:21 | |
This week is unique for the podcast because I’m featuring a museum for the first time…the Springville Museum of Art. My guests Jacquelynn Sokol and Emily Larsen both work for the museum and they share some great thoughts about the power of art and the museum’s mission to make art accessible to everyone in their community. They share about the many programs the museum does, and also about some of the unique and long-running exhibits they do each year. I especially loved the message shared at the end of this episode. This museum was started as an act of generosity to the community by two artists, and over a hundred years later it has truly served thousands, and even millions, of people in multiple ways. You never really know where one simple act of kindness and generosity can lead. Listen to the podcast to learn more and be inspired to visit an art museum in your own community. | |||
| 75. Holly Christensen with 'The Magic Yarn Project' and Making Fun Character Wigs for Children Experiencing Hair Loss from Cancer Treatments | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:34:34 | |
Holly Christensen is a wife and homeschooling mom of three children, running her nonprofit ‘The Magic Yarn Project’ from her home. It all started several years ago when she decided to make a soft Rapunzel wig for a friend’s little girl who had been diagnosed with cancer. The wig was a hit…and Holly then started making more wigs for her local hospital, and from there her nonprofit took off. They’ve now delivered over 60,000 wigs to all 50 states and 52 countries around the world. I loved this interview because Holly really shares some personal and tender stories. And she talks about The Magic Yarn Project's two-fold mission… to not only provide these fun character wigs and beanies to children experiencing hair loss because of cancer treatments or other conditions, but also their desire to give others the opportunity to experience the benefits of service and giving back. Holly truly lives by the motto of ‘I can’t do everything, but I can do something.’ Listen to this episode to be inspired by her story and also be reminded that even small acts of love can make a difference. | |||
| 74. If You Want to Help After a Natural Disaster | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:15:25 | |
With Hurricanes Helene and Milton that have recently hit the United States, the topic of how to help after a natural disaster is at the forefront of many people’s minds. In this episode I’m sharing just a few ideas of ways you can serve and support communities that have experienced a natural disaster. | |||
| 73. Mckell Draper and Being a Service Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:33:17 | |
This week on the podcast I am featuring my niece, Mckell Draper. Mckell is currently serving as a service missionary for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a service missionary, she is dedicating 18 months to full time service at a variety of church and community organizations. Mckell takes us through what a typical day and week look like for her, she shares about some of the service sites she gets to work at, and she tells some really touching stories of times she’s been able to connect with and lift people one on one. | |||
| 72. Ashlee Taylor with ‘The Refuge Utah’ and Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | 08 Oct 2024 | 00:33:21 | |
Ashlee Taylor has worked with nonprofits for her entire career and she now serves as the Executive Director of The Refuge Utah, a center that assists victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. This can be a sensitive topic to cover, but I think an essential one as well. I really appreciated the ways Ashlee shared about the variety of services they offer, the real needs their center is actively fulfilling in their community, and even the stories of some of the people they’ve been able to help. I love how Ashlee shares that one of her biggest why’s for what she does is to better her community by strengthening families, and helping to make sure more children can grow up in homes that are healthy and safe. Listen to this interview to learn more about the good and necessary work The Refuge does and the many different ways they fulfill their mission of empowering those who come to them for help. | |||
| 71. Ideas for Serving in Our Schools and Why It Matters | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:30:45 | |
It’s that time of year when many families are finally getting settled into their school routine and schedule. Life can be busy! Running kids around, balancing many responsibilities in and outside our homes, and keeping up with all that life has to offer. So with this episode I wanted to take a minute to give the reminder that volunteering in our children’s schools is a great way for parents…and even grandparents…to serve and make a difference! | |||
| 106. 'Tabitha's Way Food Pantry' and Helping People Through Tough Times by Providing Temporary Food Assistance (with Founder and Executive Director Wendy Osborne) | 23 Oct 2025 | 00:31:07 | |
Food pantries and food banks across the United States are seeing record levels of demand right now for so many reasons — if you’ve ever felt that tug to volunteer, donate, or somehow get involved, now truly is the time. That’s why I’m resharing this meaningful episode that originally aired in February 2024 featuring 'Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry' and its Founder and Executive Director, Wendy Osborne. Wendy has spent years leading efforts to help families in need, and in our conversation she gives a thoughtful look into how food pantries operate, what food insecurity can really look like, and how strong communities make strong food pantries. This episode feels especially important right now — food insecurity is a solvable problem, and every one of us can play a part in helping ensure no neighbor goes hungry. Links mentioned in episode: Tabitha's Way Food Pantry Website Tabitha's Way Food Pantry Instagram Tabitha's Way Food Pantry Facebook Follow the podcast on social media: | |||
| 70. Danielle Simko with 'Lead with Light' and Teaching Others to Become Effective Leaders Through Service | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:26:24 | |
Danielle Simko graduated from high school this last May and along with everything else that you can imagine a busy senior doing, she also competed in her local city’s pageant with the Miss America organization. | |||
| 69. Anadine Marshall with 'Charity Vision' and Restoring Curable Sight Impairment Worldwide | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:34:37 | |
Anadine Marshall has done work with many nonprofits in a variety of ways…and right now she’s serving as the Programs Director with the nonprofit Charity Vision. I was so inspired by this nonprofit and the work they do to not only restore curable sight impairment worldwide…but also the goal they have of empowering the communities they work with to be self-sustaining and giving them the tools they need to facilitate their own solutions for the work of giving vision care. Anadine talks about the Sight Buddies program that Charity Vision runs here in the U.S. and in other countries, and she gives some insights and tells inspiring stories about the cataract surgeries and other services they help physicians provide all over the globe. And I loved her final message that the ultimate goal for any non-profit or really anyone trying to help and do good…should be not to enable people, but to empower and give them the extra bump or nudge they need so they can then help themselves. Listen to the episode to learn more about this inspiring nonprofit, Charity Vision. | |||
| 68. Participating in the National Day of Service on September 11 | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:14:57 | |
In the United States, September 11 has been officially recognized and established under federal law as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Organizations all over the nation…including nonprofits, employers, faith and religious groups, cities and schools…organize projects and use this day to encourage the people of our nation to serve and reach out to others. On today’s episode I’m giving you just a little background on this day and also some ideas for how you can participate. Links mentioned in the episode: | |||
| 67. Rebroadcast: Amy Francis with 'Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs' and Providing Health, Hope, and Healing to the Community with Therapy Dogs | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:36:10 | |
Amy Francis is the Founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs. They are a non-profit that offers training and certification of dogs, as well as connecting dog handlers with service opportunities in the community. Therapy dogs are a little different than service animals. While they are working dogs, instead of providing a service to one individual, they are used to serve and provide therapy in a myriad of different ways to many different people. That is one of the things I loved learning about this non-profit. Their therapy dogs are involved in the community in so many different ways! From schools and education, to the elderly, outreach programs, hospitals, one-on-one interaction, and community events. Amy also shares some especially touching stories about all the good they get to see the dogs and handlers do. This episode originally aired November 15, 2023. I wanted to share it again because it’s a great reminder about how anyone, even our furry friends, can serve and help others in their own community. | |||
| 66. Rebroadcast: Camber Hess, Using Service to Cope with Grief and Her 'Infant Loss Stories' Project | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:40:56 | |
This podcast episode is a sweet and tender interview with my husband’s cousin, Camber Hess. Camber lost one of her daughters as an infant several years ago, and has also experienced infertility and miscarriage. In this episode she talks about those experiences, and shares how receiving heartfelt service from others helped her cope with her grief. I really appreciate how she also gave genuine and simple ideas anyone can use to help them serve and be a support to those they might know currently walking through grief. Camber also relates how reaching out and giving service to others has been another way to help her navigate those losses in her own life. At the end of the episode she shares about her ‘Infant Loss Stories’ project and website, where she hopes to provide a safe space for women to share their own unique stories with infertility, miscarriage, and infant loss. This really is a beautiful interview that originally aired October 3, 2023. I’m so grateful to Camber for being willing to come on the podcast and be so open with her own story and wanted to share it again for anyone that might benefit from hearing what she has to say. | |||