Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, I'll say this time of the year, weather can
(00:02):
be unpredictable, to say the least. That we're expecting some
storm activity to come in here late this afternoon. It's
going to bring cooler temperatures for our copy dematology Magic
City Wine Fest tomorrow night, and we might see another
round of some rain in the afternoon tomorrow, these heat
activated showers. But the good news is all that should
be moved down here by five o'clock tomorrow the Magic
City Wine Fest tomorrow night, six till nine at the
(00:24):
Hoover met and it will benefit to neighborhood bridges and
Hoover helps. What a great organization and joining us to
talk a little bit more about that, David Banister, mister Hoover,
and also Nicole Zilstra. Zeilstra, how do you pronounce your name?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
It's Alstra there it is Zylester.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
All right, Good to see you guys, David, you as well.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Hey, good morning, Fog. It's always good to see you.
We go back twenty five years, folks.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
So I mean you are really, mister Hoover. I mean,
if Frank Percato and Nick Dursys weren't running for mayor,
I would say you're probably the next one in line
to run for mayor well JT.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
You know, all the boards that I've served on over
the last twenty six years, they're all volunteers, so it's
hard to fire free.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
That's a good point, Nicole. Tell us what your involvement
is with the event and the charity.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So I came on for Neighborhood Bridges as an area
director this year and just looking to help bridge the
gap for our Hoover community and just help kids get
what they need.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
You know, you would think in Hoover, Ah, that's no
big deal. That's a nice community of disposable incomes with
those families in Hoover, But you never know in all
communities whether there's a flourishing economic background with the residents
to homes and areas that you know need help. Even
in the more quote unquote rich parts of town, there
(01:40):
are gaps and there are people that need your help
and struggle when kids aren't in school. Sometimes it's not
always there as far as food goes in the home.
So how did this whole program start? David? I know
you were instrumental in this and your brother was involved
in a program up in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, JT. So, my middle brother served a couple of
terms on the school board where we grew up in Ohio,
and he noticed that, you know, you just talked about
have and have not. So he's from a suburban area
almost identical to Hoover. It's about ninety five thousand and
has sixteen schools. Hoover's ninety six thousand has seventeen schools.
And what he found is is that the suburban areas
(02:17):
are actually having because families, single moms and single families
are moving into these areas for better schools. But they're
coming in by the skin of their teeth. And I
think we can all recognize that times can be tough,
not just for a single parent, for any family that's
trying to get into an area to make the school
system better for them. So what we saw is the
title one like the Free and Reduced Lunch and Hoover.
(02:38):
When Kelly and I moved here in two thousand, it
was about seven percent. Hoover's now twenty six percent. Wow,
So the need is just growing and that when you
say twenty six percent, that probably means another ten percent
are right on that line. It probably could use the
kindness and the help So when Nicole being involved in
(02:59):
being a nurse in school system and being a doer
and being involved in so many different things in Hoover,
she sees on a day to day basis, how many
kids need this kind of kindness.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Nicole, I was going to ask you, because I see
her in scrubs this morning, you know what you're doing
when you're not volunteering, And David certainly just answered that
for me. So you see this kind of firsthand. You're
where the rubber hits the road inside the school. So
as a nurse there without you know, mentioning, you know
names and things like that. Of course, you see a
lot more than most people see.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Absolutely. So I came on as a nurse within Hoover
City Schools last October, and you know, I do have
a child of my own in the school system, and
so I do see some things. But my eyes were
really open when I came on staff.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I also have the privilege of working with three amazing
counselors at the school that I am currently at, but
throughout the school system as a whole, we have forty
seven school counselors and twenty SROs that also help us
identify these needs. So these children, you know, we're willing
to meet them where they are. They come to us
(04:05):
and let us know what their needs are. They don't
always come right out and say hey I have food insecurity,
or hey I have this issue. It presents in other ways,
and then we as a team drill down and see
what that need is, and then school counselors can post
that need right to the Neighborhood Bridges website and then
it's opened up the community, to the community and to
(04:27):
the subscribers as well.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
You know, sometimes you know, pride comes into play in
a lot of families feel you know, uncomfortable admitting that, hey,
we need some help. How do you reach those families
that really don't want to come forward and say that.
Do you approach them as it's kind of a private
discussion I would imagine for them. How does it work
where you finally make the connection. As David mentioned, you know,
(04:50):
there's probably some more that are not in that category
of needing the help that don't come forward.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So all posts are made anonymously. If you know of
someone who struggling, you as an anonymous poster can present
that need, so there doesn't there doesn't have to be
you know, any kind of controversy or any kind of
like confrontation. It's it's very just kind of it's just
(05:17):
kind of anonymous.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And it grows organically and you find out about people.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
You know, the reason for the anonymous kindness is to
keep the dignity intact for the for the families and
the child. So Nicole made the point earlier. What makes
our charity so impactful is is that when we started
this thing six years ago, when I was in leadership
Oover JT, we queried the public and we asked them
(05:41):
why is it that you give to some charities and
not others? And I'll tell you one of the biggest
reasons why they didn't is like things like GoFundMe, there's
too many scams. Unfortunately, we live in a world now
where moms and dads put out things that just aren't
true and they and they get moneies for things, and
people come rushing in to say, oh, let me help
this family, and then they find out that Uncle Rico
(06:01):
really didn't have that issue. They were just enriching themselves.
So our charity is one hundred percent only run by
the counselors and the SRO officers. So that our donors
know that one hundred percent of what they give goes
to the families in need, and it came from someone
that knows that family is helping that family and is
going to give the kindness directly to that family.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Well, I love the organization. You guys have been doing
great work for years now in our community and tomorrow
night's Cobby Dermatology Magic City Winefest. Some of these proceeds
will benefit you guys and the programs that you've put
together for these families that are in neatis so JT.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I'd like to thank Caroline and Blake for just going
above and beyond and make us a part of this event.
We look forward to making this a big part in Hoover.
I'd also like to thank Aaron Cobaal and Kelly Peoples
at the City of Hoover. They did unbelievable they you know,
kindness cuts a lot of red tape.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah. Well, Caroline is our event coordinator and Blake is
our area president with iHeart and Caroline is a beast
with so many different events around our region with iHeart
in different cities and her along with the folks that
you mentioned at Hoover, I think we've got a really
good night plan for tomorrow night too so and by
the way, speaking of the wine fest, Caroline did bring
ten pair of tickets and if you'd like to grab
(07:14):
some of these tickets, absolutely free come to Biscuit Belly
right now. We're here until nine o'clock and first come,
first serve on those tickets. So come on and we'll
see you tomorrow night, six till nine at the Hoover
met David, thank you so much. I appreciate you. And
once again, Nicole Zelestra, I got it there. Thank you guys.
I appreciate you.
Well, I'll say this time of the year, weather can
(00:02):
be unpredictable, to say the least. That we're expecting some
storm activity to come in here late this afternoon. It's
going to bring cooler temperatures for our copy dematology Magic
City Wine Fest tomorrow night, and we might see another
round of some rain in the afternoon tomorrow, these heat
activated showers. But the good news is all that should
be moved down here by five o'clock tomorrow the Magic
City Wine Fest tomorrow night, six till nine at the
(00:24):
Hoover met and it will benefit to neighborhood bridges and
Hoover helps. What a great organization and joining us to
talk a little bit more about that, David Banister, mister Hoover,
and also Nicole Zilstra. Zeilstra, how do you pronounce your name?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
It's Alstra there it is Zylester.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
All right, Good to see you guys, David, you as well.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Hey, good morning, Fog. It's always good to see you.
We go back twenty five years, folks.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
So I mean you are really, mister Hoover. I mean,
if Frank Percato and Nick Dursys weren't running for mayor,
I would say you're probably the next one in line
to run for mayor well JT.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
You know, all the boards that I've served on over
the last twenty six years, they're all volunteers, so it's
hard to fire free.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
That's a good point, Nicole. Tell us what your involvement
is with the event and the charity.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So I came on for Neighborhood Bridges as an area
director this year and just looking to help bridge the
gap for our Hoover community and just help kids get
what they need.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
You know, you would think in Hoover, Ah, that's no
big deal. That's a nice community of disposable incomes with
those families in Hoover, But you never know in all
communities whether there's a flourishing economic background with the residents
to homes and areas that you know need help. Even
in the more quote unquote rich parts of town, there
(01:40):
are gaps and there are people that need your help
and struggle when kids aren't in school. Sometimes it's not
always there as far as food goes in the home.
So how did this whole program start? David? I know
you were instrumental in this and your brother was involved
in a program up in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, JT. So, my middle brother served a couple of
terms on the school board where we grew up in Ohio,
and he noticed that, you know, you just talked about
have and have not. So he's from a suburban area
almost identical to Hoover. It's about ninety five thousand and
has sixteen schools. Hoover's ninety six thousand has seventeen schools.
And what he found is is that the suburban areas
(02:17):
are actually having because families, single moms and single families
are moving into these areas for better schools. But they're
coming in by the skin of their teeth. And I
think we can all recognize that times can be tough,
not just for a single parent, for any family that's
trying to get into an area to make the school
system better for them. So what we saw is the
title one like the Free and Reduced Lunch and Hoover.
(02:38):
When Kelly and I moved here in two thousand, it
was about seven percent. Hoover's now twenty six percent. Wow,
So the need is just growing and that when you
say twenty six percent, that probably means another ten percent
are right on that line. It probably could use the
kindness and the help So when Nicole being involved in
(02:59):
being a nurse in school system and being a doer
and being involved in so many different things in Hoover,
she sees on a day to day basis, how many
kids need this kind of kindness.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Nicole, I was going to ask you, because I see
her in scrubs this morning, you know what you're doing
when you're not volunteering, And David certainly just answered that
for me. So you see this kind of firsthand. You're
where the rubber hits the road inside the school. So
as a nurse there without you know, mentioning, you know
names and things like that. Of course, you see a
lot more than most people see.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Absolutely. So I came on as a nurse within Hoover
City Schools last October, and you know, I do have
a child of my own in the school system, and
so I do see some things. But my eyes were
really open when I came on staff.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I also have the privilege of working with three amazing
counselors at the school that I am currently at, but
throughout the school system as a whole, we have forty
seven school counselors and twenty SROs that also help us
identify these needs. So these children, you know, we're willing
to meet them where they are. They come to us
(04:05):
and let us know what their needs are. They don't
always come right out and say hey I have food insecurity,
or hey I have this issue. It presents in other ways,
and then we as a team drill down and see
what that need is, and then school counselors can post
that need right to the Neighborhood Bridges website and then
it's opened up the community, to the community and to
(04:27):
the subscribers as well.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
You know, sometimes you know, pride comes into play in
a lot of families feel you know, uncomfortable admitting that, hey,
we need some help. How do you reach those families
that really don't want to come forward and say that.
Do you approach them as it's kind of a private
discussion I would imagine for them. How does it work
where you finally make the connection. As David mentioned, you know,
(04:50):
there's probably some more that are not in that category
of needing the help that don't come forward.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So all posts are made anonymously. If you know of
someone who struggling, you as an anonymous poster can present
that need, so there doesn't there doesn't have to be
you know, any kind of controversy or any kind of
like confrontation. It's it's very just kind of it's just
(05:17):
kind of anonymous.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And it grows organically and you find out about people.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
You know, the reason for the anonymous kindness is to
keep the dignity intact for the for the families and
the child. So Nicole made the point earlier. What makes
our charity so impactful is is that when we started
this thing six years ago, when I was in leadership
Oover JT, we queried the public and we asked them
(05:41):
why is it that you give to some charities and
not others? And I'll tell you one of the biggest
reasons why they didn't is like things like GoFundMe, there's
too many scams. Unfortunately, we live in a world now
where moms and dads put out things that just aren't
true and they and they get moneies for things, and
people come rushing in to say, oh, let me help
this family, and then they find out that Uncle Rico
(06:01):
really didn't have that issue. They were just enriching themselves.
So our charity is one hundred percent only run by
the counselors and the SRO officers. So that our donors
know that one hundred percent of what they give goes
to the families in need, and it came from someone
that knows that family is helping that family and is
going to give the kindness directly to that family.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Well, I love the organization. You guys have been doing
great work for years now in our community and tomorrow
night's Cobby Dermatology Magic City Winefest. Some of these proceeds
will benefit you guys and the programs that you've put
together for these families that are in neatis so JT.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I'd like to thank Caroline and Blake for just going
above and beyond and make us a part of this event.
We look forward to making this a big part in Hoover.
I'd also like to thank Aaron Cobaal and Kelly Peoples
at the City of Hoover. They did unbelievable they you know,
kindness cuts a lot of red tape.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah. Well, Caroline is our event coordinator and Blake is
our area president with iHeart and Caroline is a beast
with so many different events around our region with iHeart
in different cities and her along with the folks that
you mentioned at Hoover, I think we've got a really
good night plan for tomorrow night too so and by
the way, speaking of the wine fest, Caroline did bring
ten pair of tickets and if you'd like to grab
(07:14):
some of these tickets, absolutely free come to Biscuit Belly
right now. We're here until nine o'clock and first come,
first serve on those tickets. So come on and we'll
see you tomorrow night, six till nine at the Hoover
met David, thank you so much. I appreciate you. And
once again, Nicole Zelestra, I got it there. Thank you guys.
I appreciate you.
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