Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to community viewpoints. Is Shawne feeling blessed and highly
favored On this Sunday morning, we are empowering our communities
and talking to nonprofits who empower children and people who
want to make a change. So today I have the
privilege of talking to Sierra Quaintess. She is here to
talk to us about the King Foundation. Siarrah, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I cannot complain, God, It's good.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Well, you know, Sierra, you have been just founding pavement.
I want to say.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I want to say that you've also been the backbone
to the King Foundation. So talks us and I'll tell
us a little something about you and then we'll get
into why you created the King Foundation.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
My name is Sierra Acquaintance. I'm from Jacksonville. I currently
live in Orlando, been here about twelve years. I do
talent booking, event planning promotions. I love to work in
the community and do women at parment events, but my
main thing is youth and kids. I have the King
Foundation and we started in twenty and fifteen after my
son's father, Johnathan Yemblot, was murdered in Jacksonville and detail
(01:00):
number twenty thirteen. Prior to him passing. One of my friends,
Crystal Sanford use Me was murdered as well by a
third time DUI offender, and the same year I lost
my child father. So after paying attention, like looking like
everything that's going on, I realized there's so many kids
in my inner circle that only have one parent to
(01:20):
take care of them. And I didn't realize how big
of an epidemic it was until I start paying attention
to others that was dropping life flies from the tragic
situations and very unaffected situation. So I decided to come
up with the King Foundation, where we're focused on triggering
that lost their parents the unforeseen circumstances in the state
of Florida.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
If you're just Jenny and Shawnnie speaking to Sierra Quaintin,
she's here, talk to us about the King Foundation, established
to empower single moms or just a parent who is
now single because of a tragic incident. Sarah, talk to
us about with the King Foundation. You said it's now
what seven years and that you've had the King Foundation
talk to the community.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How can they get involved?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, So this year mark our seventh year that we'll
be doing the Back to School Community Day at Aphi Larandolph.
I know it as out East that's where I grew
up at. It's from eleven to two pm on Sunday,
August fourth, is free as long as you do a
reservation on our website King dash Foundation dot org or
you can text four seven eight oh one two three
three zero and we will have book bets and food
(02:23):
and a lot of the games and mini vendors and
sponsors out there to make it a successful day for
all the kids that all the parents.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Now, I know that there's some backbone to this King Foundation,
and I know you've received financial support from one of
the legends in this city. So let's talk about you
know how the King Foundation was built and who helped you.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The King Foundation. I had my King, but I also
had big rankings. He has always helped me with everything.
I started working with him back in twenty thirteen. I
did my first meeting greet with him with a young
Dolph ressed in peace in him as well. I did
an event with him back then, and I just started
working with him. And once my son father passed, Biggas
just stepped in and was like, you know, you know
(03:04):
I lost my son, so I know how it feels
to lose a loved one and every since then he's
just like, you know what, I'm going to push you.
Whatever you need, I got you. So when I told
him I want to do the back to School drive
during the time we had our last Domin Awards, he
was all for it. He's sponsored book backs and helped
with the food and everything. So now we fast forward
to this year. He's one of our sponsors for the
(03:25):
event this year, along with the Harvey Foundations and then
I can't name everybody right now, but we have a
thrown support system and we're very thankful.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And you know nonprofit needs support when they have annual events.
So this event that you're having, the Back to School
Community Day, tell the community what they can expect once
they register on your website because community and classrooms are
big this year and we have to empower our community
and our children.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, definitely, we have HIV testing for all the parents
for anyone that would like to do it. We have
blood press or testing. I believe the name of the
school is kipped. They will be out there as well,
you know, giving out products and different services at the
school offer. We have a couple other non profits that's
joining us as well to help get telephone services for
(04:15):
underprivileged home and we have a lot of different vendors
out and Dream ice Cream truck coming. We have a lot.
I can't even name all of it, but I can
tell you we have all types of games. The parents
can join. We have plenty of sponsors. They will be
giving out money to the camps as well, and we
just look forward to having everyone come together and the
key Foundation for the record, we focus on tripdren that
(04:35):
have lost their parents. But I must also say that
we don't turn anyone around. So if the parent is
just not involved, or you know, some things happened that
the grandmothers have to step in and take care of
the babies, we don't turn anyone around. So that's the
difference between our nonproducs and those songs have to be
very specific and target a certain demographic our market, but
(04:56):
we're open to everybody. We just want everyone to come,
have a good time and create memories. So that's what
it's about.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Und if you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to Sierra Quaintance, CEO,
of what we are talking about today, The King Foundation
nurturing families and helping and empowering families that have lost
a significant other and there are children in the home. Sarah,
if you would, what is your vision for your tenuere
(05:23):
for the King Foundation? What is the vision that you
have for this building as you see seven years in.
What's your vision for a ten year reunion or a
ten year celebration.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
To be honest with you, when ten years hit, I
hope and pray to be a fully funded nonprofit that
I can do way more. You know, we start off
at one point the first three years, four or five years,
actually I was paying out of pocket. I literally add
the old job that I had, I will take half
of my Christmas bonus and utilize that for the year
to help get book backs for kids, or help get
(05:56):
holiday baskets for kids and their families. And though I
was struggling myself as a single mother, that's not getting
any assistance other than my family, my child father when
he left, we did not have the establishment that my
son would get this and he'll get that. So I
was doing everything on my own, and I still came
out of pockets to help others. So with that being said,
(06:18):
I really hope and pray that by year ten will
be fully funded, I can have quarterly events and with
unlimited kids that we could be able to afford it,
we'll be able to give everything that they want and desire.
So that's the ultimate goal to be fully funded by
year ten. And I have a whole list of events
that we can do. I just need the money to
make it happen.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I know that with the King Foundation, when we talked offline,
you said that you restructured your organization just a little
bit to empower those within so that you could be
powerful outside as people look in talk to us about
the reason for restructuring a nonprofit just to be to build.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yes, So you know, everyone has to be on one
accord and have to have the same goal in mind,
so that may sometimes people may have to take a
break because right now they may have their own things
going on, and I want everyone to be able to grow.
So recently I landed a new job, Essence Communication, and
it caused me to have to step back. I was
(07:20):
not able to do everything that I have done the
last past few years. So I restructed and made someone
else as president, and you know, just you know, put
people in different positions that I felt that they were
strong at and with that being said, it may it
made us be more organized. I wanted everyone to be
able to grow. So on re restructure, we put everyone
(07:41):
chose what position they wanted to say, resist secretary, you know,
community engagement coordinator, social media coordinator, and we used their
strengths use me and put them in those positions because
the goal is not to just build me and not
just build a Keen Foundation, but to also build each
member that's on my board for then to utilize the
skills that there's going to that they're huge in for
the King Foundation. They can be at a huge set
(08:03):
for other things and be able to goal within their selfs.
So we gave each other a six month goal and
we discussed a five year goal for their personal goals
and needs, not just for Keen Foundation, and that's what
we're working towards right now. So refreshing this made us
stronger and better, but also is preparing us for the future.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Overall.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Thank you so much here for being a part of
community viewpoints. I really appreciate the discussion we had today
about you know, empowering the community through the King Foundation,
but also empowering the people in your foundation, and that
is a win win to me. But if the community
members want to pour into you or get in touch
with you to be a part of your events, how
can they get in touch with you?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
They can call me directly at four zero seven eight
zero one two three three zero, or they can email
us at King dot Foundation nine zero four at gmail
dot com, or they can contact us on social media
Keen dot Foundation and someone myself or our social media
coordinator fun immediately.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Thank you Sier for being a part of Community Viewpoints,
and we're back with Community Viewpoints. A Shawnee feeling blessed
and highly favored. On this Sunday morning, I am in
the community serving as I do each and every Sunday,
and one of my brothers, who is in the community
as a bike rider, he had this flyer on his
website and so I said, brother, who is and what
(09:22):
is that all about? So he said, you need to
talk to Pastor Jimmy Lee. So today I have Pastor
Jimmy Lee on the line and Pastor, if you would community,
he is from we are for Jesus House of Prayer,
West Side location. Pastor, thank you so much for coming
in today and talking to me. But just tell us
(09:42):
a little something about yourself and then we'll get into
the reason why we're talking.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Thank you first of all, it's a problem. Thank you
for the opportunity again. Like you said, I'm pastor Jimmy
Lee from We're for Jesus' Westside. We have two locations,
five thousand North Main Street and Dan Pasion on thirty
two to sixty Linux Avenue and born and raised in Flint, Michigan.
Had a bright idea to go to the military and
(10:08):
there I met my wife and I've just been a servant,
retired Air Force. My wife's retired Navy, and we just
had a vision to want to give back to the
community and to people with the military had done for us.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And so with being in the military you retired, you
said you were in the Air Force. Yes, ma'am, all right,
And with that, I know that with anything you have
to have God in you and you have to walk
with God as your guide. So talk to us about
your wife. As to going into the church and becoming
a pastor.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Oh, yes, ma'am. You certainly don't start off with those
ideas and different things like that. You can't make it anywhere,
certainly in the military. But I would say that when
you go to any job, it's better when God is
your leader and you listen to him. But from a
wife and I got to say at a young age
(11:01):
twenty one, twenty two years old, she got to say
before me. And we kept on going into the military
and growing as far as rank and responsibility. And over
the years it's has been about between serving and the
military and then working for the government. We've simpen serving
and then where for Jesus was just a no brainer.
We visited a couple of times under the leadership off
(11:21):
the late doctor Mary Austin Jones, now currently up under
the leadership of Bishop Elijah Johnson, and he had a
bright idea three years ago after their daughter, who was
the pastor of the West Side, went on to be
with the Lord and he came to me and my
wife and said, it's time to step up. Will you
take the charge? And we were excited and we're still
excited now about the opportunity of godage given us.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Well, it's a blessing for sure for this community as
a community. If you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to
Pastor Jimmy Lee, he's here from We are for Jesus.
House of prayer on the West side and today that
he was in the military, he is giving back serving.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So if you would, sir, I talked to us about.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The event that you're having for the veterans and what
the veterans. The overall objective of the Veterans' Benefit Awareness
Seminar is.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
For Oh yes, ma'am, Well, August the third, from nine
approximately twelve account twelve o'clock. There are a lot of
things that the veterans just don't know. And as we
begin to embark our own personal VA benefits and different things,
we were talking to different people and it's not it's
(12:38):
for every veteran, regardless of race, regardless of religion. If
you got a d D two fourteen, we want you
to come because it's a misnomer that if I did
two years, I may not qualify. If I did for
four years, I may not qualify. So it's not all.
All of us may not have retired, but there are
still benefits out there. So this is an infra nation gathering.
(13:01):
We're going to have a lot of awesome vendors and
awesome from the Mayor's office to the VA office to
all kind of people. It's going to be very informalive
and we're just looking forward to it again. Five thousand
off Main Street from nine to twelve o'clock. They want
to know about your d D two fourteen. You want
to know. Of course, money's okay, it has its place,
(13:25):
but if you talk to our grandmothers and our grandfathers,
they're worried about their insurance. That's two or three hundred
dollars a month. Well VA offered that for free. They
offer glasses and different things that people just don't know about.
So we were praying about and it's just an awareness seminari.
Now what you do with it after that, let God
(13:45):
lead you. And I'm sure it's going to be a benefit.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Well, I'm sure it's going to be a blessing for
a lot of those that want to find out more
about what their benefits are.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So, who qualifies as a veteran?
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Pastor Jimmie Good, very good question. Qualifying as a veteran
is written as having two years of service, but there
are stipulation you may have got hurt in a year
and you still qualify for some benefits. But the official
answer is two years of service or more.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
And this is what they're going to find out on
August I just if you were in the military and
you want to know more.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Or you just need to see if you qualify for
some or any benefit. This is the event where you
can go and you'll be around good company and people
in the same like minded and that's as you.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So Pastor Jimmy Lee talk to us about.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
You know, this is for veterans benefit and local resources.
Any We are in a military town, so any and
everybody can come to this event.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Is it a free event? Do they have to register?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
How can people get involved or register if they have to.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Yes, ma'am, awesome question. All are inside. It is totally free.
We are We're for Jesus's hosting the Holy Event at
our gym and our north side location. And it is
going to be plenty of helpful information. Because you said
something so so correct. It is a it seems like
it's a big community, but it's a small community. And
(15:21):
unless you've been away from your family and served in
boot camp and dealt with a lot of stuff. And
I know on the outside of the military people face
a lot, but in the military, it's just a type
that family and they tell you got to go to
this place or that place and they're not asking. So
we want to reach out to the homeless community that
are veterans and to all the veterans regardless again of racee,
(15:44):
or religion or we just want to get you this information.
We're always representing Christ. He is always lead and guidance
and hopefully through our message always say something maybe a
life that I live speak for me. And so we
just we know God's presence want to be there and
we just want to get out the health for information.
(16:05):
Any question you may have will be addressed, and it
will be somebody that we're not afraid to say we
don't have an answer, but we will get you the
right answer. But I believe the professionals that's going to
be in the room in the gymnadium will be helpful
and informative.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Thank you so much, Pastor Jimmy Lee for bringing this
to the city into our community Jacksonville area military veterans.
The benefit Awareness seminar is at the church at Gymnasium
at five thousand north of Main Street. You can check
out the flyer on our community calendar page for all
the details and or any information where you may need
(16:45):
information to get in touch. But again, Pastor of the
day and time, and just you know, thank you, I
would like to say for your service in the military
and for serving and standing guard this great country. Thank
you for your serving and I'm sure you have words
for those that are listening.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Now. Yes, ma'am again, it's August third, nine o'clock till
twelve o'clock and just come, we're going to be serving
a meal. We just pray that God be blessed through
this and through our commitment, not only my wife and
I because it's just not about us. It's a lot
of servants that are coming out and we just want
(17:27):
to be informed and get the message out to everybody
that are listen. Again, regardless of race, color, anything like that. Elder,
you're part of a very important group. You are a veteran,
You serve your country, and we want to try to
get this information out so hopefully you can take it
and help you. And not only that, we will take
it a step further if you want one of us
(17:48):
to call you, one of our team to call you,
because there's things that you got to do like anything else,
and the benefits or the aftermath will pay off.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Thank you so much, Pastor Jimmy Lee. I appreciate this
conversation and just empowering the community. Our veterans are very
very important in this community and we want to shed
light where we can to any veteran listening today. So
thank you so much for your time, thank you for
your vision in providing this, and thank you once again
(18:18):
for serving this great country.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Again, thank you, ma'am. I appreciate the opportunity community.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
If you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to Fred Farr,
he is here with us to talk to us about
the event happening that Pastor Jimmy Lee was speaking on.
And I know you have some additional information to share
with us. Actually the website where they can get some
more information, right.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Fred, sure?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
In fact, what we're doing is the church website. We're
for Jesus House of Prayer on five thousand North Main Street,
and we also have a Facebook page with that same address.
We're for Jesus House of Prayer or We're for Jesus'
Ministries on our Facebook page. Not sure. Pastor mentioned that, however,
(19:02):
As a former employee at NAS Jack's Leeton Family Support Center,
our job primarily is to help veterans and to help
veterans and their families and as a transition Assistant program instructor,
I helped educate sailors and council sailors, soldiers, airmans and marines,
(19:23):
Coast guardsmen, and Space Force personnel as they transitioned from
the military.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
And so you said that was something that you were
doing or is currently doing, Sir.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
That was my last official job before I'm now fully retired,
but I worked at NAJA as a civilian. When I
retired from the Navy, I worked there at the Fleeton
Family Support Center.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I understood, So talk to us about the event coming
up on August third, and how veterans out there can
learn more so that when they arrive, you know, everyone
can be on basically the same page.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Well, there's an annual handbook that comes out of Florida
Veterans Benefits Guide twenty twenty four. There's one that comes
out every year and it has a list of all
the resources, the veteran hospitals, the outpatient clinics, all the
resources a veteran would want or need would be listed
(20:20):
in there by cities throughout the state of Florida. There
are one four million veterans in the state of Florida.
Over one hundred and sixty four thousand of those veterans
are women. So again, anything a person would want, or
his or her family or dependence would need would be
in our handbook. I sent you a copy of the
website for the handbook itself just before this phone call.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Understood, So this is something that would benefit the veterans
that are out there the handbook and they can also
find out more information on Facebook and your website. Is
there anything else that you'd like to share with the
community of veterans who are listening about the event will
happen on August thirty.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Well, our primary goal is to help educate veterans on
their benefits. Oftentimes, our younger veterans don't consider themselves veteran
if they didn't retires from the military. You do your four, six, eight, twelve,
whatever many years, and you leave the military on your
own for greater opportunities, family businesses, to do something on
(21:25):
your own, and oftentimes they disassociate themselves with the VA
or with the military because they no longer in many
cases have an ID card and have access to a
military facility. But what's required of that veteran is to
go through a one week course before they actually leave
active duty, and that way we present them with all
(21:47):
the websites and with all the benefits that are listed.
Too often, two, four, six, twelve years later, the veteran
then needs or would lack more information, but he or
she may not have the information that would get given
to them as they were exiting the military. So we
want to help them. We're going to have the resources
in our building in our gymnatym at five thousand North
(22:08):
Main Street. We're going to have the Mayor's office there
per outreach Military Outreach program. We're going to have the
va Clinic on Jefferson Street and their examiner is going
to be there to talk to veterans about how to
increase or how to get a VAID card. Every veteran,
regardless of how long you serve, now that you're no
(22:28):
longer in the military, you should have a VAIV card
that gets you access to veteran benefits.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Thank you so much for being a part of this
show today and for delivering an awesome delivery for our
community of veterans out there. I know that it is
a very hard road after transitioning out of the military
and into civilian world, but there are soldiers like you
and Pastor Jimmy Lee who ensure that there is something
(22:57):
and there is a place for veterans. So thank you
for your service, and of course thank you for your
time today.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
Well, thank you Shaani and I certainly appreciate it. Once
again on you helping us get this word out. I
just want to say the veterans please come out and
find out things that you may need life after the military.
You are still a veteran and you have many benefits
that are available to you and your family, your spouse
and your children.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Thank you so much, Fred far anything else for nine.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Am, August third, from nine am to noon the first
Saturday in August, we'll look forward to having you.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Thank you for listening to community viewpoints. Have a blessed day.
Welcome to community viewpoints. Is Shawne feeling blessed and highly
favored On this Sunday morning, we are empowering our communities
and talking to nonprofits who empower children and people who
want to make a change. So today I have the
privilege of talking to Sierra Quaintess. She is here to
talk to us about the King Foundation. Siarrah, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I cannot complain, God, It's good.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Well, you know, Sierra, you have been just founding pavement.
I want to say.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I want to say that you've also been the backbone
to the King Foundation. So talks us and I'll tell
us a little something about you and then we'll get
into why you created the King Foundation.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
My name is Sierra Acquaintance. I'm from Jacksonville. I currently
live in Orlando, been here about twelve years. I do
talent booking, event planning promotions. I love to work in
the community and do women at parment events, but my
main thing is youth and kids. I have the King
Foundation and we started in twenty and fifteen after my
son's father, Johnathan Yemblot, was murdered in Jacksonville and detail
(01:00):
number twenty thirteen. Prior to him passing. One of my friends,
Crystal Sanford use Me was murdered as well by a
third time DUI offender, and the same year I lost
my child father. So after paying attention, like looking like
everything that's going on, I realized there's so many kids
in my inner circle that only have one parent to
(01:20):
take care of them. And I didn't realize how big
of an epidemic it was until I start paying attention
to others that was dropping life flies from the tragic
situations and very unaffected situation. So I decided to come
up with the King Foundation, where we're focused on triggering
that lost their parents the unforeseen circumstances in the state
of Florida.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
If you're just Jenny and Shawnnie speaking to Sierra Quaintin,
she's here, talk to us about the King Foundation, established
to empower single moms or just a parent who is
now single because of a tragic incident. Sarah, talk to
us about with the King Foundation. You said it's now
what seven years and that you've had the King Foundation
talk to the community.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How can they get involved?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, So this year mark our seventh year that we'll
be doing the Back to School Community Day at Aphi Larandolph.
I know it as out East that's where I grew
up at. It's from eleven to two pm on Sunday,
August fourth, is free as long as you do a
reservation on our website King dash Foundation dot org or
you can text four seven eight oh one two three
three zero and we will have book bets and food
(02:23):
and a lot of the games and mini vendors and
sponsors out there to make it a successful day for
all the kids that all the parents.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Now, I know that there's some backbone to this King Foundation,
and I know you've received financial support from one of
the legends in this city. So let's talk about you
know how the King Foundation was built and who helped you.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The King Foundation. I had my King, but I also
had big rankings. He has always helped me with everything.
I started working with him back in twenty thirteen. I
did my first meeting greet with him with a young
Dolph ressed in peace in him as well. I did
an event with him back then, and I just started
working with him. And once my son father passed, Biggas
just stepped in and was like, you know, you know
(03:04):
I lost my son, so I know how it feels
to lose a loved one and every since then he's
just like, you know what, I'm going to push you.
Whatever you need, I got you. So when I told
him I want to do the back to School drive
during the time we had our last Domin Awards, he
was all for it. He's sponsored book backs and helped
with the food and everything. So now we fast forward
to this year. He's one of our sponsors for the
(03:25):
event this year, along with the Harvey Foundations and then
I can't name everybody right now, but we have a
thrown support system and we're very thankful.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And you know nonprofit needs support when they have annual events.
So this event that you're having, the Back to School
Community Day, tell the community what they can expect once
they register on your website because community and classrooms are
big this year and we have to empower our community
and our children.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, definitely, we have HIV testing for all the parents
for anyone that would like to do it. We have
blood press or testing. I believe the name of the
school is kipped. They will be out there as well,
you know, giving out products and different services at the
school offer. We have a couple other non profits that's
joining us as well to help get telephone services for
(04:15):
underprivileged home and we have a lot of different vendors
out and Dream ice Cream truck coming. We have a lot.
I can't even name all of it, but I can
tell you we have all types of games. The parents
can join. We have plenty of sponsors. They will be
giving out money to the camps as well, and we
just look forward to having everyone come together and the
key Foundation for the record, we focus on tripdren that
(04:35):
have lost their parents. But I must also say that
we don't turn anyone around. So if the parent is
just not involved, or you know, some things happened that
the grandmothers have to step in and take care of
the babies, we don't turn anyone around. So that's the
difference between our nonproducs and those songs have to be
very specific and target a certain demographic our market, but
(04:56):
we're open to everybody. We just want everyone to come,
have a good time and create memories. So that's what
it's about.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Und if you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to Sierra Quaintance, CEO,
of what we are talking about today, The King Foundation
nurturing families and helping and empowering families that have lost
a significant other and there are children in the home. Sarah,
if you would, what is your vision for your tenuere
(05:23):
for the King Foundation? What is the vision that you
have for this building as you see seven years in.
What's your vision for a ten year reunion or a
ten year celebration.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
To be honest with you, when ten years hit, I
hope and pray to be a fully funded nonprofit that
I can do way more. You know, we start off
at one point the first three years, four or five years,
actually I was paying out of pocket. I literally add
the old job that I had, I will take half
of my Christmas bonus and utilize that for the year
to help get book backs for kids, or help get
(05:56):
holiday baskets for kids and their families. And though I
was struggling myself as a single mother, that's not getting
any assistance other than my family, my child father when
he left, we did not have the establishment that my
son would get this and he'll get that. So I
was doing everything on my own, and I still came
out of pockets to help others. So with that being said,
(06:18):
I really hope and pray that by year ten will
be fully funded, I can have quarterly events and with
unlimited kids that we could be able to afford it,
we'll be able to give everything that they want and desire.
So that's the ultimate goal to be fully funded by
year ten. And I have a whole list of events
that we can do. I just need the money to
make it happen.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I know that with the King Foundation, when we talked offline,
you said that you restructured your organization just a little
bit to empower those within so that you could be
powerful outside as people look in talk to us about
the reason for restructuring a nonprofit just to be to build.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yes, So you know, everyone has to be on one
accord and have to have the same goal in mind,
so that may sometimes people may have to take a
break because right now they may have their own things
going on, and I want everyone to be able to grow.
So recently I landed a new job, Essence Communication, and
it caused me to have to step back. I was
(07:20):
not able to do everything that I have done the
last past few years. So I restructed and made someone
else as president, and you know, just you know, put
people in different positions that I felt that they were
strong at and with that being said, it may it
made us be more organized. I wanted everyone to be
able to grow. So on re restructure, we put everyone
(07:41):
chose what position they wanted to say, resist secretary, you know,
community engagement coordinator, social media coordinator, and we used their
strengths use me and put them in those positions because
the goal is not to just build me and not
just build a Keen Foundation, but to also build each
member that's on my board for then to utilize the
skills that there's going to that they're huge in for
the King Foundation. They can be at a huge set
(08:03):
for other things and be able to goal within their selfs.
So we gave each other a six month goal and
we discussed a five year goal for their personal goals
and needs, not just for Keen Foundation, and that's what
we're working towards right now. So refreshing this made us
stronger and better, but also is preparing us for the future.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Overall.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Thank you so much here for being a part of
community viewpoints. I really appreciate the discussion we had today
about you know, empowering the community through the King Foundation,
but also empowering the people in your foundation, and that
is a win win to me. But if the community
members want to pour into you or get in touch
with you to be a part of your events, how
can they get in touch with you?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
They can call me directly at four zero seven eight
zero one two three three zero, or they can email
us at King dot Foundation nine zero four at gmail
dot com, or they can contact us on social media
Keen dot Foundation and someone myself or our social media
coordinator fun immediately.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Thank you Sier for being a part of Community Viewpoints,
and we're back with Community Viewpoints. A Shawnee feeling blessed
and highly favored. On this Sunday morning, I am in
the community serving as I do each and every Sunday,
and one of my brothers, who is in the community
as a bike rider, he had this flyer on his
website and so I said, brother, who is and what
(09:22):
is that all about? So he said, you need to
talk to Pastor Jimmy Lee. So today I have Pastor
Jimmy Lee on the line and Pastor, if you would community,
he is from we are for Jesus House of Prayer,
West Side location. Pastor, thank you so much for coming
in today and talking to me. But just tell us
(09:42):
a little something about yourself and then we'll get into
the reason why we're talking.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Thank you first of all, it's a problem. Thank you
for the opportunity again. Like you said, I'm pastor Jimmy
Lee from We're for Jesus' Westside. We have two locations,
five thousand North Main Street and Dan Pasion on thirty
two to sixty Linux Avenue and born and raised in Flint, Michigan.
Had a bright idea to go to the military and
(10:08):
there I met my wife and I've just been a servant,
retired Air Force. My wife's retired Navy, and we just
had a vision to want to give back to the
community and to people with the military had done for us.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And so with being in the military you retired, you
said you were in the Air Force. Yes, ma'am, all right,
And with that, I know that with anything you have
to have God in you and you have to walk
with God as your guide. So talk to us about
your wife. As to going into the church and becoming
a pastor.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Oh, yes, ma'am. You certainly don't start off with those
ideas and different things like that. You can't make it anywhere,
certainly in the military. But I would say that when
you go to any job, it's better when God is
your leader and you listen to him. But from a
wife and I got to say at a young age
(11:01):
twenty one, twenty two years old, she got to say
before me. And we kept on going into the military
and growing as far as rank and responsibility. And over
the years it's has been about between serving and the
military and then working for the government. We've simpen serving
and then where for Jesus was just a no brainer.
We visited a couple of times under the leadership off
(11:21):
the late doctor Mary Austin Jones, now currently up under
the leadership of Bishop Elijah Johnson, and he had a
bright idea three years ago after their daughter, who was
the pastor of the West Side, went on to be
with the Lord and he came to me and my
wife and said, it's time to step up. Will you
take the charge? And we were excited and we're still
excited now about the opportunity of godage given us.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Well, it's a blessing for sure for this community as
a community. If you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to
Pastor Jimmy Lee, he's here from We are for Jesus.
House of prayer on the West side and today that
he was in the military, he is giving back serving.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So if you would, sir, I talked to us about.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
The event that you're having for the veterans and what
the veterans. The overall objective of the Veterans' Benefit Awareness
Seminar is.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
For Oh yes, ma'am, Well, August the third, from nine
approximately twelve account twelve o'clock. There are a lot of
things that the veterans just don't know. And as we
begin to embark our own personal VA benefits and different things,
we were talking to different people and it's not it's
(12:38):
for every veteran, regardless of race, regardless of religion. If
you got a d D two fourteen, we want you
to come because it's a misnomer that if I did
two years, I may not qualify. If I did for
four years, I may not qualify. So it's not all.
All of us may not have retired, but there are
still benefits out there. So this is an infra nation gathering.
(13:01):
We're going to have a lot of awesome vendors and
awesome from the Mayor's office to the VA office to
all kind of people. It's going to be very informalive
and we're just looking forward to it again. Five thousand
off Main Street from nine to twelve o'clock. They want
to know about your d D two fourteen. You want
to know. Of course, money's okay, it has its place,
(13:25):
but if you talk to our grandmothers and our grandfathers,
they're worried about their insurance. That's two or three hundred
dollars a month. Well VA offered that for free. They
offer glasses and different things that people just don't know about.
So we were praying about and it's just an awareness seminari.
Now what you do with it after that, let God
(13:45):
lead you. And I'm sure it's going to be a benefit.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Well, I'm sure it's going to be a blessing for
a lot of those that want to find out more
about what their benefits are.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So, who qualifies as a veteran?
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Pastor Jimmie Good, very good question. Qualifying as a veteran
is written as having two years of service, but there
are stipulation you may have got hurt in a year
and you still qualify for some benefits. But the official
answer is two years of service or more.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
And this is what they're going to find out on
August I just if you were in the military and
you want to know more.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Or you just need to see if you qualify for
some or any benefit. This is the event where you
can go and you'll be around good company and people
in the same like minded and that's as you.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So Pastor Jimmy Lee talk to us about.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
You know, this is for veterans benefit and local resources.
Any We are in a military town, so any and
everybody can come to this event.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Is it a free event? Do they have to register?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
How can people get involved or register if they have to.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Yes, ma'am, awesome question. All are inside. It is totally free.
We are We're for Jesus's hosting the Holy Event at
our gym and our north side location. And it is
going to be plenty of helpful information. Because you said
something so so correct. It is a it seems like
it's a big community, but it's a small community. And
(15:21):
unless you've been away from your family and served in
boot camp and dealt with a lot of stuff. And
I know on the outside of the military people face
a lot, but in the military, it's just a type
that family and they tell you got to go to
this place or that place and they're not asking. So
we want to reach out to the homeless community that
are veterans and to all the veterans regardless again of racee,
(15:44):
or religion or we just want to get you this information.
We're always representing Christ. He is always lead and guidance
and hopefully through our message always say something maybe a
life that I live speak for me. And so we
just we know God's presence want to be there and
we just want to get out the health for information.
(16:05):
Any question you may have will be addressed, and it
will be somebody that we're not afraid to say we
don't have an answer, but we will get you the
right answer. But I believe the professionals that's going to
be in the room in the gymnadium will be helpful
and informative.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Thank you so much, Pastor Jimmy Lee for bringing this
to the city into our community Jacksonville area military veterans.
The benefit Awareness seminar is at the church at Gymnasium
at five thousand north of Main Street. You can check
out the flyer on our community calendar page for all
the details and or any information where you may need
(16:45):
information to get in touch. But again, Pastor of the
day and time, and just you know, thank you, I
would like to say for your service in the military
and for serving and standing guard this great country. Thank
you for your serving and I'm sure you have words
for those that are listening.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Now. Yes, ma'am again, it's August third, nine o'clock till
twelve o'clock and just come, we're going to be serving
a meal. We just pray that God be blessed through
this and through our commitment, not only my wife and
I because it's just not about us. It's a lot
of servants that are coming out and we just want
(17:27):
to be informed and get the message out to everybody
that are listen. Again, regardless of race, color, anything like that. Elder,
you're part of a very important group. You are a veteran,
You serve your country, and we want to try to
get this information out so hopefully you can take it
and help you. And not only that, we will take
it a step further if you want one of us
(17:48):
to call you, one of our team to call you,
because there's things that you got to do like anything else,
and the benefits or the aftermath will pay off.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Thank you so much, Pastor Jimmy Lee. I appreciate this
conversation and just empowering the community. Our veterans are very
very important in this community and we want to shed
light where we can to any veteran listening today. So
thank you so much for your time, thank you for
your vision in providing this, and thank you once again
(18:18):
for serving this great country.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Again, thank you, ma'am. I appreciate the opportunity community.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
If you're just tuning in Shawnee speaking to Fred Farr,
he is here with us to talk to us about
the event happening that Pastor Jimmy Lee was speaking on.
And I know you have some additional information to share
with us. Actually the website where they can get some
more information, right.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Fred, sure?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
In fact, what we're doing is the church website. We're
for Jesus House of Prayer on five thousand North Main Street,
and we also have a Facebook page with that same address.
We're for Jesus House of Prayer or We're for Jesus'
Ministries on our Facebook page. Not sure. Pastor mentioned that, however,
(19:02):
As a former employee at NAS Jack's Leeton Family Support Center,
our job primarily is to help veterans and to help
veterans and their families and as a transition Assistant program instructor,
I helped educate sailors and council sailors, soldiers, airmans and marines,
(19:23):
Coast guardsmen, and Space Force personnel as they transitioned from
the military.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
And so you said that was something that you were
doing or is currently doing, Sir.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
That was my last official job before I'm now fully retired,
but I worked at NAJA as a civilian. When I
retired from the Navy, I worked there at the Fleeton
Family Support Center.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I understood, So talk to us about the event coming
up on August third, and how veterans out there can
learn more so that when they arrive, you know, everyone
can be on basically the same page.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Well, there's an annual handbook that comes out of Florida
Veterans Benefits Guide twenty twenty four. There's one that comes
out every year and it has a list of all
the resources, the veteran hospitals, the outpatient clinics, all the
resources a veteran would want or need would be listed
(20:20):
in there by cities throughout the state of Florida. There
are one four million veterans in the state of Florida.
Over one hundred and sixty four thousand of those veterans
are women. So again, anything a person would want, or
his or her family or dependence would need would be
in our handbook. I sent you a copy of the
website for the handbook itself just before this phone call.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Understood, So this is something that would benefit the veterans
that are out there the handbook and they can also
find out more information on Facebook and your website. Is
there anything else that you'd like to share with the
community of veterans who are listening about the event will
happen on August thirty.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Well, our primary goal is to help educate veterans on
their benefits. Oftentimes, our younger veterans don't consider themselves veteran
if they didn't retires from the military. You do your four, six, eight, twelve,
whatever many years, and you leave the military on your
own for greater opportunities, family businesses, to do something on
(21:25):
your own, and oftentimes they disassociate themselves with the VA
or with the military because they no longer in many
cases have an ID card and have access to a
military facility. But what's required of that veteran is to
go through a one week course before they actually leave
active duty, and that way we present them with all
(21:47):
the websites and with all the benefits that are listed.
Too often, two, four, six, twelve years later, the veteran
then needs or would lack more information, but he or
she may not have the information that would get given
to them as they were exiting the military. So we
want to help them. We're going to have the resources
in our building in our gymnatym at five thousand North
(22:08):
Main Street. We're going to have the Mayor's office there
per outreach Military Outreach program. We're going to have the
va Clinic on Jefferson Street and their examiner is going
to be there to talk to veterans about how to
increase or how to get a VAID card. Every veteran,
regardless of how long you serve, now that you're no
(22:28):
longer in the military, you should have a VAIV card
that gets you access to veteran benefits.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Thank you so much for being a part of this
show today and for delivering an awesome delivery for our
community of veterans out there. I know that it is
a very hard road after transitioning out of the military
and into civilian world, but there are soldiers like you
and Pastor Jimmy Lee who ensure that there is something
(22:57):
and there is a place for veterans. So thank you
for your service, and of course thank you for your
time today.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
Well, thank you Shaani and I certainly appreciate it. Once
again on you helping us get this word out. I
just want to say the veterans please come out and
find out things that you may need life after the military.
You are still a veteran and you have many benefits
that are available to you and your family, your spouse
and your children.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Thank you so much, Fred far anything else for nine.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Am, August third, from nine am to noon the first
Saturday in August, we'll look forward to having you.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Thank you for listening to community viewpoints. Have a blessed day.
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