08/11/2026
Hey thanks Bellah for your kind words!
“Today I had the privilege of volunteering at my favorite Jump Start back to school event for children in our community for the third year. We were able to help families pick out clothes, school supplies, receive hair cuts, and so much more.
To some, it may have looked like backpacks, notebooks, and new shoes but to me, it looked like hope.
I grew up in a home where money was scarce. New school clothes were a luxury we rarely had, and school supplies were often pieced together however they could be. I know what it feels like to walk into a classroom hoping no one notices your shoes are too small or that your backpack has seen better days. I know how heavy those invisible burdens can feel for a child.
Today wasn't just about volunteering.
It was standing on the other side of a story I once lived. It was getting to help a child walk into a new school year with a little more confidence and a little less worry. It was seeing parents exhale, even if just for a moment, because someone reminded them they weren't carrying it all alone.
The older I get, the more I realize that kindness has a way of traveling through generations. Someone may not remember who handed them the backpack, but they'll remember how it felt to be seen. Today, I wasn't just giving back. I was honoring the little girl I used to be and hoping that somewhere in that crowd, another little girl or boy walked away believing that brighter days are possible.
If you've ever wondered whether volunteering matters, I promise you it does. Sometimes the greatest gift isn't what you hand someone, it's reminding them that their community hasn't forgotten them. ❤️”
