November 22, 2024 • 46 mins
Faith Schwalback is a dynamic and passionate individual, holding the roles of founder and board member at both Beverly's Angels and her eponymous company, Faith Schwalback. As a successful mastermind mentor and coach, she positively transforms lives on a daily basis. Faith's influence extends far beyond her immediate community, garnering recognition not only from local news but also on a national level. Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News interviewed her regarding the creation of The Kindness Squad, highlighting her unwavering dedication to community work and culture. In addition to her roles as an author and entrepreneur, Faith is a magnetic force and an inspirational motivational speaker.
As the driving force behind Beverly's Angels, Faith's vision and determination have played a pivotal role in the organization's growth and success. Her steadfast commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those in need has shaped the organization's core mission and values.
Guided by Faith's vision, Beverly's Angels is poised to sustain its significant impact, touching the lives of many and contributing to a brighter future for all.
TIMESTAMPS:
1. 🎄 The Christmas Eve miracle—501(c)(3) approved!: 00:00
2. ✨ Faith’s positive daily mindset: 02:14
3. 💇♀️ Salon culture: more than hair: 03:20
4. 👨👩👧 Her parents’ example of service: 05:57
5. 🦃 Thanksgiving tradition & honoring her mother: 07:06
6. 🧠 Dementia, mental health & a healing goodbye: 08:11
7. 💔 Challenges of caregiving at home: 09:47
8. 🔥 Mom vs fire alarm: a feisty final chapter: 10:56
9. 🧬 Finding strength in family traits: 11:27
10. 🧔 Host’s reflections on his father’s legacy: 12:01
11. 🪞 How love and memory live on: 13:40
12. 🎅 From used goods to gifts with dignity: 21:43
13. 😢 Boy’s reaction: “I don’t remember having anything new”: 22:46
14. 🌊 Hurricane Ian & helping the proud in crisis: 23:19
15. 🧡 Every gift must feel personal and loved: 23:49
16. 🎁 The beauty of intentional gift-giving: 24:21
17. 👧 The girl who asked Santa for rain boots: 25:22
18. 🕵️♂️ How tags are created to reflect true wishes: 26:23
19. 🧦 Why only brand-new items matter: 27:27
20. 🎒 Backpacks, sheets & real-life magic: 27:58
21. 🌐 How to nominate a family or donate: 28:34
22. 🤝 Partnering with vetted organizations: 29:04
23. 🌟 Volunteer options: elves, donors & connectors: 30:40
24. 🧸 The story of Benny the bear & the Kindness Squad: 34:58
25. 🩲 Kids speaking up about underwear poverty: 36:37
26. 📺 NBC News features the Kindness Squad: 37:10
27. 🚫 One person at a time—no “mass aid” model: 38:48
28. 🏠 End of lease: Beverly’s Angels to lose boutique space: 39:53
29. 🛍️ What to do with tags from salon trees: 40:56
30. 🎄 Christmas in July → year-round giving: 41:57
31. 🎯 Amazon wish list updated with real kid requests: 42:31
32. 📱 Call, text or use website to schedule drop-offs: 43:05
33. 🧥 Makeup & hoodies in high demand for teens: 44:07
34. 🪞 Helping kids feel good about themselves: 44:41
35. 🌈 Final thoughts on showing up for others: 45:12
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
So hi everyone and welcome.
Robert D'Alella here on thespotlight on good people.
And that's what we do.
We spotlight good people andgood things that are happening,
especially in a time periodwhere so much of the attention
is on what's not working andwhat's not good and what's
negative.
And we like to haveconversations about the good
(00:23):
things in life and the upliftingpositive things.
And you're one of those spiritsin the community that...
As I was reading about you andknow what your reputation is,
you have given your life in alot of ways to uplift people
around you, to transform thelives of people around you.
So I'm honored to say that todaywe have a very special guest,
(00:47):
the founder and board member atBeverly's Angels, Faith
Schwalbeck.
SPEAKER_03 (00:53):
Yes, thank you.
Welcome.
I'm so excited to be here.
And you're right, in the worldwe live in today, we need to
really focus on the things thatare positive and what's going
right.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
Yeah.
Yeah, it's so easy to just bedrawn.
I do it myself to be drawn towhat's not the negative, you
know, so it gets the mostattention everywhere and to...
to look for the positive orpositivity in things is really
just a cool thing.
And I loved what you're about.
I loved what your organizationis about.
(01:23):
And before we get started, Ialways like to ask this one
question.
Today, what's something thatmade you smile today?
SPEAKER_03 (01:30):
What made me smile today?
You know, I wake up hitting theground saying something magical
is going to happen every singleday.
I I don't care what's going on,I'm smiling in the morning.
But this in particular, I'vereally tried very hard to
collaborate with people with thesame mindset that I have.
(01:53):
And I found that that has beenchallenging because I really
want to align with people thatreally get it and want to give
back from their place of aheart, not from a place of I get
to be on an Instagram shout outpost.
So I think that's what made mesmile the brightest today was to
be in your presence, in yoursalon.
(02:15):
Then I come in here and it hasIt's just been a moving
experience.
I've been smiling since themoment I hit the door and I'll
be smiling for the rest of theday because of that.
SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
Awesome.
Awesome.
Well, great.
That is important to us, youknow, that we have this space
that, you know, we're a hairsalon.
That's what we do for business.
But I think we're more thanthat.
I want to be more than that,that literally when people come
here, they get something thatthey didn't know they needed
(02:45):
before.
But when they have it, it has abig impact on their life because
whether it's the love thateverybody's given on people, the
20 people when you walk in thatthey're loving on you, and I
hope that they are, ittransforms somebody's day.
So that when they leave theparking lot and somebody cuts
them off or the traffic's realbad, that they're just okay with
it and it's okay and they canforgive people and be fine with
(03:07):
the way life is or isn't all theway around.
SPEAKER_03 (03:10):
Well, I can tell you, I'm not currently a client
and I have to tell you from themoment your team reached out, it
has been an experience.
So I think that that's one thingto take from today is from the
moment, the first contact andevery person along the line of
your team really makes it anexperience.
Anybody can be hair salon and dohair, but you have your niche
(03:32):
and you're doing it with suchlove and kindness and
compassion.
It's a culture here that you'vecreated that's absolutely
beautiful that makes people wantto come back again.
Thank
SPEAKER_01 (03:42):
you.
Thank you.
I'm very blessed.
We're blessed with anextraordinary team.
And, you know, I'm blessed thatI get to walk in and then I get
to meet people like you, too,who are out there on a campaign
to make the world a better placein a lot of ways.
And that's kind of what wewanted to do.
SPEAKER_03 (03:59):
But don't forget here, you're the blessing.
It starts at the top.
It's the leadership that createsthe culture.
They are blessed to have you asmuch as you are blessed to have
them, which serves all of yourclients.
So it's one big blessing thatstarts from you.
SPEAKER_01 (04:12):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Thanks.
It's a real synergisticexperience for me.
I don't always wake up.
in that mindset.
And when I get around it, itkind of gets on me all the time.
You know, it's like, it'sinfectious when there's that
positivity and that good wayabout things, so.
SPEAKER_03 (04:28):
Mindset is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
Yeah, yeah.
And it's what I know you havecreated.
And it's, we're in that, I mean,it's November already and well
into November.
And it's that time of yearwhere, you know, that spirit of
giving is, you know, it's notalways there, but it's always a
reminder when you start to seethe red and you start to see,
(04:50):
you know, Starbucks switches,all the placards around, it's
red.
It's that time the cups go redand it's the lights start going
up and it's that time of year.
So I thought it, you know, aperfect opportunity for us to
get to know, for everyone to getto know a little bit about you,
your organization and what youguys are about.
So to start off, can you Share alittle bit about yourself.
(05:13):
Who are you?
SPEAKER_03 (05:14):
So my name is Faith.
I am happily married to my highschool sweetheart that I started
dating on my 16th birthday.
We started from very humblebeginnings.
My mom worked in admin most ofher life.
My dad was the public safetydirector in our hometown of
Ormond Beach, Florida.
And he really saw at youth riskas something to devote time to.
(05:38):
So he felt if he volunteered histime, he started the rec center
where was one of the people inour hometown.
If he had a place for kids to goafter school and he could do a
team environment that he couldnot be dealing with them later
on in life through jail andthrough lockup.
So I always saw him volunteeringmy whole life.
It was the season of it was flagfootball, then it was softball,
(05:59):
then it was basketball.
So I grew up in thatenvironment.
I'm very grateful to have seenit.
You don't realize when you're achild what's going on.
But I just have always felt thatway.
And I just wanted to give backand my mom Over the years, she
would always adopt a family forThanksgiving and she would cook
a homemade meal and she wouldjust anonymously drop it off at
(06:21):
our church.
And she did it for years andyears.
And when she started to decline,we helped her when she received
the ugly diagnosis of dementia.
We started doing it for her inher honor at the Alzheimer's
Resource Center that she used toattend.
And we did that the last threeyears and we would go and we
(06:42):
would make all of the trimmingsfor Thanksgiving the weekend
before.
And it was just a nod to mymom's what she gave back.
And we did that the last timethat she was able to in her
honor.
The following September, shepassed away.
And my girlfriend says, we'regoing back.
We're going to go do this forBeverly.
(07:03):
And we went and we served allthe ladies a beautiful
Thanksgiving.
We had this stuffed Tom theturkey.
They would go around and saywhat they're grateful for.
And that was that day.
Somebody said, you have to dothis.
And that was the moment ofserving that Thanksgiving meal
that Beverly's Angels was born.
Christmas Eve 2019, a yearlater, I got a present from the
(07:25):
IRS in the mailbox that was myofficial 501c3 status.
SPEAKER_01 (07:29):
Hmm.
Oh, wow.
So that's how it all began.
SPEAKER_03 (07:32):
That's how it all began.
And it began from my mom and Ihad a challenging relationship
my entire life.
I used to use the worddifficult, but I've changed my
mindset to challenging.
And I realized trying to get herthe help that she needed when
she had dementia, she hadundiagnosed mental health
issues.
And she was at the age where itwas taboo to get any help for
(07:53):
that.
So I started to realize thethings that I was so angry with
her about and the things that Ikept choosing to look at was her
flaws.
I was never looking at what her,what the positive side, like we
talked about earlier, right?
So I had the very good fortuneof right before she passed away,
a very dear friend helped me seethe light of all that my mom
(08:17):
was.
And I rushed to her bedside.
I put my hand on her back and Itold her how proud I was to be
her daughter, how she has beenamazing.
I gave her purpose for her life.
She had been hanging on andthat's Wow.
(08:49):
So,
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
yeah,
SPEAKER_03 (08:56):
that's beautiful.
(09:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
(09:49):
my mom was spunky she didn'tlike it she didn't have all of
her wits about her but she wassmart enough to get into trouble
she the first facility she wasat she was there less than 10
days the second one by two and ahalf weeks in the fire marshal
had been called to her fourtimes because she kept pulling
the fire alarm and the fourthtime he walked in the door and
(10:11):
she got in the fire marshal saidwas it her and my mom goes yep
it was me and he's like that'sit you're out of here so I can
try.
I can laugh about it, but ittook her.
She was at the hospital NCH for45 days because she was mobile.
And she had enough wits abouther that she could be dangerous
to herself and others.
(10:32):
So no one, no matter what thecost was, would take her.
And that was a really lowmoment.
I remember sitting in theparking lot, just crying that
nobody wanted my mom and theywould not let me take her home,
that we just didn't have theability.
So she was spunky until the veryend.
And I have that spirit ofwhatever it is, we're going to
make it work.
We're going to make it happen.
(10:52):
Whatever roadblock gets in frontof me, we're just going to bust
through.
So I now embrace all thosethings that were really good
about her.
And I've let go of all thethings that I wished she was.
SPEAKER_01 (11:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That happens.
I, I, I can really relate tothat.
My father and I had arelationship that could at times
be contentious.
He was, he was such a, he was anincredible pioneer and
entrepreneur and he would seethings that he saw one way.
(11:24):
And, He was visionary in that hewould see those things in the
ways, but it didn't always jivewith reality in the moment.
But he was looking so far ahead.
And at times that could be sofrustrating because we worked
together to see, you know, Ididn't see what he was seeing
yet.
And, you know, we would havethese battles a lot in business
together.
And it would frustrate me.
(11:46):
And I couldn't truly appreciatethat.
who he was and what he createdand and how legendary he was
until uh you know the end almostit's like when you start to see
like wow he had so many he wasso far ahead in where he was and
for me not always seeing um inin the moment being able to see
(12:08):
those and to honor and respectand love him for that but in the
end we uh you know he was he wassick for a long time in the end
and we He stayed at home and,you know, we got to send him to
heaven together as a family,which was a beautiful thing to
be able to do that.
And, you know, we completed witheach other.
There was nothing left unsaid.
(12:28):
He was ready to go.
And the experience was abeautiful thing.
But I also, you know, every daynow see all these little things
that he did and said and how,what...
what cherished special momentsthey were and who he was for me
was somebody who at the time youdon't necessarily appreciate.
You don't really know.
Like, wow, he is really lovingme and looking out for the best
(12:51):
for me and for all of us andjust didn't look like it at the
time.
And some people
SPEAKER_03 (12:55):
never get to that point and understand that.
So be grateful for that.
And they stay with us.
I hear my mom and my dad in myhead sometimes.
You know, those things that whenthey first, when they were doing
it, I was like, you're wrong.
You know, when we kneweverything, right?
And then as we become older andwiser, we realize, wow, they
really did know what they weretalking about.
And they really did want thebest for us.
(13:18):
And so we get to pull from that.
I have this bird that keepstrying to get in the house.
And my husband and I both arelike, there's Beverly.
She wants to send a messageabout something.
And then something will happen.
I'll be like, okay, that's whatit was.
And the bird goes away.
And then months will go by.
And then all of a sudden it'sback on that window again.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
You know, so it's just paying attention to those
things.
It's amazing when you're presentto those things, you see those
signs when you're actuallyaware, you have the awareness of
it.
You could see that that's,that's her, that's, that's it
happening.
That's him.
That's, there it is again.
And when you're here and now andable to be present and, you
know, taking in the moment, youcan be present that they are
(13:57):
there.
But for
SPEAKER_03 (13:58):
you to take somebody that was so legendary and
created such a legacy and lookwhat you have done, you have
expanded upon that.
So that is really beautiful andhard to do.
It's, it's hard for some tofollow in those, you know, the
shadows and those footsteps andyou've actually expanded and
found your own lane and made ityour own.
So that
SPEAKER_01 (14:18):
is really beautiful.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We, uh, you know, and wecomplimented each other well in
many ways cause I, I am, I'm abeauty school dropout.
I don't do hair.
I don't have hair.
Okay, Sandra Dee.
So it worked really well.
We were able to, you know,compliment each other
throughout, throughout our timetogether.
(14:38):
And, you know, as a familybusiness, which is always, which
is an entity in and of itself tobe in family and in business and
now working on a thirdgeneration and it takes, there's
other dynamics involved, but I,you know, gave me a lot of
opportunity, but more thananything I saw and what I love
and I'm so passionate about inour industry is that we get to
(15:00):
move and to really impactsomebody's life because yes, it
is hair, And some people say,well, it's not brain surgery,
but it impacts somebody'sfeelings about themselves.
It can have that kind of impact.
Right, right.
And when you add it alltogether, we can have a huge
impact on people in theireveryday life.
It's the one business where youget to actually touch somebody
(15:23):
And physically, in a way that'sokay, because you can't get to
the doctor's office.
They're like, they have theslider there.
And you're just, you know, it'slike you go there for treatment.
Here you come here for love.
And it's Disney World for moms.
So it's a special place forpeople.
And, you know, I think that whatyou're doing is an extension
that gives us an opportunityto...
(15:46):
because we're blessed.
We live in paradise.
We live in the greatest place onthe world.
I mean, Naples is just, Florida,Naples, the whole experience.
Like, where do you go onvacation from here?
It's just such a, you know, welive in such a great world and
are so blessed with the peoplethat we have around here and the
people in our community and the,you know, the pristine, perfect
streets and the restaurants.
And it's just a great spot.
(16:07):
And I know that you're doing alot of things to make sure that
the people who help support thiscommunity Those that serve us.
Those that serve, right, arealso taken care of because
without them, you know, we don'thave that community.
So there's such a necessity,especially with the cost of
living and the amount of moneyit costs to live and feed a
family here and to just, youknow, for those that aren't just
(16:32):
transients or aren't justseasonal residents here.
So I know you guys do some workwith those people, too, and we
want to partner up with you onthat.
So we'll talk more about that,too, because I definitely want
to.
collab with you on making surethose people are taken care of
too.
And in whatever way we cansupport you with that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:47):
Serving those that serve us.
That is just, um, you know, whenI started this, I had no cause
to champion.
I was looking for kindness and Iwas looking to heal and it has
been an amazing journey.
And I didn't think anybody wouldcome to me that didn't need help
that would abuse the system.
And you learn that there's areason why you have to have a
vetting system.
There's a reason why you have tohave applications.
(17:08):
It's not to deny people.
It's to make sure that thosethat are receiving the The
services deserve and should havethe services, right?
So I found...
It's very fulfilling to workwith businesses.
We kind of leaned our way intothis that actually are trying to
show appreciation back becausethere are people that serve our
community, the people that cutour grass, the people that are
cleaning the dishes in thekitchen and serving us and
(17:30):
housekeeping and all differentadmin, our police officers, our
firefighters.
They all can make a really goodwage that anywhere else in the
country would be a nice living.
But here in Naples, it is not.
So we want to be able to bridgethat gap.
and keep these quality peoplethat are these type A players
(17:51):
that we really need in all ofour businesses and serving us.
So we want to partner withbusinesses to be like, let's
show appreciation, right?
I'm most proud of one of thefirst recipients that I had,
Diana.
I helped her and her son backfive years ago when I started
Beverly's Angels.
And every year she would comeback and she would volunteer.
And last November, due tocircumstances beyond her
(18:14):
control, she lost her job andShe was volunteering a lot
during the holiday season.
And I found out that she was nolonger working.
And I was able to find a grant.
And she now is over ourfulfillment department, which is
wonderful because she knows howto receive what we give.
So she knows how to then give itto those that are receiving.
(18:36):
And it's done with beauty andgrace.
And it's not this, you're acharity case.
It is because we see you.
We love you.
We value you.
You are worthy.
Mm-hmm.
(19:17):
same thing.
When people look in the mirror,we help them like what they see.
So it's very similar than whatwe do, right?
We're here to serve.
We're servant leaders,obviously.
And that's what we're doing inour community.
We just do it in a littledifferent way, but together we
can collaborate and really makea tremendous impact on where we
live.
SPEAKER_01 (19:35):
Yeah.
So for people who don't know,what is What is the
organization?
What is Beverly's Angels?
So
SPEAKER_03 (19:42):
365 days out of the year, we do socks, pajamas, and
underwear in their favoritecolor or favorite character.
That is what we do most of thetime.
However, our signature project,which is really becoming
year-round, is our Dear Santacampaign.
And we kick booty when it comesto that.
We find out what they wouldreally be asking Santa for, and
(20:04):
we have these homemade sacksthat we work locally with
businesses and organizations andchurches and sewing groups that
make these sacks that for a lotof these kids become their gym
sack throughout the year.
So we learned quickly not tomake them in Christmas because
they're using them all yearlong.
And we stuff them with at leastfour to five toys of their
(20:24):
choice.
We give them pancake mix andsyrup for breakfast morning so
they have really the true spiritof the holiday.
We typically give them wrappingpaper instead of wrapping.
We want mom and dad to have thejoy of wrapping.
Now there's some that have timeBecause we've also learned it's
not only that finances are anunder-resourced here, it is
(20:45):
time.
Some people are working 14 hoursa day, then they're working a
second job, and they just don'thave the ability to wrap.
So for those particular cases,we wrap.
But those Santa stacks, theyhave stocking stuffers, they
have socks, pajamas, andunderwear.
They have sprinkle items.
They are really like Santa sawme, Santa knows me, Santa came
(21:06):
down that chimney and made surethat I was taken care of for
Christmas.
And how that all came about was,like I said earlier, I didn't
have a cause to champion.
I was the typical organizationthat started taking people's
things that I later learned arepeople's junk.
And they're not worthy of thepeople that I serve.
When someone comes to you incrisis or someone is referred to
(21:27):
you, the last thing you want todo is give them something that,
oh, this is outdated or this hasa stain or this is broken zipper
or the button doesn't work, butit's good enough.
Right.
Like that, I quickly learnedthat was not fulfilling to me.
And one day I had this littleboy.
He was eight years old, big, bigbrown eyes.
And I was working with him onsome clothing and I had received
(21:49):
some items from anotherorganization that was khaki
pants and they were folded withthe tag in a cellophane bag.
And I don't have children, so Istruggle a little bit with
sizes.
So I gave him a couple and I'mlike, let's go try these on.
And he stopped and he looked atme.
I really thought something waswrong.
He really didn't move for atleast about 30 seconds.
(22:10):
I'm like, are you okay?
And he looked up at me and hegoes, I never can get through
this.
He goes, I don't ever remembersomething being mine first.
And that was like, I have notgiven a used item a gently loved
item.
If it doesn't have a tag andit's not brand new, our
recipients don't get it.
(22:30):
And that just changed the wholeworld.
Fast forward, my team saw allthe people that were helping
from Hurricane Ian, people thathave never asked for help before
that just...
Right.
So.
(22:58):
That's really a pivotal.
You have pivotal points in yourentrepreneurial journey.
And that was one of them.
That little boy saying that hasbeen our slogan.
And since then, we only give newand not only do only give new.
We want to make sure it'ssomething that you're going to
love, not something here.
Something that you're going tobe like, this is my favorite.
That's what we want.
(23:18):
We want people, when they findtheir way to us, to truly feel
our presence and know that wesee them, we love them, we care
about them, and every one ofthem, no matter who you are, is
special.
SPEAKER_01 (23:28):
Yeah.
Oh, that's beautiful.
It makes me think, because thistime of year, we always go
through what we're going to buyall the people in our lives.
What are we going to get forthem?
And you know, you run out ofthings.
Like what could it be now?
(23:49):
Everybody kind of has, I mean,we're in an Amazon world where
you have whatever you want,whenever you want now, like
right away.
So whatever somebody wanted,they probably already have.
And what do they really want?
And so you end up buyingsomething that, you know, you
see on the shelf at their housesix months from now, still in
the box.
And you spent this money and,you know, yeah, they had to go
(24:09):
through the motions of saying,thank you so much.
I never thought about this.
I love this, but I don't reallyneed it.
So the last couple of yearswe've been saying, well, why
don't we do something, you know,that instead of buying for each
other, we'd buy for somebodyelse.
And, you know, this sounds likea great opportunity for us.
And I know, you know, whenDavid...
(24:30):
found out about you guys, howperfect this is, because we can
do our shopping, at least as myown family and then as an
organization, too.
So I know that you dropped offsome little tree cards.
Is that what they are today?
Yes.
So they're tags.
SPEAKER_03 (24:42):
They're actually children's wish lists.
Always, there's something thatstands out every year.
And last year, we had a littlegirl that asked for rain boots,
an umbrella.
and a jacket, a rain jacket.
And her favorite character wasFrozen.
And so we did a little bitdeeping, dove a little bit
deeper because that is like aninteresting request, right?
(25:04):
And she goes, I'm getting wet atthe school bus stop.
Like, I don't want to get wet atthe school bus stop anymore.
So it's like the children thatcome to us, I have done this now
for five years.
I have had, and I can count onone hand, the people that have
asked for something like anelectronic device or something
crazy or stupid.
A lot of our people are like,can I have a pet of sheets?
(25:25):
Can I have something for mysister?
Can you make sure that she has atoy?
Can you just give me someclothes to wear to school so I
fit in and they don't not fitme?
Yeah.
So these tags are specificallyeither what the child has asked
for.
We try not to go directly tochildren.
We like to ask the parents orthe guardians or we work with
several after school programsand be like, find out what the
(25:48):
child would really ask Santafor.
So then we fill out the tags andwe give you at least two things
that they have on their list onthe tag.
Something that they say theylove, like Spider-Man.
We can never get enoughSpider-Man.
Never.
We actually have parties forSpider-Man themed because the
Marvel is just something wecan't get enough
SPEAKER_00 (26:06):
And
SPEAKER_03 (26:07):
so it'll also say their underwear, their socks and
their pajama size.
And you can go pick up the tag,shop locally.
You can shop online.
You can ship it to here.
You can ship it directly to ourboutique, but it's actual items
that children have requested.
We are not that organization islike you're eight years old.
You're a girl.
This is an age eight appropriategift.
(26:28):
That is not what happens.
Our forms, you cannot go to thenext section without filling it
out.
You have to tell us your size.
You have to tell us yourfavorite color.
You have to tell us yourfavorite character.
Because we don't want to just...
Santa can be a negative.
If you get a gift that you wouldnot ask for, that is not germane
(26:48):
to anything that you like, andyou actually dislike it, and
Santa brings that to you, that'sactually a negative to a child.
Right?
I want to make sure the childgets something and be like, I
feel good about this.
Before I started Beverly'sAngels, I remember there was a
beautiful lady, Carmen, thatused to do...
a toy drive out for the ManateeElementary.
And she used to talk to meabout, she started this because
(27:11):
they noticed the first two daysafter Christmas break, there
were kids not coming to school.
And she did some research andshe found that the kids were
like hearing, I got this, Santagot me this, I got that.
And Santa didn't go see theseother kids.
And so it's like, I want to findthose kids.
No?
Well, I want to give the magicto Santa.
So that is what we do.
(27:31):
When we tend to find them, Idon't know how it happens, but
Someone says, hey, I have thisbrand new bed.
It's still in a box.
We don't do beds all the time,but can you use it?
I'm telling you the same daythat afternoon, I will have
another organization be like, doyou happen to have a twin bed?
It's just because when youcreate magic, there's magic all
(27:51):
around you.
When you put it out there withyour good intentions, just good
things happen.
SPEAKER_01 (27:56):
Beautiful.
And how do you find...
How could people refer people toyou that are in need?
How do you find these people?
SPEAKER_03 (28:06):
Our website, you can always reach out to us for our
website, which isbeverlysangels.org.
You can find us on Facebook orInstagram.
There is a form to fill out.
Self nominations, we do gothrough an elaborate process
because everything we give isnew and everything we give is a
lot.
So we need to make sure and vetfor those that donate to us that
you're going to make sure theseitems are going to a child and
(28:29):
they are not going to be a tosay this, but this does happen.
Things can be resold, right?
So we have to be very specific.
That's why we partner withbusinesses and other
organizations because theyvetted already, right?
We're working with Lighthouse.
We are working with the reccenter.
We work with the policedepartment, the fire department,
several of school principals,because we know that when they
(28:49):
send us the children, they'regoing to be children that they
personally see that are in need,right?
But you still can nominate afamily.
You can still reach out to us atbeverlysangels.org and Diana
will pick up the phone and we'llWe'll have that conversation and
find out what the needs are,what the story is of the family.
Why are they looking for help?
Because a lot of times they arevery legit and they need more
(29:10):
things than what we can do.
So we can do Christmas, but theymight have problems paying their
electric bill and I can referthem to another nonprofit that
does that.
Or they have somebody that's inthe family that's elderly that
needs a walker.
I can refer to anotherorganization for that, right?
So we are not just like, hereyou go.
We are, how can we significantlyimpact you?
So everybody that comes to us insome way walks away with
(29:34):
something, even if it's not aservice that we can provide.
SPEAKER_01 (29:38):
Yeah, awesome.
So if somebody wanted to givegifts or to...
support the organization whatare some of the best ways that
they could do that how canpeople help
SPEAKER_03 (29:49):
you know when i started beverly's angels i
really there's a lot ofphilanthropic things here and i
found that if you were ones thatbig fishy that write the big
checks you get all of theaccolades right and look we need
that funding we need somebody towrite those checks but i wanted
everybody to feel like theycould be a part of it so you can
volunteer your time and be atensile team elf you can scan
(30:11):
our
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
team elf a tensile team elf yes
SPEAKER_03 (30:14):
we call our sandals workshop, the tensile team
headquarters.
So you can volunteer your time.
We have packing with purposeparties to where you can pack
the pajamas.
We have drives where you canorganize them through your
business or your organization ora civic outlet.
Um, but you also can scan ourAmazon list.
You can buy one item or you canbuy a hundred items.
(30:34):
I wanted to make it so anybodyand everybody could feel like
they could give back.
So you can write a check, youcan go online and do a donation,
automatically get a You canalways find our Amazon wish
list.
I know I love shopping local.
I get that.
But when you do thousands ofkids at Christmas, you need a
way to where it ships directlyto you and we can have some sort
(30:57):
of reference of why it's comingto us.
So that is why we do the Amazonwish list.
So there's Amazon.
You can do a packing party.
You can donate directly.
You can volunteer your time.
You can spread the word.
You can be somebody that hasresources and be like, I don't
have much time, but I have thiscontact.
I know this person that works atNike.
(31:17):
I see that you need a lot ofhoodies.
I know somebody at Adidas.
Let me get you some merchandise.
People can be a connector forus, which is a beautiful thing
that one thing leads to another.
So we are looking always forawareness and we are looking for
people that wholeheartedlyembrace our mission.
Those are the people that canhelp us in some way.
(31:38):
spread the word and help our webbe larger.
SPEAKER_01 (31:42):
And there's a storefront too.
SPEAKER_03 (31:44):
We have a location.
It is a converted garage, but wecall it a boutique and our
tensile team headquarters.
We have totally from top tobottom renovated it.
It's a very magical space.
There is snowflakes hangingeverywhere in there now.
And so we do have a hybrid towhere some people like the
police department this week, wehave three people from their
(32:05):
admin team.
They're actually coming into theboutique.
They have a list from all of theofficers and the admin, and
they're going to actually shopat as a team building bonding
experience for the children,because we just can't get the
officers to come in becausethey're like, we appreciate a
gift.
Right.
So they wouldn't take as muchfor themselves.
So we do have a beautiful spaceand some people get to come in
(32:26):
and shop and it's just abeautiful experience.
And it's a team building andthey get to see these officers,
children grow up.
Right.
And they get to be a part of, Iknow this child where we don't
know the children, but thepeople that work with them do.
So they can be like, Oh, I wouldknow that he'd love this
Spider-Man or he'd love Lovethis backpack.
We had a mom shop last year.
And she gave us a very detailedlist and she thought, you know,
(32:48):
she was good to go.
And I'm like, just come in just,just to make sure.
And she walked in and there wasthis unicorn backpack that if
you touch it, it was sequenceand it moved, right?
And she goes, my daughter wouldlove that.
And that out of everything onher Christmas list was her
daughter's favorite item.
And she never would have thoughtto ask for a unicorn backpack.
(33:09):
So actually having a place.
So our long-term goal is to havea pop-up next year.
The year after is we want tohave a place that is known kind
of like how spirit of Halloweendoes it, where you can shop for
Halloween.
So people can actually come inand shop for themselves.
One of the things that we doserve children from one to, they
say 92, we do take care of a lotof senior citizens.
(33:32):
There are seniors in this townthat need our love and support
that don't have family orsupport.
So we always take care of themas well.
SPEAKER_01 (33:40):
Oh, that's awesome.
UNKNOWN (33:42):
So, uh,
SPEAKER_01 (33:43):
What's who's, who's this guy?
SPEAKER_03 (33:45):
So Benny, Benny is, um, he, I wanted a mascot and I
set a couple of children aroundmy dining room table when I
first started this.
And I, cause I didn't know whatI was doing.
I didn't have a cause.
And I thought children are goingto be able to see what other
children need more than methinking.
I think this is what childrenneed.
(34:05):
So I was having brainstormingsessions and round table
discussions with them severaltimes.
And I brought Benny in as just abear and as a thank you.
And one of the girls, Madeline,immediately raised her hand and
said, I have a girl in myclassroom that could use some
sunshine.
Can I give her my bear?
Well, the rest of the kids, theyall wanted to give their bear
(34:28):
away.
So that created Benny and theKindness Squad book.
This is actually an interactivebook that is all real stories of
children in Collier County ofhow they gave their bear away.
100% of the proceeds go back toBeverly's Angels.
They had a naming contest.
Charlie was in a really bigrunning for the name like
Charlie's Angels.
But Benny was what the kidsloved.
(34:50):
So he has become Benny.
I am petitioning Gund one day.
His his legal name is Toothpickand I'm hoping that we make such
a noise with Beverly's Angelsthat we can rename him legally
through the company of Benny.
Oh, awesome.
So that's how it all came about.
It's children giving back tochildren and we have several of
(35:12):
those kids that still give back.
They volunteer their time.
We give community service hours.
We attract kids, especially withautism.
We get a lot of kids that feellike they don't fit in other
places and they are great in ourboutique.
They're very meticulous.
They're very detailed.
They're very giving and kind.
Uh, I record with this onelittle boy, Dominic, and I was
(35:33):
explaining to him, okay, we'retalking about underwear.
And I was saying, you know, somekids don't have underwear and,
um, this is what the package is.
And I just need you to talk,whatever you want to say about
underwear.
And I turn around, you know,turn the camera on and I look
back and he's crying.
He's got a tear in his eye andhe's like, I get to just go to
my underwear drawer and pull itout and I get to choose whatever
(35:55):
character color I want to wearthat day and it fits me.
And he's like, there's kids thatare in my class that don't have
underwear that's wearing toosmall or they're turning it
inside out because they can't doenough laundry.
They don't have enough.
So that has been one of the mostbeautiful things.
And we actually have been onNBC2 News with Lester Holt.
(36:17):
The Kindness Squad has beeninterviewed for all of their
good work that they do.
SPEAKER_01 (36:21):
The Kindness Squad.
SPEAKER_03 (36:22):
The Kindness Squad.
So the book is Benny and theKindness
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
Squad.
SPEAKER_03 (36:26):
So they just spread love and kindness.
And we don't have a lot ofpeople on it.
We have a small group because wereally We really want to make an
impact on the children.
You can do a lot of things.
with one person wanting to dosomething beautiful.
Then other people just come intoline and it really gives the
children an opportunity toshine.
(36:47):
That's what I'm really, of allthe things, I love the kindness
squad and I love children givingback to other children.
In this world, we need it.
It gets them off the devices.
When my dad was teaching, wedidn't have any of that stuff.
We played outside.
We rode our bikes.
We didn't have cell phones.
When it was dusk, we came home.
(37:07):
The neighbors knew, you're nothome.
You need to get home.
Right.
So I try to bring just a littlebit of that piece of my
childhood back.
Cause I think that's reallymissing this day and age.
And that's really kind of whatthe kindness
SPEAKER_01 (37:19):
squad is.
Yeah.
Oh, it's a, you know, it's anactivity that parents could get
their kids involved in that youdon't think about.
It's, it's, um, unless it's acamp or an organized thing, it's
a great opportunity.
I mean, it sounds like somethingfantastic that, especially
starting at that level as achild, getting involved in the
(37:41):
kindness squad.
How cool is that?
SPEAKER_03 (37:44):
Because kids these days are so busy.
It's hard to get a group of themtogether all the time.
So we offer spurts of areaswhere they can help and really
give back to their community sothey can understand some
appreciation, right?
SPEAKER_01 (37:56):
Yeah.
And it's done physically, not Ona cyber world, it's not done on
the internet.
It's done one-on-one.
SPEAKER_03 (38:05):
One-on-one, right?
You know, we're not theorganization that's looking to
do thousands and thousands andhundreds of thousands of people.
But every person that comes tous, that one person gets our
full attention that day, thatmoment, that second.
And one person at a time.
SPEAKER_01 (38:19):
Yeah, it's so great.
I love that it directly...
goes to another soul anotherhuman it's not just just doesn't
go in a big pot and then it justdoled out at random this is
something specific that theywanted that they needed that
they asked for that you knowcould be so easily fulfilled by
so many people i mean you knowuh especially in our community,
(38:43):
we're very, very blessed and tobe able to directly impact a
family child.
We don't think about it.
We don't see it.
We don't always hear it inPleasantville because we live in
Pleasantville.
Yes.
We don't always see that.
So that you guys have, you know,made this opportunity available
for people so that, you know, wedon't just end up with a bunch
(39:05):
of a shelf full of things that,we didn't need and that somebody
else certainly could haveimpacted their life in such a
positive way.
So love that you're doing this.
Thank you.
Thanks for doing it.
I'd
SPEAKER_03 (39:15):
love you to see the space.
We've had it donated to us forthe last couple of years.
Life has changed for the personwho owns it.
So she is in a position that sheneeds us to vacate to sell.
So after this holiday season, wewill be homeless.
Um, but I'm not worried about itbecause when one door closes,
another one opens, somethingbeautiful will happen and we
(39:37):
will continue to spread love ona bigger, better way.
We have several people alreadylooking.
Um, you just have to believethat you do the right thing.
You have good intentions.
You're there to make adifference in your world.
Things will happen, right?
SPEAKER_00 (39:51):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (39:52):
You know, have that mindset of we wake up in the
morning with a smile on our faceand something magical is going
to happen
SPEAKER_01 (39:57):
today.
Yeah.
Beautiful.
Now the people who come in intothe salons and they're looking
at archery, which isn't up yet,but when it's up and they see
one of the tags on, What do theydo?
So they
SPEAKER_03 (40:07):
grab a tag.
They get to go shop.
They can do it locally.
Or it's really nice if you havechildren to do it locally
because you can take them to thestore and they can actually help
and pick out, especially in thepart that says, I love.
Like, let's just say it isprincess for a little girl.
Then the little girl can go pickout some princess item for that
child, right?
Then they bring it back to yoursalon because we also want
(40:28):
traction of them coming back toyou.
And maybe they pick up some hairproducts or something as another
gift for somebody else, right?
So they bring it back.
to you.
And then our Tencel team once aweek comes in and does a sweep
and picks up the presents,restocks the boutique because we
actually have had people inshopping since the 1st of
September.
We've already done a lot of kidsjust to get to this point
(40:51):
because we are not Santa.
Like I am not going down thechimney in the red suit on
Christmas Eve, right?
Our Christmas really slows downby the 20th of December.
And those are for the last fewpeople.
We really try to get all of ourchildren served by like the 10th
of December because there'salways kids that you don't want
(41:11):
left behind that come in at lastminute.
So we really try.
We back it up every year.
Last year it was October 1st.
This year it was September 1st.
And for the first time wecreated a Christmas in July
campaign.
But now it's just going tobecome all year long to really
serve significantly and givepersonalized sacks to every
child.
It takes a lot of effort andenergy.
(41:32):
and love in a beautiful way.
I never want anybody to cut acorner or feel like they just
got an age appropriate gift.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
You know, there are times thatwe have sacks sitting for one
item to come in.
So that's why we do an Amazonwishlist on our Instagram every
day.
It's the hottest item that we'relooking for.
People can click on it.
It stays up to date.
(41:52):
It's literally the toys thathave been requested on a dear
Santa list that we do notphysically have in our boutique.
So that's a really great thingthat they can do as well as come
in and grab a tag They
SPEAKER_01 (42:03):
could also drop things off at the store, at the
salon, wherever, when theypurchase something.
SPEAKER_03 (42:08):
Yes.
I can give you our phone numberis, for anybody that wants to
write it down or put it on thescreen, it's 239-404-2082.
Again, that's 239-404-2082.
You can send a text message.
That'll go straight to our headalpha, Diana, and she can
(42:28):
schedule a time because we'revery mindful of we do not want
drop-offs when we actually havea recipient shopping in the
boutique.
So we want to keep privacy ofboth our donors and those that
are receiving.
So we do them at certain times.
She can also send you a link orwhoever wants to drop off a link
of like pick the best time foryou because we also want to be
(42:50):
professional.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (43:05):
So, and the website's always being updated.
So at any point, somebody canalways go to the website and do
everything right from there.
SPEAKER_03 (43:11):
Yes, beverlysangels.org gives you a
lot of information.
You can contact us throughthere.
You can donate through there.
You can click on the Amazon wishlink.
If you're not on socials, thatwill always be updated
throughout.
We keep it up all year long, butthis time of year, it's
specifically the toys or it'sclothing.
Right now, the thing that we'rethe shortest on is makeup and
(43:32):
hoodies.
We cannot seem to get enough ofthem.
because yes we do focus on dearsanta age children but guess
what they have siblings and youcan't take care of and really go
all out on dear santa for thosethat believe in santa and then
they have siblings that are 1213 14 16 years old and be like
(43:53):
you don't get anything under thetree so that is why we have
older children is their siblingsof youngers and we really want
them to feel just the magic andlove too right those are tough
years our teenage Yeah, yeah,yeah.
(44:34):
people really show up forthemselves and really live life.
SPEAKER_01 (44:39):
Well, I'm so happy we discovered you and we're here
for you fully.
I mean, whatever we can do foryou as an organization and our
family of people, we're here athousand percent.
And I would love to follow upafter the holidays or whenever
we can to keep this conversationgoing so that people know the
impact that they've had and wecan hear some of the beautiful
(45:01):
stories that come out of thistoo because we want to be a part
of whatever it is that you're upto because I know you're
championing the kindness squadand good...
Good humans, good people in thecommunity.
SPEAKER_03 (45:13):
It's fulfillment.
You know, it's purpose.
It's giving people that truepurpose and feeling good, right?
And we can take care of ourfamilies and we can take care of
ourselves.
But when you adopt a child forChristmas that you'll never meet
in your life and have no ideathe impact, the feeling, it's
just beautiful.
You know, when you really knowthat you've touched somebody
that you never get to meet, butyou've given that magic of Santa
(45:38):
that a mom at the moment can'tgive.
That's just a beautiful thing.
So I love your organization.
I love the vibe.
When I walked in here, I'm likefrom the moment, like I said,
it's an experience here.
We're both totally on vibes andI get a really good vibe from
you and let's just collaborateand let's really show people.
It doesn't, you don't have tohave the big pocket book.
(45:58):
You don't have to have all theconnections, but one person at a
time can help one other personsignificantly and a smile
because you never know whatsomeone is going through.
Just sharing that means all theworld.
SPEAKER_01 (46:09):
Yeah, I love it.
I love it.
Well, we're all about it.
Mila and Mason, mygrandchildren, this is for you
guys.
You're going to become a part ofthe kind of squad.
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (46:22):
This is really beautiful.
I'm very grateful
SPEAKER_01 (46:25):
so very much.
Yeah, honored.
Thanks for what you're doing.
We really appreciate you.
Love, respect, honor, and we'llalways be here for you.
Thanks again.
SPEAKER_03 (46:32):
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Awesome.
UNKNOWN (46:34):
Thank you.
So hi everyone and welcome.
Robert D'Alella here on thespotlight on good people.
And that's what we do.
We spotlight good people andgood things that are happening,
especially in a time periodwhere so much of the attention
is on what's not working andwhat's not good and what's
negative.
And we like to haveconversations about the good
(00:23):
things in life and the upliftingpositive things.
And you're one of those spiritsin the community that...
As I was reading about you andknow what your reputation is,
you have given your life in alot of ways to uplift people
around you, to transform thelives of people around you.
So I'm honored to say that todaywe have a very special guest,
(00:47):
the founder and board member atBeverly's Angels, Faith
Schwalbeck.
SPEAKER_03 (00:53):
Yes, thank you.
Welcome.
I'm so excited to be here.
And you're right, in the worldwe live in today, we need to
really focus on the things thatare positive and what's going
right.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
Yeah.
Yeah, it's so easy to just bedrawn.
I do it myself to be drawn towhat's not the negative, you
know, so it gets the mostattention everywhere and to...
to look for the positive orpositivity in things is really
just a cool thing.
And I loved what you're about.
I loved what your organizationis about.
(01:23):
And before we get started, Ialways like to ask this one
question.
Today, what's something thatmade you smile today?
SPEAKER_03 (01:30):
What made me smile today?
You know, I wake up hitting theground saying something magical
is going to happen every singleday.
I I don't care what's going on,I'm smiling in the morning.
But this in particular, I'vereally tried very hard to
collaborate with people with thesame mindset that I have.
(01:53):
And I found that that has beenchallenging because I really
want to align with people thatreally get it and want to give
back from their place of aheart, not from a place of I get
to be on an Instagram shout outpost.
So I think that's what made mesmile the brightest today was to
be in your presence, in yoursalon.
(02:15):
Then I come in here and it hasIt's just been a moving
experience.
I've been smiling since themoment I hit the door and I'll
be smiling for the rest of theday because of that.
SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
Awesome.
Awesome.
Well, great.
That is important to us, youknow, that we have this space
that, you know, we're a hairsalon.
That's what we do for business.
But I think we're more thanthat.
I want to be more than that,that literally when people come
here, they get something thatthey didn't know they needed
(02:45):
before.
But when they have it, it has abig impact on their life because
whether it's the love thateverybody's given on people, the
20 people when you walk in thatthey're loving on you, and I
hope that they are, ittransforms somebody's day.
So that when they leave theparking lot and somebody cuts
them off or the traffic's realbad, that they're just okay with
it and it's okay and they canforgive people and be fine with
(03:07):
the way life is or isn't all theway around.
SPEAKER_03 (03:10):
Well, I can tell you, I'm not currently a client
and I have to tell you from themoment your team reached out, it
has been an experience.
So I think that that's one thingto take from today is from the
moment, the first contact andevery person along the line of
your team really makes it anexperience.
Anybody can be hair salon and dohair, but you have your niche
(03:32):
and you're doing it with suchlove and kindness and
compassion.
It's a culture here that you'vecreated that's absolutely
beautiful that makes people wantto come back again.
Thank
SPEAKER_01 (03:42):
you.
Thank you.
I'm very blessed.
We're blessed with anextraordinary team.
And, you know, I'm blessed thatI get to walk in and then I get
to meet people like you, too,who are out there on a campaign
to make the world a better placein a lot of ways.
And that's kind of what wewanted to do.
SPEAKER_03 (03:59):
But don't forget here, you're the blessing.
It starts at the top.
It's the leadership that createsthe culture.
They are blessed to have you asmuch as you are blessed to have
them, which serves all of yourclients.
So it's one big blessing thatstarts from you.
SPEAKER_01 (04:12):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Thanks.
It's a real synergisticexperience for me.
I don't always wake up.
in that mindset.
And when I get around it, itkind of gets on me all the time.
You know, it's like, it'sinfectious when there's that
positivity and that good wayabout things, so.
SPEAKER_03 (04:28):
Mindset is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
Yeah, yeah.
And it's what I know you havecreated.
And it's, we're in that, I mean,it's November already and well
into November.
And it's that time of yearwhere, you know, that spirit of
giving is, you know, it's notalways there, but it's always a
reminder when you start to seethe red and you start to see,
(04:50):
you know, Starbucks switches,all the placards around, it's
red.
It's that time the cups go redand it's the lights start going
up and it's that time of year.
So I thought it, you know, aperfect opportunity for us to
get to know, for everyone to getto know a little bit about you,
your organization and what youguys are about.
So to start off, can you Share alittle bit about yourself.
(05:13):
Who are you?
SPEAKER_03 (05:14):
So my name is Faith.
I am happily married to my highschool sweetheart that I started
dating on my 16th birthday.
We started from very humblebeginnings.
My mom worked in admin most ofher life.
My dad was the public safetydirector in our hometown of
Ormond Beach, Florida.
And he really saw at youth riskas something to devote time to.
(05:38):
So he felt if he volunteered histime, he started the rec center
where was one of the people inour hometown.
If he had a place for kids to goafter school and he could do a
team environment that he couldnot be dealing with them later
on in life through jail andthrough lockup.
So I always saw him volunteeringmy whole life.
It was the season of it was flagfootball, then it was softball,
(05:59):
then it was basketball.
So I grew up in thatenvironment.
I'm very grateful to have seenit.
You don't realize when you're achild what's going on.
But I just have always felt thatway.
And I just wanted to give backand my mom Over the years, she
would always adopt a family forThanksgiving and she would cook
a homemade meal and she wouldjust anonymously drop it off at
(06:21):
our church.
And she did it for years andyears.
And when she started to decline,we helped her when she received
the ugly diagnosis of dementia.
We started doing it for her inher honor at the Alzheimer's
Resource Center that she used toattend.
And we did that the last threeyears and we would go and we
(06:42):
would make all of the trimmingsfor Thanksgiving the weekend
before.
And it was just a nod to mymom's what she gave back.
And we did that the last timethat she was able to in her
honor.
The following September, shepassed away.
And my girlfriend says, we'regoing back.
We're going to go do this forBeverly.
(07:03):
And we went and we served allthe ladies a beautiful
Thanksgiving.
We had this stuffed Tom theturkey.
They would go around and saywhat they're grateful for.
And that was that day.
Somebody said, you have to dothis.
And that was the moment ofserving that Thanksgiving meal
that Beverly's Angels was born.
Christmas Eve 2019, a yearlater, I got a present from the
(07:25):
IRS in the mailbox that was myofficial 501c3 status.
SPEAKER_01 (07:29):
Hmm.
Oh, wow.
So that's how it all began.
SPEAKER_03 (07:32):
That's how it all began.
And it began from my mom and Ihad a challenging relationship
my entire life.
I used to use the worddifficult, but I've changed my
mindset to challenging.
And I realized trying to get herthe help that she needed when
she had dementia, she hadundiagnosed mental health
issues.
And she was at the age where itwas taboo to get any help for
(07:53):
that.
So I started to realize thethings that I was so angry with
her about and the things that Ikept choosing to look at was her
flaws.
I was never looking at what her,what the positive side, like we
talked about earlier, right?
So I had the very good fortuneof right before she passed away,
a very dear friend helped me seethe light of all that my mom
(08:17):
was.
And I rushed to her bedside.
I put my hand on her back and Itold her how proud I was to be
her daughter, how she has beenamazing.
I gave her purpose for her life.
She had been hanging on andthat's Wow.
(08:49):
So,
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
yeah,
SPEAKER_03 (08:56):
that's beautiful.
(09:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
(09:49):
my mom was spunky she didn'tlike it she didn't have all of
her wits about her but she wassmart enough to get into trouble
she the first facility she wasat she was there less than 10
days the second one by two and ahalf weeks in the fire marshal
had been called to her fourtimes because she kept pulling
the fire alarm and the fourthtime he walked in the door and
(10:11):
she got in the fire marshal saidwas it her and my mom goes yep
it was me and he's like that'sit you're out of here so I can
try.
I can laugh about it, but ittook her.
She was at the hospital NCH for45 days because she was mobile.
And she had enough wits abouther that she could be dangerous
to herself and others.
(10:32):
So no one, no matter what thecost was, would take her.
And that was a really lowmoment.
I remember sitting in theparking lot, just crying that
nobody wanted my mom and theywould not let me take her home,
that we just didn't have theability.
So she was spunky until the veryend.
And I have that spirit ofwhatever it is, we're going to
make it work.
We're going to make it happen.
(10:52):
Whatever roadblock gets in frontof me, we're just going to bust
through.
So I now embrace all thosethings that were really good
about her.
And I've let go of all thethings that I wished she was.
SPEAKER_01 (11:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That happens.
I, I, I can really relate tothat.
My father and I had arelationship that could at times
be contentious.
He was, he was such a, he was anincredible pioneer and
entrepreneur and he would seethings that he saw one way.
(11:24):
And, He was visionary in that hewould see those things in the
ways, but it didn't always jivewith reality in the moment.
But he was looking so far ahead.
And at times that could be sofrustrating because we worked
together to see, you know, Ididn't see what he was seeing
yet.
And, you know, we would havethese battles a lot in business
together.
And it would frustrate me.
(11:46):
And I couldn't truly appreciatethat.
who he was and what he createdand and how legendary he was
until uh you know the end almostit's like when you start to see
like wow he had so many he wasso far ahead in where he was and
for me not always seeing um inin the moment being able to see
(12:08):
those and to honor and respectand love him for that but in the
end we uh you know he was he wassick for a long time in the end
and we He stayed at home and,you know, we got to send him to
heaven together as a family,which was a beautiful thing to
be able to do that.
And, you know, we completed witheach other.
There was nothing left unsaid.
(12:28):
He was ready to go.
And the experience was abeautiful thing.
But I also, you know, every daynow see all these little things
that he did and said and how,what...
what cherished special momentsthey were and who he was for me
was somebody who at the time youdon't necessarily appreciate.
You don't really know.
Like, wow, he is really lovingme and looking out for the best
(12:51):
for me and for all of us andjust didn't look like it at the
time.
And some people
SPEAKER_03 (12:55):
never get to that point and understand that.
So be grateful for that.
And they stay with us.
I hear my mom and my dad in myhead sometimes.
You know, those things that whenthey first, when they were doing
it, I was like, you're wrong.
You know, when we kneweverything, right?
And then as we become older andwiser, we realize, wow, they
really did know what they weretalking about.
And they really did want thebest for us.
(13:18):
And so we get to pull from that.
I have this bird that keepstrying to get in the house.
And my husband and I both arelike, there's Beverly.
She wants to send a messageabout something.
And then something will happen.
I'll be like, okay, that's whatit was.
And the bird goes away.
And then months will go by.
And then all of a sudden it'sback on that window again.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
You know, so it's just paying attention to those
things.
It's amazing when you're presentto those things, you see those
signs when you're actuallyaware, you have the awareness of
it.
You could see that that's,that's her, that's, that's it
happening.
That's him.
That's, there it is again.
And when you're here and now andable to be present and, you
know, taking in the moment, youcan be present that they are
(13:57):
there.
But for
SPEAKER_03 (13:58):
you to take somebody that was so legendary and
created such a legacy and lookwhat you have done, you have
expanded upon that.
So that is really beautiful andhard to do.
It's, it's hard for some tofollow in those, you know, the
shadows and those footsteps andyou've actually expanded and
found your own lane and made ityour own.
So that
SPEAKER_01 (14:18):
is really beautiful.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We, uh, you know, and wecomplimented each other well in
many ways cause I, I am, I'm abeauty school dropout.
I don't do hair.
I don't have hair.
Okay, Sandra Dee.
So it worked really well.
We were able to, you know,compliment each other
throughout, throughout our timetogether.
(14:38):
And, you know, as a familybusiness, which is always, which
is an entity in and of itself tobe in family and in business and
now working on a thirdgeneration and it takes, there's
other dynamics involved, but I,you know, gave me a lot of
opportunity, but more thananything I saw and what I love
and I'm so passionate about inour industry is that we get to
(15:00):
move and to really impactsomebody's life because yes, it
is hair, And some people say,well, it's not brain surgery,
but it impacts somebody'sfeelings about themselves.
It can have that kind of impact.
Right, right.
And when you add it alltogether, we can have a huge
impact on people in theireveryday life.
It's the one business where youget to actually touch somebody
(15:23):
And physically, in a way that'sokay, because you can't get to
the doctor's office.
They're like, they have theslider there.
And you're just, you know, it'slike you go there for treatment.
Here you come here for love.
And it's Disney World for moms.
So it's a special place forpeople.
And, you know, I think that whatyou're doing is an extension
that gives us an opportunityto...
(15:46):
because we're blessed.
We live in paradise.
We live in the greatest place onthe world.
I mean, Naples is just, Florida,Naples, the whole experience.
Like, where do you go onvacation from here?
It's just such a, you know, welive in such a great world and
are so blessed with the peoplethat we have around here and the
people in our community and the,you know, the pristine, perfect
streets and the restaurants.
And it's just a great spot.
(16:07):
And I know that you're doing alot of things to make sure that
the people who help support thiscommunity Those that serve us.
Those that serve, right, arealso taken care of because
without them, you know, we don'thave that community.
So there's such a necessity,especially with the cost of
living and the amount of moneyit costs to live and feed a
family here and to just, youknow, for those that aren't just
(16:32):
transients or aren't justseasonal residents here.
So I know you guys do some workwith those people, too, and we
want to partner up with you onthat.
So we'll talk more about that,too, because I definitely want
to.
collab with you on making surethose people are taken care of
too.
And in whatever way we cansupport you with that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:47):
Serving those that serve us.
That is just, um, you know, whenI started this, I had no cause
to champion.
I was looking for kindness and Iwas looking to heal and it has
been an amazing journey.
And I didn't think anybody wouldcome to me that didn't need help
that would abuse the system.
And you learn that there's areason why you have to have a
vetting system.
There's a reason why you have tohave applications.
(17:08):
It's not to deny people.
It's to make sure that thosethat are receiving the The
services deserve and should havethe services, right?
So I found...
It's very fulfilling to workwith businesses.
We kind of leaned our way intothis that actually are trying to
show appreciation back becausethere are people that serve our
community, the people that cutour grass, the people that are
cleaning the dishes in thekitchen and serving us and
(17:30):
housekeeping and all differentadmin, our police officers, our
firefighters.
They all can make a really goodwage that anywhere else in the
country would be a nice living.
But here in Naples, it is not.
So we want to be able to bridgethat gap.
and keep these quality peoplethat are these type A players
(17:51):
that we really need in all ofour businesses and serving us.
So we want to partner withbusinesses to be like, let's
show appreciation, right?
I'm most proud of one of thefirst recipients that I had,
Diana.
I helped her and her son backfive years ago when I started
Beverly's Angels.
And every year she would comeback and she would volunteer.
And last November, due tocircumstances beyond her
(18:14):
control, she lost her job andShe was volunteering a lot
during the holiday season.
And I found out that she was nolonger working.
And I was able to find a grant.
And she now is over ourfulfillment department, which is
wonderful because she knows howto receive what we give.
So she knows how to then give itto those that are receiving.
(18:36):
And it's done with beauty andgrace.
And it's not this, you're acharity case.
It is because we see you.
We love you.
We value you.
You are worthy.
Mm-hmm.
(19:17):
same thing.
When people look in the mirror,we help them like what they see.
So it's very similar than whatwe do, right?
We're here to serve.
We're servant leaders,obviously.
And that's what we're doing inour community.
We just do it in a littledifferent way, but together we
can collaborate and really makea tremendous impact on where we
live.
SPEAKER_01 (19:35):
Yeah.
So for people who don't know,what is What is the
organization?
What is Beverly's Angels?
So
SPEAKER_03 (19:42):
365 days out of the year, we do socks, pajamas, and
underwear in their favoritecolor or favorite character.
That is what we do most of thetime.
However, our signature project,which is really becoming
year-round, is our Dear Santacampaign.
And we kick booty when it comesto that.
We find out what they wouldreally be asking Santa for, and
(20:04):
we have these homemade sacksthat we work locally with
businesses and organizations andchurches and sewing groups that
make these sacks that for a lotof these kids become their gym
sack throughout the year.
So we learned quickly not tomake them in Christmas because
they're using them all yearlong.
And we stuff them with at leastfour to five toys of their
(20:24):
choice.
We give them pancake mix andsyrup for breakfast morning so
they have really the true spiritof the holiday.
We typically give them wrappingpaper instead of wrapping.
We want mom and dad to have thejoy of wrapping.
Now there's some that have timeBecause we've also learned it's
not only that finances are anunder-resourced here, it is
(20:45):
time.
Some people are working 14 hoursa day, then they're working a
second job, and they just don'thave the ability to wrap.
So for those particular cases,we wrap.
But those Santa stacks, theyhave stocking stuffers, they
have socks, pajamas, andunderwear.
They have sprinkle items.
They are really like Santa sawme, Santa knows me, Santa came
(21:06):
down that chimney and made surethat I was taken care of for
Christmas.
And how that all came about was,like I said earlier, I didn't
have a cause to champion.
I was the typical organizationthat started taking people's
things that I later learned arepeople's junk.
And they're not worthy of thepeople that I serve.
When someone comes to you incrisis or someone is referred to
(21:27):
you, the last thing you want todo is give them something that,
oh, this is outdated or this hasa stain or this is broken zipper
or the button doesn't work, butit's good enough.
Right.
Like that, I quickly learnedthat was not fulfilling to me.
And one day I had this littleboy.
He was eight years old, big, bigbrown eyes.
And I was working with him onsome clothing and I had received
(21:49):
some items from anotherorganization that was khaki
pants and they were folded withthe tag in a cellophane bag.
And I don't have children, so Istruggle a little bit with
sizes.
So I gave him a couple and I'mlike, let's go try these on.
And he stopped and he looked atme.
I really thought something waswrong.
He really didn't move for atleast about 30 seconds.
(22:10):
I'm like, are you okay?
And he looked up at me and hegoes, I never can get through
this.
He goes, I don't ever remembersomething being mine first.
And that was like, I have notgiven a used item a gently loved
item.
If it doesn't have a tag andit's not brand new, our
recipients don't get it.
(22:30):
And that just changed the wholeworld.
Fast forward, my team saw allthe people that were helping
from Hurricane Ian, people thathave never asked for help before
that just...
Right.
So.
(22:58):
That's really a pivotal.
You have pivotal points in yourentrepreneurial journey.
And that was one of them.
That little boy saying that hasbeen our slogan.
And since then, we only give newand not only do only give new.
We want to make sure it'ssomething that you're going to
love, not something here.
Something that you're going tobe like, this is my favorite.
That's what we want.
(23:18):
We want people, when they findtheir way to us, to truly feel
our presence and know that wesee them, we love them, we care
about them, and every one ofthem, no matter who you are, is
special.
SPEAKER_01 (23:28):
Yeah.
Oh, that's beautiful.
It makes me think, because thistime of year, we always go
through what we're going to buyall the people in our lives.
What are we going to get forthem?
And you know, you run out ofthings.
Like what could it be now?
(23:49):
Everybody kind of has, I mean,we're in an Amazon world where
you have whatever you want,whenever you want now, like
right away.
So whatever somebody wanted,they probably already have.
And what do they really want?
And so you end up buyingsomething that, you know, you
see on the shelf at their housesix months from now, still in
the box.
And you spent this money and,you know, yeah, they had to go
(24:09):
through the motions of saying,thank you so much.
I never thought about this.
I love this, but I don't reallyneed it.
So the last couple of yearswe've been saying, well, why
don't we do something, you know,that instead of buying for each
other, we'd buy for somebodyelse.
And, you know, this sounds likea great opportunity for us.
And I know, you know, whenDavid...
(24:30):
found out about you guys, howperfect this is, because we can
do our shopping, at least as myown family and then as an
organization, too.
So I know that you dropped offsome little tree cards.
Is that what they are today?
Yes.
So they're tags.
SPEAKER_03 (24:42):
They're actually children's wish lists.
Always, there's something thatstands out every year.
And last year, we had a littlegirl that asked for rain boots,
an umbrella.
and a jacket, a rain jacket.
And her favorite character wasFrozen.
And so we did a little bitdeeping, dove a little bit
deeper because that is like aninteresting request, right?
(25:04):
And she goes, I'm getting wet atthe school bus stop.
Like, I don't want to get wet atthe school bus stop anymore.
So it's like the children thatcome to us, I have done this now
for five years.
I have had, and I can count onone hand, the people that have
asked for something like anelectronic device or something
crazy or stupid.
A lot of our people are like,can I have a pet of sheets?
(25:25):
Can I have something for mysister?
Can you make sure that she has atoy?
Can you just give me someclothes to wear to school so I
fit in and they don't not fitme?
Yeah.
So these tags are specificallyeither what the child has asked
for.
We try not to go directly tochildren.
We like to ask the parents orthe guardians or we work with
several after school programsand be like, find out what the
(25:48):
child would really ask Santafor.
So then we fill out the tags andwe give you at least two things
that they have on their list onthe tag.
Something that they say theylove, like Spider-Man.
We can never get enoughSpider-Man.
Never.
We actually have parties forSpider-Man themed because the
Marvel is just something wecan't get enough
SPEAKER_00 (26:06):
And
SPEAKER_03 (26:07):
so it'll also say their underwear, their socks and
their pajama size.
And you can go pick up the tag,shop locally.
You can shop online.
You can ship it to here.
You can ship it directly to ourboutique, but it's actual items
that children have requested.
We are not that organization islike you're eight years old.
You're a girl.
This is an age eight appropriategift.
(26:28):
That is not what happens.
Our forms, you cannot go to thenext section without filling it
out.
You have to tell us your size.
You have to tell us yourfavorite color.
You have to tell us yourfavorite character.
Because we don't want to just...
Santa can be a negative.
If you get a gift that you wouldnot ask for, that is not germane
(26:48):
to anything that you like, andyou actually dislike it, and
Santa brings that to you, that'sactually a negative to a child.
Right?
I want to make sure the childgets something and be like, I
feel good about this.
Before I started Beverly'sAngels, I remember there was a
beautiful lady, Carmen, thatused to do...
a toy drive out for the ManateeElementary.
And she used to talk to meabout, she started this because
(27:11):
they noticed the first two daysafter Christmas break, there
were kids not coming to school.
And she did some research andshe found that the kids were
like hearing, I got this, Santagot me this, I got that.
And Santa didn't go see theseother kids.
And so it's like, I want to findthose kids.
No?
Well, I want to give the magicto Santa.
So that is what we do.
(27:31):
When we tend to find them, Idon't know how it happens, but
Someone says, hey, I have thisbrand new bed.
It's still in a box.
We don't do beds all the time,but can you use it?
I'm telling you the same daythat afternoon, I will have
another organization be like, doyou happen to have a twin bed?
It's just because when youcreate magic, there's magic all
(27:51):
around you.
When you put it out there withyour good intentions, just good
things happen.
SPEAKER_01 (27:56):
Beautiful.
And how do you find...
How could people refer people toyou that are in need?
How do you find these people?
SPEAKER_03 (28:06):
Our website, you can always reach out to us for our
website, which isbeverlysangels.org.
You can find us on Facebook orInstagram.
There is a form to fill out.
Self nominations, we do gothrough an elaborate process
because everything we give isnew and everything we give is a
lot.
So we need to make sure and vetfor those that donate to us that
you're going to make sure theseitems are going to a child and
(28:29):
they are not going to be a tosay this, but this does happen.
Things can be resold, right?
So we have to be very specific.
That's why we partner withbusinesses and other
organizations because theyvetted already, right?
We're working with Lighthouse.
We are working with the reccenter.
We work with the policedepartment, the fire department,
several of school principals,because we know that when they
(28:49):
send us the children, they'regoing to be children that they
personally see that are in need,right?
But you still can nominate afamily.
You can still reach out to us atbeverlysangels.org and Diana
will pick up the phone and we'llWe'll have that conversation and
find out what the needs are,what the story is of the family.
Why are they looking for help?
Because a lot of times they arevery legit and they need more
(29:10):
things than what we can do.
So we can do Christmas, but theymight have problems paying their
electric bill and I can referthem to another nonprofit that
does that.
Or they have somebody that's inthe family that's elderly that
needs a walker.
I can refer to anotherorganization for that, right?
So we are not just like, hereyou go.
We are, how can we significantlyimpact you?
So everybody that comes to us insome way walks away with
(29:34):
something, even if it's not aservice that we can provide.
SPEAKER_01 (29:38):
Yeah, awesome.
So if somebody wanted to givegifts or to...
support the organization whatare some of the best ways that
they could do that how canpeople help
SPEAKER_03 (29:49):
you know when i started beverly's angels i
really there's a lot ofphilanthropic things here and i
found that if you were ones thatbig fishy that write the big
checks you get all of theaccolades right and look we need
that funding we need somebody towrite those checks but i wanted
everybody to feel like theycould be a part of it so you can
volunteer your time and be atensile team elf you can scan
(30:11):
our
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
team elf a tensile team elf yes
SPEAKER_03 (30:14):
we call our sandals workshop, the tensile team
headquarters.
So you can volunteer your time.
We have packing with purposeparties to where you can pack
the pajamas.
We have drives where you canorganize them through your
business or your organization ora civic outlet.
Um, but you also can scan ourAmazon list.
You can buy one item or you canbuy a hundred items.
(30:34):
I wanted to make it so anybodyand everybody could feel like
they could give back.
So you can write a check, youcan go online and do a donation,
automatically get a You canalways find our Amazon wish
list.
I know I love shopping local.
I get that.
But when you do thousands ofkids at Christmas, you need a
way to where it ships directlyto you and we can have some sort
(30:57):
of reference of why it's comingto us.
So that is why we do the Amazonwish list.
So there's Amazon.
You can do a packing party.
You can donate directly.
You can volunteer your time.
You can spread the word.
You can be somebody that hasresources and be like, I don't
have much time, but I have thiscontact.
I know this person that works atNike.
(31:17):
I see that you need a lot ofhoodies.
I know somebody at Adidas.
Let me get you some merchandise.
People can be a connector forus, which is a beautiful thing
that one thing leads to another.
So we are looking always forawareness and we are looking for
people that wholeheartedlyembrace our mission.
Those are the people that canhelp us in some way.
(31:38):
spread the word and help our webbe larger.
SPEAKER_01 (31:42):
And there's a storefront too.
SPEAKER_03 (31:44):
We have a location.
It is a converted garage, but wecall it a boutique and our
tensile team headquarters.
We have totally from top tobottom renovated it.
It's a very magical space.
There is snowflakes hangingeverywhere in there now.
And so we do have a hybrid towhere some people like the
police department this week, wehave three people from their
(32:05):
admin team.
They're actually coming into theboutique.
They have a list from all of theofficers and the admin, and
they're going to actually shopat as a team building bonding
experience for the children,because we just can't get the
officers to come in becausethey're like, we appreciate a
gift.
Right.
So they wouldn't take as muchfor themselves.
So we do have a beautiful spaceand some people get to come in
(32:26):
and shop and it's just abeautiful experience.
And it's a team building andthey get to see these officers,
children grow up.
Right.
And they get to be a part of, Iknow this child where we don't
know the children, but thepeople that work with them do.
So they can be like, Oh, I wouldknow that he'd love this
Spider-Man or he'd love Lovethis backpack.
We had a mom shop last year.
And she gave us a very detailedlist and she thought, you know,
(32:48):
she was good to go.
And I'm like, just come in just,just to make sure.
And she walked in and there wasthis unicorn backpack that if
you touch it, it was sequenceand it moved, right?
And she goes, my daughter wouldlove that.
And that out of everything onher Christmas list was her
daughter's favorite item.
And she never would have thoughtto ask for a unicorn backpack.
(33:09):
So actually having a place.
So our long-term goal is to havea pop-up next year.
The year after is we want tohave a place that is known kind
of like how spirit of Halloweendoes it, where you can shop for
Halloween.
So people can actually come inand shop for themselves.
One of the things that we doserve children from one to, they
say 92, we do take care of a lotof senior citizens.
(33:32):
There are seniors in this townthat need our love and support
that don't have family orsupport.
So we always take care of themas well.
SPEAKER_01 (33:40):
Oh, that's awesome.
UNKNOWN (33:42):
So, uh,
SPEAKER_01 (33:43):
What's who's, who's this guy?
SPEAKER_03 (33:45):
So Benny, Benny is, um, he, I wanted a mascot and I
set a couple of children aroundmy dining room table when I
first started this.
And I, cause I didn't know whatI was doing.
I didn't have a cause.
And I thought children are goingto be able to see what other
children need more than methinking.
I think this is what childrenneed.
(34:05):
So I was having brainstormingsessions and round table
discussions with them severaltimes.
And I brought Benny in as just abear and as a thank you.
And one of the girls, Madeline,immediately raised her hand and
said, I have a girl in myclassroom that could use some
sunshine.
Can I give her my bear?
Well, the rest of the kids, theyall wanted to give their bear
(34:28):
away.
So that created Benny and theKindness Squad book.
This is actually an interactivebook that is all real stories of
children in Collier County ofhow they gave their bear away.
100% of the proceeds go back toBeverly's Angels.
They had a naming contest.
Charlie was in a really bigrunning for the name like
Charlie's Angels.
But Benny was what the kidsloved.
(34:50):
So he has become Benny.
I am petitioning Gund one day.
His his legal name is Toothpickand I'm hoping that we make such
a noise with Beverly's Angelsthat we can rename him legally
through the company of Benny.
Oh, awesome.
So that's how it all came about.
It's children giving back tochildren and we have several of
(35:12):
those kids that still give back.
They volunteer their time.
We give community service hours.
We attract kids, especially withautism.
We get a lot of kids that feellike they don't fit in other
places and they are great in ourboutique.
They're very meticulous.
They're very detailed.
They're very giving and kind.
Uh, I record with this onelittle boy, Dominic, and I was
(35:33):
explaining to him, okay, we'retalking about underwear.
And I was saying, you know, somekids don't have underwear and,
um, this is what the package is.
And I just need you to talk,whatever you want to say about
underwear.
And I turn around, you know,turn the camera on and I look
back and he's crying.
He's got a tear in his eye andhe's like, I get to just go to
my underwear drawer and pull itout and I get to choose whatever
(35:55):
character color I want to wearthat day and it fits me.
And he's like, there's kids thatare in my class that don't have
underwear that's wearing toosmall or they're turning it
inside out because they can't doenough laundry.
They don't have enough.
So that has been one of the mostbeautiful things.
And we actually have been onNBC2 News with Lester Holt.
(36:17):
The Kindness Squad has beeninterviewed for all of their
good work that they do.
SPEAKER_01 (36:21):
The Kindness Squad.
SPEAKER_03 (36:22):
The Kindness Squad.
So the book is Benny and theKindness
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
Squad.
SPEAKER_03 (36:26):
So they just spread love and kindness.
And we don't have a lot ofpeople on it.
We have a small group because wereally We really want to make an
impact on the children.
You can do a lot of things.
with one person wanting to dosomething beautiful.
Then other people just come intoline and it really gives the
children an opportunity toshine.
(36:47):
That's what I'm really, of allthe things, I love the kindness
squad and I love children givingback to other children.
In this world, we need it.
It gets them off the devices.
When my dad was teaching, wedidn't have any of that stuff.
We played outside.
We rode our bikes.
We didn't have cell phones.
When it was dusk, we came home.
(37:07):
The neighbors knew, you're nothome.
You need to get home.
Right.
So I try to bring just a littlebit of that piece of my
childhood back.
Cause I think that's reallymissing this day and age.
And that's really kind of whatthe kindness
SPEAKER_01 (37:19):
squad is.
Yeah.
Oh, it's a, you know, it's anactivity that parents could get
their kids involved in that youdon't think about.
It's, it's, um, unless it's acamp or an organized thing, it's
a great opportunity.
I mean, it sounds like somethingfantastic that, especially
starting at that level as achild, getting involved in the
(37:41):
kindness squad.
How cool is that?
SPEAKER_03 (37:44):
Because kids these days are so busy.
It's hard to get a group of themtogether all the time.
So we offer spurts of areaswhere they can help and really
give back to their community sothey can understand some
appreciation, right?
SPEAKER_01 (37:56):
Yeah.
And it's done physically, not Ona cyber world, it's not done on
the internet.
It's done one-on-one.
SPEAKER_03 (38:05):
One-on-one, right?
You know, we're not theorganization that's looking to
do thousands and thousands andhundreds of thousands of people.
But every person that comes tous, that one person gets our
full attention that day, thatmoment, that second.
And one person at a time.
SPEAKER_01 (38:19):
Yeah, it's so great.
I love that it directly...
goes to another soul anotherhuman it's not just just doesn't
go in a big pot and then it justdoled out at random this is
something specific that theywanted that they needed that
they asked for that you knowcould be so easily fulfilled by
so many people i mean you knowuh especially in our community,
(38:43):
we're very, very blessed and tobe able to directly impact a
family child.
We don't think about it.
We don't see it.
We don't always hear it inPleasantville because we live in
Pleasantville.
Yes.
We don't always see that.
So that you guys have, you know,made this opportunity available
for people so that, you know, wedon't just end up with a bunch
(39:05):
of a shelf full of things that,we didn't need and that somebody
else certainly could haveimpacted their life in such a
positive way.
So love that you're doing this.
Thank you.
Thanks for doing it.
I'd
SPEAKER_03 (39:15):
love you to see the space.
We've had it donated to us forthe last couple of years.
Life has changed for the personwho owns it.
So she is in a position that sheneeds us to vacate to sell.
So after this holiday season, wewill be homeless.
Um, but I'm not worried about itbecause when one door closes,
another one opens, somethingbeautiful will happen and we
(39:37):
will continue to spread love ona bigger, better way.
We have several people alreadylooking.
Um, you just have to believethat you do the right thing.
You have good intentions.
You're there to make adifference in your world.
Things will happen, right?
SPEAKER_00 (39:51):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (39:52):
You know, have that mindset of we wake up in the
morning with a smile on our faceand something magical is going
to happen
SPEAKER_01 (39:57):
today.
Yeah.
Beautiful.
Now the people who come in intothe salons and they're looking
at archery, which isn't up yet,but when it's up and they see
one of the tags on, What do theydo?
So they
SPEAKER_03 (40:07):
grab a tag.
They get to go shop.
They can do it locally.
Or it's really nice if you havechildren to do it locally
because you can take them to thestore and they can actually help
and pick out, especially in thepart that says, I love.
Like, let's just say it isprincess for a little girl.
Then the little girl can go pickout some princess item for that
child, right?
Then they bring it back to yoursalon because we also want
(40:28):
traction of them coming back toyou.
And maybe they pick up some hairproducts or something as another
gift for somebody else, right?
So they bring it back.
to you.
And then our Tencel team once aweek comes in and does a sweep
and picks up the presents,restocks the boutique because we
actually have had people inshopping since the 1st of
September.
We've already done a lot of kidsjust to get to this point
(40:51):
because we are not Santa.
Like I am not going down thechimney in the red suit on
Christmas Eve, right?
Our Christmas really slows downby the 20th of December.
And those are for the last fewpeople.
We really try to get all of ourchildren served by like the 10th
of December because there'salways kids that you don't want
(41:11):
left behind that come in at lastminute.
So we really try.
We back it up every year.
Last year it was October 1st.
This year it was September 1st.
And for the first time wecreated a Christmas in July
campaign.
But now it's just going tobecome all year long to really
serve significantly and givepersonalized sacks to every
child.
It takes a lot of effort andenergy.
(41:32):
and love in a beautiful way.
I never want anybody to cut acorner or feel like they just
got an age appropriate gift.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
You know, there are times thatwe have sacks sitting for one
item to come in.
So that's why we do an Amazonwishlist on our Instagram every
day.
It's the hottest item that we'relooking for.
People can click on it.
It stays up to date.
(41:52):
It's literally the toys thathave been requested on a dear
Santa list that we do notphysically have in our boutique.
So that's a really great thingthat they can do as well as come
in and grab a tag They
SPEAKER_01 (42:03):
could also drop things off at the store, at the
salon, wherever, when theypurchase something.
SPEAKER_03 (42:08):
Yes.
I can give you our phone numberis, for anybody that wants to
write it down or put it on thescreen, it's 239-404-2082.
Again, that's 239-404-2082.
You can send a text message.
That'll go straight to our headalpha, Diana, and she can
(42:28):
schedule a time because we'revery mindful of we do not want
drop-offs when we actually havea recipient shopping in the
boutique.
So we want to keep privacy ofboth our donors and those that
are receiving.
So we do them at certain times.
She can also send you a link orwhoever wants to drop off a link
of like pick the best time foryou because we also want to be
(42:50):
professional.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (43:05):
So, and the website's always being updated.
So at any point, somebody canalways go to the website and do
everything right from there.
SPEAKER_03 (43:11):
Yes, beverlysangels.org gives you a
lot of information.
You can contact us throughthere.
You can donate through there.
You can click on the Amazon wishlink.
If you're not on socials, thatwill always be updated
throughout.
We keep it up all year long, butthis time of year, it's
specifically the toys or it'sclothing.
Right now, the thing that we'rethe shortest on is makeup and
(43:32):
hoodies.
We cannot seem to get enough ofthem.
because yes we do focus on dearsanta age children but guess
what they have siblings and youcan't take care of and really go
all out on dear santa for thosethat believe in santa and then
they have siblings that are 1213 14 16 years old and be like
(43:53):
you don't get anything under thetree so that is why we have
older children is their siblingsof youngers and we really want
them to feel just the magic andlove too right those are tough
years our teenage Yeah, yeah,yeah.
(44:34):
people really show up forthemselves and really live life.
SPEAKER_01 (44:39):
Well, I'm so happy we discovered you and we're here
for you fully.
I mean, whatever we can do foryou as an organization and our
family of people, we're here athousand percent.
And I would love to follow upafter the holidays or whenever
we can to keep this conversationgoing so that people know the
impact that they've had and wecan hear some of the beautiful
(45:01):
stories that come out of thistoo because we want to be a part
of whatever it is that you're upto because I know you're
championing the kindness squadand good...
Good humans, good people in thecommunity.
SPEAKER_03 (45:13):
It's fulfillment.
You know, it's purpose.
It's giving people that truepurpose and feeling good, right?
And we can take care of ourfamilies and we can take care of
ourselves.
But when you adopt a child forChristmas that you'll never meet
in your life and have no ideathe impact, the feeling, it's
just beautiful.
You know, when you really knowthat you've touched somebody
that you never get to meet, butyou've given that magic of Santa
(45:38):
that a mom at the moment can'tgive.
That's just a beautiful thing.
So I love your organization.
I love the vibe.
When I walked in here, I'm likefrom the moment, like I said,
it's an experience here.
We're both totally on vibes andI get a really good vibe from
you and let's just collaborateand let's really show people.
It doesn't, you don't have tohave the big pocket book.
(45:58):
You don't have to have all theconnections, but one person at a
time can help one other personsignificantly and a smile
because you never know whatsomeone is going through.
Just sharing that means all theworld.
SPEAKER_01 (46:09):
Yeah, I love it.
I love it.
Well, we're all about it.
Mila and Mason, mygrandchildren, this is for you
guys.
You're going to become a part ofthe kind of squad.
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (46:22):
This is really beautiful.
I'm very grateful
SPEAKER_01 (46:25):
so very much.
Yeah, honored.
Thanks for what you're doing.
We really appreciate you.
Love, respect, honor, and we'llalways be here for you.
Thanks again.
SPEAKER_03 (46:32):
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Awesome.
UNKNOWN (46:34):
Thank you.
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