November 3, 2025 • 20 mins
LET'S HELP FURNISH SOME HOUSING With a group called Knock Knock Angels of Colorado, who provide the stuff to make a home a home when moving someone coming out of a traumatic situation or homelessness as they get back on their feet. I'm speaking with Scott Matthias, the local realtor who helped start Knock Knock Angels of Colorado to get those homes furnished. He joins met at 2:30 to talk about how you can help. Find out more here.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Scott Mathias joins me now from an organization called Knock
Knock Angels.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I love that name.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
First of all, it's snappy, it's fun, it is and
they are helping people not just have a place to live,
but build a home. Is that the easiest way to
sort of give the big umbrella picture.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Of what you do, Scott, That is the big umbrella picture,
just to help veterans and single moms take just an
empty apartment and make it a home.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So what exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
First of all, it's started about how you found out
about Knock Knock Angels. It started in California, you said.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
I'm part of the National Association of Realtors one point
five million strong, and we each year we have ten
Good Neighbor Award winners at the National Association Relterers out
of a couple hundred thousand that apply for that. Vicky
Lobo from Knock Angels got the award. I called her
the next day to to say, hey, congratulations. You know,
we've been doing something in Mexico for the last several years,
(00:50):
but because of COVID it was shut down. Yeah, I
would love to do this in Colorado, she says, that's
my vision.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I want to spread it across the country.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
That's fantastic, and people don't realize how much time and
energy realtors overhaul put back into the communities that they serve.
Every realtor I know has some kind of charitable connection
that they are deeply involved with. This is like a
casual fly by night thing. You are, you're in the process.
You're so successful. You need a warehouse.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
We do need a warehouse. I have calls every day
that I turn down furniture. What we want to do
for these veterans and single moms is give them dignity.
So we want to get them gently used furniture. And
that's not a problem. I get calls every day. Our
organization gets calls every day. We just have limited limited
storage space. Right.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Warehousing space is really hard, as I'm sure you're finding out.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So what exactly are you looking at?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
We have before My co founder in this, Barrett Miller,
has a company, Checkmate Moving in storage, so they take
all the furniture to our makeovers when we do the makeovers.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
So we need something on the south end of town.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I don't know, three to four thousand square feet of
somebody that where we can just not only get furniture
for our vet trends, in our single moms, but even
taking furniture that we could even sell to help do
these makeovers.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right, So let's talk about what happens when someone calls
Knock Dnock angels. What situation are they coming from?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
You know, that's a good question. We have two organizations
mainly that we work with. We work with hud Vash
and we also work with Hope House out of Barvada
for single moms. But what hud Dash does is they'll
go out in the streets and they'll identify these homeless
veterans and let them know a.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Lot of these a lot of these veterans don't know
that they have.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Benefits, so hud Vash will let them know about the benefits.
And the biggest benefit they can get is these housing vouchers.
We ask them what would you like? And most of them,
most of them don't.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Have any furniture.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And if they do, it is they've dumped They took
on into the dumpster in the parking lot and taken
a chair or a mattress.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
But most of the times they have nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
So all they say, you know, if you can get
me a bed, if you can get me a couch
or a table, a chair to sit on. That that's
all we want to say. We want you to open
up your dream space. That's when my co.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Founder, allow yourself to dream for just a moment, absolutely
of what this could be.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And Barrett comes in, that's the co founder of this
and she she's an interior decorator background, and she'll say, no,
what do you want? What kind of colors do you want?
What kind of landscape do you want on your walls?
When they walk out of their property at nine o'clock
in the morning, we take them to get a breakfast
and a haircut. These veterans, they'll come back three hours later.
(03:27):
Not only will they have a completely furnished apartner with furniture, pots, pans,
rock pots, all of that, the walls.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
It's so expensive to set up properly a house. And
this is one of the reasons that we have the
tradition of giving wedding gifts because back in the day
when young people got married, they didn't have anything. So
let's just think about this as the wedding gift to
a veteran or a single mom with kids that is
coming out of a bad situation. To allow them to
(03:57):
start their life and move.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
It forward exactly.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
You know, if they were to do that on their own,
it might take them four or five six years to
work enough just to get all the stuff that we supply.
So by doing this and making it a home, they
can go out and get a job, they can take
care of their kids, they can do the stuff that.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
They need to do moving forward.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I love this, And I told you when we started this,
you were going to get more phone calls. So we
got to where you in this situation you say, okay,
I need more warehouse space.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Can you take donations? Now? Are you able to do that?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
We do.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I mean we're on a case by case situation where
we meet these veterans in single moms that we know
the needs list that they have, right, so then we
put it out on social media.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
These are the certain things that we need.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
We're helping a veteran next week, We're helping two single
moms the week after next. I remember we put that
those requests out on Facebook to all our followers, and
I mean I've had a crockpot arrive them from England.
Oh no, no, of course, now they sent it through Amazon.
At the bottom line, it's far reaching.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
It's fantastic, and I just think that, you know, to
your point about the I want to talk about the
fact that this has on the mental position of the
person receiving these goods, because it is one thing to
take that breath of oh my gosh, I have an apartment, right,
I have a place to rest my head. But it's
quite another to say I have a home. So what
(05:16):
does what do you get to keep in touch with
these people after the fact, I mean, tell me a
little bit of that.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
We not only do we keep in touch with them,
but they a lot of them. A lot of the
veterans will come and help us with makeovers for other veterans.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
And one one guy in particular, he hasn't seen his
son for ten years. Yeah, and last time I saw
them was who's one? He's eleven years old. But one
of the one of the really things that he needed
to do is prove that he had a home where
his son can come visit. So these are I mean,
these are real life situations, the life situations. And and
he was so grateful, And a lot of our veterans
(05:49):
are so grateful that they will come and pay it
forward and help other veterans.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
It's it's it's very heartwarming.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
How many realtors are involved in this here in Colorado.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, that's amazing. We have our organization has about eighty volunteers.
We have seven board members, eighty volunteers. But there's not
one makeover that there's not a sum member from the
Colorado Association of Realtors that including the CEO, Tyron Adams,
that will come and help us on these makeovers. There's
not I can't think of one makeover I don't have
at least a realtor so, I mean, we're competitors by day,
(06:18):
but then we come together with help the community.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
It's cost. So let me ask this question.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Is it more useful to you right now for people
to donate money or is it more useful to you
to have them follow you on your Facebook page or
more useful to you to have them donate that gently
use furniture. And y'all, that couch that has been in
your basement since nineteen seventy eight is not what we're
talking about here.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Okay, if your.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Dog's been sleeping on it for nine years, we are
not talking about that couch. That couch needs to go
to the dump. We're talking about a couch that you
look at and go, I'm still using that. Maybe it
doesn't fit my new apartment, or it doesn't fit my
color scheme or whatever.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
We're talking about nicer stuff. Because if you.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Wouldn't want it, if you don't want to see somebody
to give it to you to use, don't try to
give it to somebody else.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
That's exactly what I tell people. If you don't want
to use it yourself, it's not good enough for our veterance.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Right exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And that's not being snobby, it's just being it recognizes.
And I'm part of my feelings about this God are
because of things that I've seen during disaster relief when
people are literally donating bags of dirty laundry and I'm
thinking to myself, what in the hell are you doing now?
And so if it's disgusting or you don't want to
sit on it or use it anymore, please don't donate it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Throw it away.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But an answer to your question, what do we need
the most is cash? You know, any nonprofit it's about
twenty five hundred dollars to do a makeover for these
I'm sure. And in four years, we've done sixty five
full makeovers. And the other thing that we do that's
just absolutely amazing is we don't have a VET. If
a veteran can get a truck that can come down
to our storage facilities down in Sedelia and they can
(07:57):
we can just open up the containers and they can
shop kids on their truck, they can take it in.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
There was a very similar organization to this one in
Orlando many many many years ago, and it was called
the Mustard Seed because from a tiny thing comes a
great a great thing, and it was I got to
go there and watch people come in, and they've focused
mostly on people that were cycling out of out of homelessness.
(08:24):
So these are people, some of whom have been on
the streets for fifteen twenty years, right Everything they had
fit in a shopping cart. And to see them come
in and see all of this furniture, it was overwhelming,
to the point that many were almost paralyzed with the options.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You know that that's happened to some of our veterans.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I mean, our average veteran I think that we've helped
over the last four years has been on the street
four to five years.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Wow. We even asked one. Gary.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
I'll never forget it, I asked him. I said, how
long have you been on the streets? How long have
you been homeless? He says, Scott, I've not been homeless.
I'm apart mentally challenged, he says. He says, do you
know how much it costs for apartments in order for
me to live?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And he was living in a tent city downtown and boy,
what a transformation that we made for him.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Do you ever have like like alumni meetings, you know,
or or or events where people can get together.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
We're talking about that. We're talking to our boards.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Now we got a significant number, significant number.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
And we want to get them together. And we went
we even want to do a mentorship for these veterans.
So we get some wearing vents and volunteers that have
stepped up and said, hey, we'll get them together. So
we've talked about picnics and we've also talked we're getting
a bunch of them together for Veterans Day.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Oh that's fantastic, That is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I put a link to Knock Knock Angels on the
blog today, but I do want to make sure that
I get your Facebook page because if you're putting out
the call for stuff, I'm going to follow you on Facebook.
Is that just Knock Knock Angels Colorado?
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Yes it is. I sent that to a rod.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
But the bottom line is, yeah, we put all our
events on there because raising money like this this coming
Wednesday at the fire Fireball Cafe over on a wrap
a Road on Briarwood from four to eight people. You know,
people got to eat anyway, right right right, so we
want them to come in and join us and they
could learn more about Knock Angels.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
But also we get a portion of the sales that night.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
And also I'm just gonna say, I freaking love fire
Bowl Cafe.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
They're so good.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Well you'll have to stop buy on Wednesday. Well for eight.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
My Wednesday is extremely busy. I would love to otherwise
because it is very very good. But what I love
to know, it's like on November first, two Hope House, Colorado.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Moms need your help there. So there's a post here
so if you want to see what they need.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
And then I'm guessing, as you said, you got a
crock Pop from the UK, so people can just donate
that way too.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, I have a lot of stuff that arrive on
my porch. This lady, Laurie Malanowski. I worked with her
years and years ago, like forty five years ago at
King Supers. There's not one post that I make on
there that I don't get something on.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
My front porch.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
But she's ordered off Amazon for and it's just a
bits heartwarming.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
It involves so many people. It takes an army, as.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
They say, it does take an army. But one of
the things I like about this God is because you
guys are having a one on one moment with the
people that you're helping. And you know, I think that
when we substitute government intervention and although there's a government
aspect to this, especially for the veterans, but when we
substitute government.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And interaction for all of that these you.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Don't get a chance to have gratitude, right, You don't
get a chance to have that moment where you can
actually look someone in the face and say thank you.
And for me, that feels much different. And it's going
to be this is going to be one of those
gigs where it must be awesome every single time that.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You go out to make one of these houses.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
There is and what we call the Big reveal when
we've taken when we've kicked them out of their place
for two or three hours. Even though they know we're
going to do something special, they have no clue. And
you know what, there's probably not a time that there's
not tears in the recipient and there's not tears in
the volunteers, right, But it's just it's those reveals are
and we have them on our webs on our Facebook
(12:00):
all the time.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
As far as the great reveals.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
What are the do you guys do fund razors throughout
the year?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
We do.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I mean we do a lot of these restaurant type
thing right fundraisers. We're going to have a big, huge event,
a big casino night next fall. I mean they're hard
to plan, yes they are, and you know there's just
a lot of donor fatigue as far as donation fatigue,
so we're trying to make something special. But again, I mean,
if they go to kkaco dot org, right, you know
(12:27):
they can donate to that and it's we are a
five toh one C three.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Charity kkaco dot org. I just found them and followed
them on Facebook. So if you want to support them
casually directly however you want to do it. They make
it easy, They make it very very easy. I'm fascinated.
I'm actually my brother's real estate broker in Las Vegas,
and I'm going to send him this, okay, because you know,
we all have different things that are that touch our heart.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
What was it about this specifically? Because you've talked about.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Going to an awards thing and hearing about the founder
of this group, but there was other people there doing
great things too, So what was it about this that
struck a chord with you?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
What struck a chord is Barrett and I had been
going down to Mexico for many years, building two houses
down there every year, taking a lot of volunteers. And
when that border had closed, and I've been doing this
for twenty two years going down there, my wife said,
you know, when God closes one door, He's going to
open up another.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Right, So I sat down.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
This was during COVID, so we weren't at our conference
in Louisiana like we were supposed to be, so it
was virtual and I sat down and Vickie started talking
and they started start talking.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
About her award, and well, knock Knock angels.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
First of all, God opened a door, big tide by
Knocked Locked Angels, and I just.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Love the name of that.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
And when I called her, I said, you know what,
We've been doing this stuff in Mexico for many years,
but now we have an opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Do it do it in Denver.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yes, And what really happened is what Barrett and I
have mentioned. Barrett a lot were sort of inseparable as
far as and we couldn't do it without Barrett. But
both our dads died of COVID during COVID a week
from a week apart from each other, and there were
both veterans, and so we thought, wow, this is amazing.
We could start this in their memory and uh and
do good things.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
For veterans well.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
And I like the fact that it's veterans, but I
also like the fact you guys are working with single
moms and their kids. You know, I want every kid,
I think everybody wants every kid to have a safe
space to live, right, But just four bare walls and
a mattress on the floor, it doesn't feel as safe
as something that has cool decorations and whatever. Now, you
(14:28):
guys are a five oh one C three correct, correct?
So your tax deductible donations.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Absolutely okay, and you know you mentioned that single moms.
We a big shout out to Hope House. They are
they're out of Barvada and they help transistion these single
moms and into workplace and we kids, and so it's
just amazing. We do a lot, not only furnishing them,
but if we always do our big Christmas makeover where
we will will fully decorate it with Christmas tree.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Oh that's fantastic. Oh can you even imagine?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
And we tell our veterans in single ams who we've
done these for, you know, because we might do at
the beginning of December. But yeah, but they got a
tree full of gifts. Said, hey, now that's up to
you to keep them away from the gifts.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
We give you the gifts.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I would love that. That would be super fun.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So a lot of people are asking about the website
how to how to get involved. I think the now
let me ask this question, because are you open or
could you take on any other charities that could feed
you people in need?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Oh? Absolutely, And I think that there's so many charities
that work with veterans, right, so we yeah, and yeah,
we could always were volunteers. Is the lifebole of any
of any foundation.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Excellent.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Scott Matthias is my guest. He is with an organization
called Knock Knock Angels of Colorado and they help hows,
not howls. They help furnish places for people that maybe
haven't had a place in years and get them not
just you know, a roof over their head, but a
roof over their head. And to the point here by
(15:58):
working with the VA is this is not a give
an addicted person an apartment for free. There are responsibilities
that have to be met by the people that are
getting help, and they're on their way to success. So
this is just going to help them be on their
way to success even more so, thanks so much for
what you're doing.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Absolutely, you know it's a shameless plug.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
But if they go to that Facebook page, I am
in a big competition, a huge competition. So again we
have one point five million members and there's ten of
us Good Neighbor Award winners. However, for the entire month
of well from October sixth to November seventh, which is
coming up here in a few days, they can go
to that link in there and they can vote a
thousand times a day. If they work, if they like
(16:44):
this story, and if they want to help veterans and
single moms, they can vote so we can get more grant.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Money from the National Association of Realtor.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And look at this.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
While you've been telling people about that, I voted three times, Scott.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
There you go. We will stack the deck now.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
When Scott came in earlier, I was like, Scott, you
want to play the day anyway? Oh god, I don't
have to play that, do I go, yes, you do.
But you don't have to be good at it. That's
the point, Okay, don't have to be good at it,
because now it's time for the most exciting segment on
the radio of It's.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Gone the world of the day. Okay, all right, Scott.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
If you've listened to the show, you know how this works.
First we get dad joke of the day. Nothing required
of you here.
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What's the difference between a well dressed man on a
unicycle and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle? A
well dressed man on a unicycle and a poorly dressed
man on a bicycle.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
I can't think of one attire.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Oh good, oh my gosh, boom boo. Anyway, what is
our word of the day please. It is a noun
noun calc c a l q u e cow elk.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Helc.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And that's a noun.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Is that like the calcium that forms on It's when
something calcifies that's left behind.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
No, do I get a call friend?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
No, there's no color show, wrong game show.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
It's a cow's well, I can't go there. But a
dirty part of a cow, part of a cow.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
It is a lone translation of a word or phrase
from another language.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Calc okay, there you go.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Other than the color, what is the difference between black
tea and green tea? And I know this no difference
because I went to a sea farm in Japan.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Would you like to know, Scott, I would love to know.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Black tea and green tea are both made from the
leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant. However, they are processed differently.
Black tea leaves are rolled than exposed to air. The
oxidation process turns the leaves dark and heightens the flavor.
Green tea leaves are prevented from undergoing oxidation and thus
remain lighter.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
That's why they're fresh tea leaves.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Oh you got to try the butterfly, pea flower tea.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Look it up.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
That sounds interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Blue when you brew it, put in a little lemon
turns purple away.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Goodness.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Oh, it's so fun anyway, What is our jeopardy category?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I will be waiting until the end of the question, Scott.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You do not have to wait until the end, but
if you may want to do you have to say
your name?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Scott? Try it?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I'm Scott.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Okay, let's go.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Let go? Is the category?
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Okay? Let go? Let answer go.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Let Someone exercising to get rid of strong feelings does it?
So does a boiling tea kettle of.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Whistle?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Whistle, say Scott. And then while I think that's correct, incorrect?
I don't know what is it?
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Let off steam?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Officers?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Where of them on their shoulders?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Mandy?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
What are epaulets?
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (20:06):
In a grim tail?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
The king's son makes this plea to a maiden locked
in a tower?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Mandy? What is let down your hair?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
That is correct? Mandy, you've played this a few more
times than I.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yes, I told you didn't have to wait with Scott.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
A protective charm, Mandy, what's an ambulance?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
That is correct?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
And for the wind they're on the tips of your shoelaces.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
That is correct.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Sorry, well, hey Mandy, you voted from me several times,
so you.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Know Scott's willing to let me win as long as
I cast those Scott, such a joy meeting.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Thank you for what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Sure,
Scott Mathias joins me now from an organization called Knock
Knock Angels.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I love that name.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
First of all, it's snappy, it's fun, it is and
they are helping people not just have a place to live,
but build a home. Is that the easiest way to
sort of give the big umbrella picture.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Of what you do, Scott, That is the big umbrella picture,
just to help veterans and single moms take just an
empty apartment and make it a home.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So what exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
First of all, it's started about how you found out
about Knock Knock Angels. It started in California, you said.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
I'm part of the National Association of Realtors one point
five million strong, and we each year we have ten
Good Neighbor Award winners at the National Association Relterers out
of a couple hundred thousand that apply for that. Vicky
Lobo from Knock Angels got the award. I called her
the next day to to say, hey, congratulations. You know,
we've been doing something in Mexico for the last several years,
(00:50):
but because of COVID it was shut down. Yeah, I
would love to do this in Colorado, she says, that's
my vision.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I want to spread it across the country.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
That's fantastic, and people don't realize how much time and
energy realtors overhaul put back into the communities that they serve.
Every realtor I know has some kind of charitable connection
that they are deeply involved with. This is like a
casual fly by night thing. You are, you're in the process.
You're so successful. You need a warehouse.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
We do need a warehouse. I have calls every day
that I turn down furniture. What we want to do
for these veterans and single moms is give them dignity.
So we want to get them gently used furniture. And
that's not a problem. I get calls every day. Our
organization gets calls every day. We just have limited limited
storage space. Right.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Warehousing space is really hard, as I'm sure you're finding out.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So what exactly are you looking at?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
We have before My co founder in this, Barrett Miller,
has a company, Checkmate Moving in storage, so they take
all the furniture to our makeovers when we do the makeovers.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
So we need something on the south end of town.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I don't know, three to four thousand square feet of
somebody that where we can just not only get furniture
for our vet trends, in our single moms, but even
taking furniture that we could even sell to help do
these makeovers.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right, So let's talk about what happens when someone calls
Knock Dnock angels. What situation are they coming from?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
You know, that's a good question. We have two organizations
mainly that we work with. We work with hud Vash
and we also work with Hope House out of Barvada
for single moms. But what hud Dash does is they'll
go out in the streets and they'll identify these homeless
veterans and let them know a.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Lot of these a lot of these veterans don't know
that they have.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Benefits, so hud Vash will let them know about the benefits.
And the biggest benefit they can get is these housing vouchers.
We ask them what would you like? And most of them,
most of them don't.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Have any furniture.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And if they do, it is they've dumped They took
on into the dumpster in the parking lot and taken
a chair or a mattress.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
But most of the times they have nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
So all they say, you know, if you can get
me a bed, if you can get me a couch
or a table, a chair to sit on. That that's
all we want to say. We want you to open
up your dream space. That's when my co.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Founder, allow yourself to dream for just a moment, absolutely
of what this could be.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And Barrett comes in, that's the co founder of this
and she she's an interior decorator background, and she'll say, no,
what do you want? What kind of colors do you want?
What kind of landscape do you want on your walls?
When they walk out of their property at nine o'clock
in the morning, we take them to get a breakfast
and a haircut. These veterans, they'll come back three hours later.
(03:27):
Not only will they have a completely furnished apartner with furniture, pots, pans,
rock pots, all of that, the walls.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
It's so expensive to set up properly a house. And
this is one of the reasons that we have the
tradition of giving wedding gifts because back in the day
when young people got married, they didn't have anything. So
let's just think about this as the wedding gift to
a veteran or a single mom with kids that is
coming out of a bad situation. To allow them to
(03:57):
start their life and move.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
It forward exactly.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
You know, if they were to do that on their own,
it might take them four or five six years to
work enough just to get all the stuff that we supply.
So by doing this and making it a home, they
can go out and get a job, they can take
care of their kids, they can do the stuff that.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
They need to do moving forward.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I love this, And I told you when we started this,
you were going to get more phone calls. So we
got to where you in this situation you say, okay,
I need more warehouse space.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Can you take donations? Now? Are you able to do that?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
We do.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I mean we're on a case by case situation where
we meet these veterans in single moms that we know
the needs list that they have, right, so then we
put it out on social media.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
These are the certain things that we need.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
We're helping a veteran next week, We're helping two single
moms the week after next. I remember we put that
those requests out on Facebook to all our followers, and
I mean I've had a crockpot arrive them from England.
Oh no, no, of course, now they sent it through Amazon.
At the bottom line, it's far reaching.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
It's fantastic, and I just think that, you know, to
your point about the I want to talk about the
fact that this has on the mental position of the
person receiving these goods, because it is one thing to
take that breath of oh my gosh, I have an apartment, right,
I have a place to rest my head. But it's
quite another to say I have a home. So what
(05:16):
does what do you get to keep in touch with
these people after the fact, I mean, tell me a
little bit of that.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
We not only do we keep in touch with them,
but they a lot of them. A lot of the
veterans will come and help us with makeovers for other veterans.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
And one one guy in particular, he hasn't seen his
son for ten years. Yeah, and last time I saw
them was who's one? He's eleven years old. But one
of the one of the really things that he needed
to do is prove that he had a home where
his son can come visit. So these are I mean,
these are real life situations, the life situations. And and
he was so grateful, And a lot of our veterans
(05:49):
are so grateful that they will come and pay it
forward and help other veterans.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
It's it's it's very heartwarming.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
How many realtors are involved in this here in Colorado.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, that's amazing. We have our organization has about eighty volunteers.
We have seven board members, eighty volunteers. But there's not
one makeover that there's not a sum member from the
Colorado Association of Realtors that including the CEO, Tyron Adams,
that will come and help us on these makeovers. There's
not I can't think of one makeover I don't have
at least a realtor so, I mean, we're competitors by day,
(06:18):
but then we come together with help the community.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
It's cost. So let me ask this question.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Is it more useful to you right now for people
to donate money or is it more useful to you
to have them follow you on your Facebook page or
more useful to you to have them donate that gently
use furniture. And y'all, that couch that has been in
your basement since nineteen seventy eight is not what we're
talking about here.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Okay, if your.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Dog's been sleeping on it for nine years, we are
not talking about that couch. That couch needs to go
to the dump. We're talking about a couch that you
look at and go, I'm still using that. Maybe it
doesn't fit my new apartment, or it doesn't fit my
color scheme or whatever.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
We're talking about nicer stuff. Because if you.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Wouldn't want it, if you don't want to see somebody
to give it to you to use, don't try to
give it to somebody else.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
That's exactly what I tell people. If you don't want
to use it yourself, it's not good enough for our veterance.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Right exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And that's not being snobby, it's just being it recognizes.
And I'm part of my feelings about this God are
because of things that I've seen during disaster relief when
people are literally donating bags of dirty laundry and I'm
thinking to myself, what in the hell are you doing now?
And so if it's disgusting or you don't want to
sit on it or use it anymore, please don't donate it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Throw it away.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But an answer to your question, what do we need
the most is cash? You know, any nonprofit it's about
twenty five hundred dollars to do a makeover for these
I'm sure. And in four years, we've done sixty five
full makeovers. And the other thing that we do that's
just absolutely amazing is we don't have a VET. If
a veteran can get a truck that can come down
to our storage facilities down in Sedelia and they can
(07:57):
we can just open up the containers and they can
shop kids on their truck, they can take it in.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
There was a very similar organization to this one in
Orlando many many many years ago, and it was called
the Mustard Seed because from a tiny thing comes a
great a great thing, and it was I got to
go there and watch people come in, and they've focused
mostly on people that were cycling out of out of homelessness.
(08:24):
So these are people, some of whom have been on
the streets for fifteen twenty years, right Everything they had
fit in a shopping cart. And to see them come
in and see all of this furniture, it was overwhelming,
to the point that many were almost paralyzed with the options.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You know that that's happened to some of our veterans.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I mean, our average veteran I think that we've helped
over the last four years has been on the street
four to five years.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Wow. We even asked one. Gary.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
I'll never forget it, I asked him. I said, how
long have you been on the streets? How long have
you been homeless? He says, Scott, I've not been homeless.
I'm apart mentally challenged, he says. He says, do you
know how much it costs for apartments in order for
me to live?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
And he was living in a tent city downtown and boy,
what a transformation that we made for him.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Do you ever have like like alumni meetings, you know,
or or or events where people can get together.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
We're talking about that. We're talking to our boards.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Now we got a significant number, significant number.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
And we want to get them together. And we went
we even want to do a mentorship for these veterans.
So we get some wearing vents and volunteers that have
stepped up and said, hey, we'll get them together. So
we've talked about picnics and we've also talked we're getting
a bunch of them together for Veterans Day.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Oh that's fantastic, That is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I put a link to Knock Knock Angels on the
blog today, but I do want to make sure that
I get your Facebook page because if you're putting out
the call for stuff, I'm going to follow you on Facebook.
Is that just Knock Knock Angels Colorado?
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Yes it is. I sent that to a rod.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
But the bottom line is, yeah, we put all our
events on there because raising money like this this coming
Wednesday at the fire Fireball Cafe over on a wrap
a Road on Briarwood from four to eight people. You know,
people got to eat anyway, right right right, so we
want them to come in and join us and they
could learn more about Knock Angels.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
But also we get a portion of the sales that night.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
And also I'm just gonna say, I freaking love fire
Bowl Cafe.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
They're so good.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Well you'll have to stop buy on Wednesday. Well for eight.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
My Wednesday is extremely busy. I would love to otherwise
because it is very very good. But what I love
to know, it's like on November first, two Hope House, Colorado.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Moms need your help there. So there's a post here
so if you want to see what they need.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
And then I'm guessing, as you said, you got a
crock Pop from the UK, so people can just donate
that way too.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, I have a lot of stuff that arrive on
my porch. This lady, Laurie Malanowski. I worked with her
years and years ago, like forty five years ago at
King Supers. There's not one post that I make on
there that I don't get something on.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
My front porch.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
But she's ordered off Amazon for and it's just a
bits heartwarming.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
It involves so many people. It takes an army, as.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
They say, it does take an army. But one of
the things I like about this God is because you
guys are having a one on one moment with the
people that you're helping. And you know, I think that
when we substitute government intervention and although there's a government
aspect to this, especially for the veterans, but when we
substitute government.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And interaction for all of that these you.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Don't get a chance to have gratitude, right, You don't
get a chance to have that moment where you can
actually look someone in the face and say thank you.
And for me, that feels much different. And it's going
to be this is going to be one of those
gigs where it must be awesome every single time that.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You go out to make one of these houses.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
There is and what we call the Big reveal when
we've taken when we've kicked them out of their place
for two or three hours. Even though they know we're
going to do something special, they have no clue. And
you know what, there's probably not a time that there's
not tears in the recipient and there's not tears in
the volunteers, right, But it's just it's those reveals are
and we have them on our webs on our Facebook
(12:00):
all the time.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
As far as the great reveals.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
What are the do you guys do fund razors throughout
the year?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
We do.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I mean we do a lot of these restaurant type
thing right fundraisers. We're going to have a big, huge event,
a big casino night next fall. I mean they're hard
to plan, yes they are, and you know there's just
a lot of donor fatigue as far as donation fatigue,
so we're trying to make something special. But again, I mean,
if they go to kkaco dot org, right, you know
(12:27):
they can donate to that and it's we are a
five toh one C three.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Charity kkaco dot org. I just found them and followed
them on Facebook. So if you want to support them
casually directly however you want to do it. They make
it easy, They make it very very easy. I'm fascinated.
I'm actually my brother's real estate broker in Las Vegas,
and I'm going to send him this, okay, because you know,
we all have different things that are that touch our heart.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
What was it about this specifically? Because you've talked about.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Going to an awards thing and hearing about the founder
of this group, but there was other people there doing
great things too, So what was it about this that
struck a chord with you?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
What struck a chord is Barrett and I had been
going down to Mexico for many years, building two houses
down there every year, taking a lot of volunteers. And
when that border had closed, and I've been doing this
for twenty two years going down there, my wife said,
you know, when God closes one door, He's going to
open up another.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Right, So I sat down.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
This was during COVID, so we weren't at our conference
in Louisiana like we were supposed to be, so it
was virtual and I sat down and Vickie started talking
and they started start talking.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
About her award, and well, knock Knock angels.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
First of all, God opened a door, big tide by
Knocked Locked Angels, and I just.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Love the name of that.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
And when I called her, I said, you know what,
We've been doing this stuff in Mexico for many years,
but now we have an opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Do it do it in Denver.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yes, And what really happened is what Barrett and I
have mentioned. Barrett a lot were sort of inseparable as
far as and we couldn't do it without Barrett. But
both our dads died of COVID during COVID a week
from a week apart from each other, and there were
both veterans, and so we thought, wow, this is amazing.
We could start this in their memory and uh and
do good things.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
For veterans well.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
And I like the fact that it's veterans, but I
also like the fact you guys are working with single
moms and their kids. You know, I want every kid,
I think everybody wants every kid to have a safe
space to live, right, But just four bare walls and
a mattress on the floor, it doesn't feel as safe
as something that has cool decorations and whatever. Now, you
(14:28):
guys are a five oh one C three correct, correct?
So your tax deductible donations.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Absolutely okay, and you know you mentioned that single moms.
We a big shout out to Hope House. They are
they're out of Barvada and they help transistion these single
moms and into workplace and we kids, and so it's
just amazing. We do a lot, not only furnishing them,
but if we always do our big Christmas makeover where
we will will fully decorate it with Christmas tree.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Oh that's fantastic. Oh can you even imagine?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
And we tell our veterans in single ams who we've
done these for, you know, because we might do at
the beginning of December. But yeah, but they got a
tree full of gifts. Said, hey, now that's up to
you to keep them away from the gifts.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
We give you the gifts.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I would love that. That would be super fun.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So a lot of people are asking about the website
how to how to get involved. I think the now
let me ask this question, because are you open or
could you take on any other charities that could feed
you people in need?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Oh? Absolutely, And I think that there's so many charities
that work with veterans, right, so we yeah, and yeah,
we could always were volunteers. Is the lifebole of any
of any foundation.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Excellent.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Scott Matthias is my guest. He is with an organization
called Knock Knock Angels of Colorado and they help hows,
not howls. They help furnish places for people that maybe
haven't had a place in years and get them not
just you know, a roof over their head, but a
roof over their head. And to the point here by
(15:58):
working with the VA is this is not a give
an addicted person an apartment for free. There are responsibilities
that have to be met by the people that are
getting help, and they're on their way to success. So
this is just going to help them be on their
way to success even more so, thanks so much for
what you're doing.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Absolutely, you know it's a shameless plug.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
But if they go to that Facebook page, I am
in a big competition, a huge competition. So again we
have one point five million members and there's ten of
us Good Neighbor Award winners. However, for the entire month
of well from October sixth to November seventh, which is
coming up here in a few days, they can go
to that link in there and they can vote a
thousand times a day. If they work, if they like
(16:44):
this story, and if they want to help veterans and
single moms, they can vote so we can get more grant.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Money from the National Association of Realtor.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And look at this.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
While you've been telling people about that, I voted three times, Scott.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
There you go. We will stack the deck now.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
When Scott came in earlier, I was like, Scott, you
want to play the day anyway? Oh god, I don't
have to play that, do I go, yes, you do.
But you don't have to be good at it. That's
the point, Okay, don't have to be good at it,
because now it's time for the most exciting segment on
the radio of It's.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Gone the world of the day. Okay, all right, Scott.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
If you've listened to the show, you know how this works.
First we get dad joke of the day. Nothing required
of you here.
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What's the difference between a well dressed man on a
unicycle and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle? A
well dressed man on a unicycle and a poorly dressed
man on a bicycle.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
I can't think of one attire.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Oh good, oh my gosh, boom boo. Anyway, what is
our word of the day please. It is a noun
noun calc c a l q u e cow elk.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Helc.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And that's a noun.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Is that like the calcium that forms on It's when
something calcifies that's left behind.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
No, do I get a call friend?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
No, there's no color show, wrong game show.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
It's a cow's well, I can't go there. But a
dirty part of a cow, part of a cow.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
It is a lone translation of a word or phrase
from another language.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Calc okay, there you go.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Other than the color, what is the difference between black
tea and green tea? And I know this no difference
because I went to a sea farm in Japan.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Would you like to know, Scott, I would love to know.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Black tea and green tea are both made from the
leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant. However, they are processed differently.
Black tea leaves are rolled than exposed to air. The
oxidation process turns the leaves dark and heightens the flavor.
Green tea leaves are prevented from undergoing oxidation and thus
remain lighter.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
That's why they're fresh tea leaves.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Oh you got to try the butterfly, pea flower tea.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Look it up.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
That sounds interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Blue when you brew it, put in a little lemon
turns purple away.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Goodness.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Oh, it's so fun anyway, What is our jeopardy category?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I will be waiting until the end of the question, Scott.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You do not have to wait until the end, but
if you may want to do you have to say
your name?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Scott? Try it?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I'm Scott.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Okay, let's go.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Let go? Is the category?
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Okay? Let go? Let answer go.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Let Someone exercising to get rid of strong feelings does it?
So does a boiling tea kettle of.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Whistle?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Whistle, say Scott. And then while I think that's correct, incorrect?
I don't know what is it?
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Let off steam?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Officers?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Where of them on their shoulders?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Mandy?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
What are epaulets?
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (20:06):
In a grim tail?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
The king's son makes this plea to a maiden locked
in a tower?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Mandy? What is let down your hair?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
That is correct? Mandy, you've played this a few more
times than I.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yes, I told you didn't have to wait with Scott.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
A protective charm, Mandy, what's an ambulance?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
That is correct?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
And for the wind they're on the tips of your shoelaces.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
That is correct.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Sorry, well, hey Mandy, you voted from me several times,
so you.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Know Scott's willing to let me win as long as
I cast those Scott, such a joy meeting.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Thank you for what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Sure,
The Mandy Connell Podcast News
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!