Do Something More-Nonprofit Spotlights & Ways to Serve Your Community

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My guest on the podcast this week is Amy Francis, 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. Listen to the podcast to learn more!

Links mentioned in the show:
Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs Website
Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs Instagram
Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs Facebook

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Today for the podcast I'm sharing a few thoughts on choosing an abundance mindset and the benefits of establishing a regular ritual for expressing gratitude. And of course, I talk about how that's all connected to service and giving back! Listen to the episode to get some inspiration on how you can start having more of an abundance mindset in your life.

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The 'Revolving Closet' is a community supported idea, where anyone can come to find children's clothes for their kids for free, and donate clothes as well. They are locally managed and overseen by individuals who run them out of their homes and do it all on a completely volunteer basis.

Brianna Call has been running a 'Revolving Closet' in Payson, Utah for several years after seeing a need in her own community and deciding to say 'yes.' She does it by appointment and holds all the clothes in her family's garage. Brianna's stories of some of the people she's been able to help and the need she's been able to fill are so inspiring, but I also appreciated how honest she was about the realities of running something like this and the things she has learned.

Listen to the podcast to hear more about the 'Revolving Closet' and the ways it's had a positive impact for Brianna and her community.

Links mentioned in the show:
Revolving Closet Payson Facebook
Revolving Closet Springville Facebook
Momivate Info on Revolving Closets

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I loved my conversation with Michelle Cox for this episode! Michelle helps parents find joy in parenting through building connection with their children and finding confidence in themselves. She offers classes and coaching through her company 'Build Family Connection,' and I'm so grateful she was willing to come on the podcast and share so many of her good insights and ideas.

In this episode, Michelle talks about building a culture of service in your family from so many different perspectives. She shares ways parents can find joy in serving their children, ways to encourage siblings to serve and help each other, and she also shares some great stories that show how just being good examples to our family members can help create a culture of service. This conversation made me feel like I was talking to a wise and close friend that wanted to help and encourage me with all the good I'm trying to do as a mother. Give it a listen and I'm sure you might hear something that inspires you!

Links mentioned in the podcast:
Build Family Connection website
Build Family Connection Instagram
Build Family Connection Facebook
Build Family Connection Podcast

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I spend a lot of time on this podcast talking about serving and giving in unique ways, but for today's episode I'm flipping it around and giving advice on how to be a better receiver. Admittedly, this is something I have struggled with myself in the past, but it's also something I've recognized I need to work on...because serving and receiving go hand in hand. Graciously receiving is just as important as serving. And we actually learn how to be better at serving and lifting others, when we practice being a good receiver too.

Listen to the podcast to hear my tips! And if this is something you have worked on as well, let me know how you have learned to be a better receiver. Comment on the social media pages and share your experiences.

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It started as a tradition Best Bagalwa and her husband did with their children. During the holidays and at other times, instead of giving presents or other things they would gather donations or buy necessities to send  to communities in Africa. But after a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and visiting some of the communities there, Best decided she wanted to start a foundation to address many of the tremendous needs she saw. She is now the CEO of the Bagalwa Foundation and they have initiated many projects to help with things like a Hope Center for Widows and Orphans, food production, education, clean water, and healthcare.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Best and what motivates her to do all she does with her foundation. I especially appreciated the time she took to educate about the real needs and reality so many face and how many of us can help meet those in even small and simple ways.

There were a few audio concerns with this podcast episode, but I still think it's a great episode with good inspiration and information.

Links mentioned in the podcast:
The Bagalwa Foundation
The Bagalwa Foundation-Instagram
The Bagalwa Foundation-Facebook
Best's Email: [email protected]

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This was such 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. Camber also relates how reaching out and giving service to others has been another way to help her navigate those losses. 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 was a beautiful interview and I’m so grateful to Camber for being willing to come on the podcast and be so open with her own story. Listen to this episode to hear all of her insights and please share it with anyone you know who might benefit from hearing what she has to say.

Links mentioned in the podcast:
'Infant Loss Stories' website
Melissa's story on the 'Infant Lost Stories' website

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I shared the quote in today's podcast title a couple weeks ago on a solo episode...and today I'm sharing the sweet story behind it!

Listen to the podcast to hear it and also get a gentle reminder that acting on the simple, good thoughts we have can truly make a difference.

Devotional talk mentioned in the podcast:
BYU Devotional February 2007

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While working as a health coach at a local university, Tanya Macdonald met many women who struggled with body image issues and realized a lot of them carried those from their youth and teenage years. She wanted to find a unique way to reach teen girls before they started developing things like physical insecurities or body shame. She organized her 'Embrace You' event to give a place for teenagers to have meaningful discussions and uplifting experiences about positive body image.

I was so impressed with Tanya's desire to act on the thoughts she had about wanting to make a difference with this event. And I loved hearing all the good suggestions she gave for anyone wanting to start discussions or create teaching moments about body image.

Listen to the podcast to learn more!

Tanya's website and social media:
Embrace You
Embrace You Facebook
Embrace You Instagram

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This week for the podcast I interviewed Jessica Farnsworth who helps run the Utah Valley chapter of '100 Women Who Care'. This organization takes crowd funding to a whole new awesome level! Members meet quarterly to choose non-profits in their local community to give their combined donations to. Each member commits to giving $100 each quarter, so their efforts together really do make a huge impact for these organizations and the people they serve.

Listen to the show to learn more about how this organization works, and also about some of the non-profits they've been able to help.

Links mentioned in the show:
100 Who Care Alliance
100 Women Who Care-Utah Valley
100 Who Care Alliance Instagram
100 Women Who Care-Utah Valley Instagram
100 Who Care Alliance Facebook
100 Women Who Care-Utah Valley Facebook

Non-profits mentioned in the show:
Holding Out Help
Exitus
My Story Matters
Ella Rises
Tabatha's Way

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