[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] did you know you know okay there’s my
did you know you know okay there’s my
did you know you know okay there’s my team um did you know that one in five
team um did you know that one in five
team um did you know that one in five children go to school hungry in the US
what about this one
what about this one thirty five percent of households and
thirty five percent of households and
thirty five percent of households and Venom Springs live on thirty five
Venom Springs live on thirty five
Venom Springs live on thirty five thousand dollars or less annually Wow
thousand dollars or less annually Wow
thousand dollars or less annually Wow that it’s not a lot of money I didn’t
that it’s not a lot of money I didn’t
that it’s not a lot of money I didn’t know those facts either until 2010 in
know those facts either until 2010 in
know those facts either until 2010 in August of 2010 well actually in the
August of 2010 well actually in the
August of 2010 well actually in the summer of 2010 I had a prayer I prayed
summer of 2010 I had a prayer I prayed
summer of 2010 I had a prayer I prayed that God would break my heart for what
that God would break my heart for what
that God would break my heart for what breaks is he did just that in August of
breaks is he did just that in August of
breaks is he did just that in August of 2010 I started a prayer group of moms in
2010 I started a prayer group of moms in
2010 I started a prayer group of moms in my house on Monday mornings we would get
my house on Monday mornings we would get
my house on Monday mornings we would get together pray for our children pray for
together pray for our children pray for
together pray for our children pray for the bus drivers pray for the cafeteria
the bus drivers pray for the cafeteria
the bus drivers pray for the cafeteria ladies we would pray for their enemies
ladies we would pray for their enemies
ladies we would pray for their enemies and God moved in big ways really big
and God moved in big ways really big
and God moved in big ways really big ways and that’s I could talk for an hour
ways and that’s I could talk for an hour
ways and that’s I could talk for an hour about the things that we saw happening
about the things that we saw happening
about the things that we saw happening in our kids lives but that’s for another
in our kids lives but that’s for another
in our kids lives but that’s for another day so
one morning hope one of the girls that
one morning hope one of the girls that was there with us she asked that we pray
was there with us she asked that we pray
was there with us she asked that we pray for her neighborhood children not the
for her neighborhood children not the
for her neighborhood children not the children that she had those kids in her
children that she had those kids in her
children that she had those kids in her neighborhood didn’t have enough food to
neighborhood didn’t have enough food to
neighborhood didn’t have enough food to eat and it was school had started and
eat and it was school had started and
eat and it was school had started and they were they were all running around
they were they were all running around
they were they were all running around the neighborhood after school and she
the neighborhood after school and she
the neighborhood after school and she and her husband didn’t have enough money
and her husband didn’t have enough money
and her husband didn’t have enough money to feed all the kids in the neighborhood
to feed all the kids in the neighborhood
to feed all the kids in the neighborhood so we prayed and you know we went on our
so we prayed and you know we went on our
so we prayed and you know we went on our way
way
way well me and two of my girlfriends who
well me and two of my girlfriends who
well me and two of my girlfriends who started mighty moms with me we drove
started mighty moms with me we drove
started mighty moms with me we drove through that neighborhood later on that
through that neighborhood later on that
through that neighborhood later on that week my heart broke God broke my heart
week my heart broke God broke my heart
week my heart broke God broke my heart that day and I believe mighty moms was
that day and I believe mighty moms was
that day and I believe mighty moms was born that day I’ve never been the same
born that day I’ve never been the same
born that day I’ve never been the same I’ve never been the same childhood
I’ve never been the same childhood
I’ve never been the same childhood hunger is real it’s summer hunger it’s
hunger is real it’s summer hunger it’s
hunger is real it’s summer hunger it’s very real there are children that live
very real there are children that live
very real there are children that live in neighborhoods next door to us there’s
in neighborhoods next door to us there’s
in neighborhoods next door to us there’s kids that live they ride the bus with
kids that live they ride the bus with
kids that live they ride the bus with our kids they don’t have enough to eat
our kids they don’t have enough to eat
our kids they don’t have enough to eat and it doesn’t look like hunger here
and it doesn’t look like hunger here
and it doesn’t look like hunger here doesn’t look like what it looks like in
doesn’t look like what it looks like in
doesn’t look like what it looks like in Ethiopia or in Haiti these cook these
Ethiopia or in Haiti these cook these
Ethiopia or in Haiti these cook these kids some come to school dirty some some
kids some come to school dirty some some
kids some come to school dirty some some come to school clean some don’t want you
come to school clean some don’t want you
come to school clean some don’t want you to even have one idea that they’re
to even have one idea that they’re
to even have one idea that they’re struggling at home just like Joni said
struggling at home just like Joni said
struggling at home just like Joni said they’re dealing with so much and they
they’re dealing with so much and they
they’re dealing with so much and they can’t possibly learn Common Core math if
can’t possibly learn Common Core math if
can’t possibly learn Common Core math if they’re hungry and I’m not talking about
they’re hungry and I’m not talking about
they’re hungry and I’m not talking about just hunger for you know I’ve been
just hunger for you know I’ve been
just hunger for you know I’ve been hungry but I know that I’m gonna get a
hungry but I know that I’m gonna get a
hungry but I know that I’m gonna get a meal you know maybe not right then but
meal you know maybe not right then but
meal you know maybe not right then but in a few hours or the next morning I’m
in a few hours or the next morning I’m
in a few hours or the next morning I’m gonna eat something
gonna eat something
gonna eat something these kids are chronically hungry they
these kids are chronically hungry they
these kids are chronically hungry they their stomach hurts all the time because
their stomach hurts all the time because
their stomach hurts all the time because they don’t have enough to eat
they don’t have enough to eat
they don’t have enough to eat so my mom’s was born we decided that we
so my mom’s was born we decided that we
so my mom’s was born we decided that we could we could do something we could
could we could do something we could
could we could do something we could figure this out we can make sandwiches
figure this out we can make sandwiches
figure this out we can make sandwiches we can we can have chips and waters and
we can we can have chips and waters and
we can we can have chips and waters and we could pass out fresh fruit and we
we could pass out fresh fruit and we
we could pass out fresh fruit and we just sort of walking in the neighborhood
just sort of walking in the neighborhood
just sort of walking in the neighborhood we met the most precious kids y’all
we met the most precious kids y’all
we met the most precious kids y’all they’re so cute and they weren’t just
they’re so cute and they weren’t just
they’re so cute and they weren’t just hungry for food they were hungry for a
hungry for food they were hungry for a
hungry for food they were hungry for a relationship they wanted someone like
relationship they wanted someone like
relationship they wanted someone like Johnny said just to say hey I see you
Johnny said just to say hey I see you
Johnny said just to say hey I see you and I see that Bobo on their toe come
and I see that Bobo on their toe come
and I see that Bobo on their toe come over here let me put a bandaid on it for
over here let me put a bandaid on it for
over here let me put a bandaid on it for you or for one of the kids that we that
you or for one of the kids that we that
you or for one of the kids that we that we met day-day he had never eaten
we met day-day he had never eaten
we met day-day he had never eaten cantaloupe a day in his life before and
cantaloupe a day in his life before and
cantaloupe a day in his life before and I think he probably still loves
I think he probably still loves
I think he probably still loves cantaloupe that seven years ago I think
cantaloupe that seven years ago I think
cantaloupe that seven years ago I think you probably still know it’s gonna work
you probably still know it’s gonna work
you probably still know it’s gonna work today so as we begin to build
today so as we begin to build
today so as we begin to build relationships and feed the kids over
relationships and feed the kids over
relationships and feed the kids over that over that year we might Imams we
that over that year we might Imams we
that over that year we might Imams we didn’t just pound the pavement
didn’t just pound the pavement
didn’t just pound the pavement delivering sandwiches we also talked to
delivering sandwiches we also talked to
delivering sandwiches we also talked to everyone who would listen to us
everyone who would listen to us
everyone who would listen to us talk about childhood hunger we did
talk about childhood hunger we did
talk about childhood hunger we did research we filed our 501c3 paperwork
research we filed our 501c3 paperwork
research we filed our 501c3 paperwork and we got it in record time we became a
and we got it in record time we became a
and we got it in record time we became a legit 501c3 nonprofit organization we
legit 501c3 nonprofit organization we
legit 501c3 nonprofit organization we couldn’t believe it we knew we were on
couldn’t believe it we knew we were on
couldn’t believe it we knew we were on the right path we knew that we had heard
the right path we knew that we had heard
the right path we knew that we had heard what God said and God said go out there
what God said and God said go out there
what God said and God said go out there and feed those kids you can do it so in
and feed those kids you can do it so in
and feed those kids you can do it so in 2011 January 2011 we were approved by
2011 January 2011 we were approved by
2011 January 2011 we were approved by the legacy fair school board to do our
the legacy fair school board to do our
the legacy fair school board to do our full tummy project in the schools
full tummy project in the schools
full tummy project in the schools that’s our backpack program we feed we
that’s our backpack program we feed we
that’s our backpack program we feed we pack bags our kids who are hungry on the
pack bags our kids who are hungry on the
pack bags our kids who are hungry on the weekends and we deliver them to the
weekends and we deliver them to the
weekends and we deliver them to the schools every week and they go home on
schools every week and they go home on
schools every week and they go home on Friday with a bag of food to last them
Friday with a bag of food to last them
Friday with a bag of food to last them oops
oops
oops supposed to do this this school year we
supposed to do this this school year we
supposed to do this this school year we started off with just a few schools just
started off with just a few schools just
started off with just a few schools just a little bit of money and just a few
a little bit of money and just a few
a little bit of money and just a few volunteers this school year we delivered
volunteers this school year we delivered
volunteers this school year we delivered ten thousand with 10 thousand eight
ten thousand with 10 thousand eight
ten thousand with 10 thousand eight hundred and eleven full tummy bags
hundred and eleven full tummy bags
hundred and eleven full tummy bags 2:43 Livingston Parish schools
2:43 Livingston Parish schools
2:43 Livingston Parish schools 50 committed thoughtful vibrant
50 committed thoughtful vibrant
50 committed thoughtful vibrant volunteers helped us pull this off week
volunteers helped us pull this off week
volunteers helped us pull this off week to week this even there were a
to week this even there were a
to week this even there were a non-profit the full tummy project is
non-profit the full tummy project is
non-profit the full tummy project is really a business we’ve got it made
really a business we’ve got it made
really a business we’ve got it made we’ve got it down to a well-oiled
we’ve got it down to a well-oiled
we’ve got it down to a well-oiled machine we couldn’t do it without the
machine we couldn’t do it without the
machine we couldn’t do it without the good people of our community
good people of our community
good people of our community mighty moms pours into our community
mighty moms pours into our community
mighty moms pours into our community community and the community pours into
community and the community pours into
community and the community pours into my new moms and I couldn’t be prouder to
my new moms and I couldn’t be prouder to
my new moms and I couldn’t be prouder to live here I grew up in Baton Rouge and I
live here I grew up in Baton Rouge and I
live here I grew up in Baton Rouge and I never thought that I would live again
never thought that I would live again
never thought that I would live again I’m Springs
I’m Springs
I’m Springs never never thought but now I can’t
never never thought but now I can’t
never never thought but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else so not only
imagine living anywhere else so not only
imagine living anywhere else so not only do we do the full tummy project which is
do we do the full tummy project which is
do we do the full tummy project which is the $10,000 a month grocery bill that is
the $10,000 a month grocery bill that is
the $10,000 a month grocery bill that is completely supportive other good people
completely supportive other good people
completely supportive other good people of Livingston Parish so we don’t I mean
of Livingston Parish so we don’t I mean
of Livingston Parish so we don’t I mean it the money just comes to us people
it the money just comes to us people
it the money just comes to us people want to help people we live in such an
want to help people we live in such an
want to help people we live in such an awesome community it’s amazing to me we
awesome community it’s amazing to me we
awesome community it’s amazing to me we also do our free grocery store once a
also do our free grocery store once a
also do our free grocery store once a month with our free courage sale and
month with our free courage sale and
month with our free courage sale and that is awesome too selfishly I loved we
that is awesome too selfishly I loved we
that is awesome too selfishly I loved we loved to hug the kids the full tummy
loved to hug the kids the full tummy
loved to hug the kids the full tummy project the guidance counselor and
project the guidance counselor and
project the guidance counselor and teachers like Joanie get to hug the kids
teachers like Joanie get to hug the kids
teachers like Joanie get to hug the kids on a daily basis but we don’t the the
on a daily basis but we don’t the the
on a daily basis but we don’t the the pantries are the free grocery stores
pantries are the free grocery stores
pantries are the free grocery stores that is an awesome day
that is an awesome day
that is an awesome day people just come through our line with
people just come through our line with
people just come through our line with their wagons or their grocery bags and
their wagons or their grocery bags and
their wagons or their grocery bags and it is so beautiful to be able to hug a
it is so beautiful to be able to hug a
it is so beautiful to be able to hug a mama or hukka grandma grandparent and
mama or hukka grandma grandparent and
mama or hukka grandma grandparent and say I’m so glad you’re here grab all the
say I’m so glad you’re here grab all the
say I’m so glad you’re here grab all the cabbage you want grab all of the carrots
cabbage you want grab all of the carrots
cabbage you want grab all of the carrots that you want get some extra milk get
that you want get some extra milk get
that you want get some extra milk get extra peanut butter cuz we love you and
extra peanut butter cuz we love you and
extra peanut butter cuz we love you and we don’t want we want your pain tree to
we don’t want we want your pain tree to
we don’t want we want your pain tree to be full when you leave out when you
be full when you leave out when you
be full when you leave out when you leave us we don’t want to give you beans
leave us we don’t want to give you beans
leave us we don’t want to give you beans and rice we want to give you and we want
and rice we want to give you and we want
and rice we want to give you and we want to give you brownie mix too because who
to give you brownie mix too because who
to give you brownie mix too because who doesn’t like brownies I mean you think
doesn’t like brownies I mean you think
doesn’t like brownies I mean you think your kids think your mom of the year to
your kids think your mom of the year to
your kids think your mom of the year to cooking brownies when they get home from
cooking brownies when they get home from
cooking brownies when they get home from school so anyway my tea mom’s does a lot
school so anyway my tea mom’s does a lot
school so anyway my tea mom’s does a lot of projects like that and it’s in many
of projects like that and it’s in many
of projects like that and it’s in many moms is good it’s just good and it’s not
moms is good it’s just good and it’s not
moms is good it’s just good and it’s not just me
just me
just me so many people so many people make it
so many people so many people make it
so many people so many people make it happen and I am in awe that this is my
happen and I am in awe that this is my
happen and I am in awe that this is my story that I get to have a part in
story that I get to have a part in
story that I get to have a part in something so beautiful it’s beautiful
something so beautiful it’s beautiful
something so beautiful it’s beautiful and I’m honored and I’m humbled and I’m
and I’m honored and I’m humbled and I’m
and I’m honored and I’m humbled and I’m privileged to serve the people of our
privileged to serve the people of our
privileged to serve the people of our community this way I love it I love it
community this way I love it I love it
community this way I love it I love it now don’t get me wrong they’re hard days
now don’t get me wrong they’re hard days
now don’t get me wrong they’re hard days there’s days when what I started off
there’s days when what I started off
there’s days when what I started off doing was serving our community feels
doing was serving our community feels
doing was serving our community feels like work you know there’s days when I
like work you know there’s days when I
like work you know there’s days when I want to throw in the towel there’s days
want to throw in the towel there’s days
want to throw in the towel there’s days when a stupid flood happens
when a stupid flood happens
when a stupid flood happens all of us all of us are homeless all of
all of us all of us are homeless all of
all of us all of us are homeless all of this I’ve never had to worry about
this I’ve never had to worry about
this I’ve never had to worry about beating my kids we live in a camper
beating my kids we live in a camper
beating my kids we live in a camper there’s no way to really feature kid
there’s no way to really feature kid
there’s no way to really feature kid except for just give him some cereal for
except for just give him some cereal for
except for just give him some cereal for a while so we’re all kind of stuck in
a while so we’re all kind of stuck in
a while so we’re all kind of stuck in this this rut or this terrible situation
this this rut or this terrible situation
this this rut or this terrible situation and I thought I wanted to throw in the
and I thought I wanted to throw in the
and I thought I wanted to throw in the towel I didn’t think I wanted to do it
towel I didn’t think I wanted to do it
towel I didn’t think I wanted to do it anymore I couldn’t take care of my
anymore I couldn’t take care of my
anymore I couldn’t take care of my family much less I couldn’t think about
family much less I couldn’t think about
family much less I couldn’t think about what was going on with other kids thank
what was going on with other kids thank
what was going on with other kids thank goodness there were people in my team um
goodness there were people in my team um
goodness there were people in my team um that didn’t flood so they were able to
that didn’t flood so they were able to
that didn’t flood so they were able to keep it going while I was you know
keep it going while I was you know
keep it going while I was you know mowing in mind you know sadness or
mowing in mind you know sadness or
mowing in mind you know sadness or whatever um but I will say I was never
whatever um but I will say I was never
whatever um but I will say I was never I’ve never been formally trained or been
I’ve never been formally trained or been
I’ve never been formally trained or been to school on how to start an
to school on how to start an
to school on how to start an organization like mighty moms or how to
organization like mighty moms or how to
organization like mighty moms or how to lead it or how to be an executive
lead it or how to be an executive
lead it or how to be an executive director some days I flub it up really
director some days I flub it up really
director some days I flub it up really bad some days I do a pretty good job but
bad some days I do a pretty good job but
bad some days I do a pretty good job but I will say this I feel like there’s one
I will say this I feel like there’s one
I will say this I feel like there’s one thing that all of us in this room have
thing that all of us in this room have
thing that all of us in this room have in common
in common
in common be and mighty mighty is powerful
be and mighty mighty is powerful
be and mighty mighty is powerful extraordinary powerful having great
extraordinary powerful having great
extraordinary powerful having great prestige or influence and that’s not the
prestige or influence and that’s not the
prestige or influence and that’s not the kind of influence or prestige that says
kind of influence or prestige that says
kind of influence or prestige that says oh I’m kind of a big deal that’s not it
oh I’m kind of a big deal that’s not it
oh I’m kind of a big deal that’s not it we all have influence and prestige and
we all have influence and prestige and
we all have influence and prestige and power in our own inner circles that we
power in our own inner circles that we
power in our own inner circles that we can use to help others extraordinary
can use to help others extraordinary
can use to help others extraordinary going beyond what is usual or regular or
going beyond what is usual or regular or
going beyond what is usual or regular or customary so I think that being mighty
customary so I think that being mighty
customary so I think that being mighty using our power and influence to do
using our power and influence to do
using our power and influence to do something special to do something that
something special to do something that
something special to do something that is just above and beyond what what
is just above and beyond what what
is just above and beyond what what regularly happens I think that it
regularly happens I think that it
regularly happens I think that it doesn’t have to be expensive or
doesn’t have to be expensive or
doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate it’s best when it really it’s
elaborate it’s best when it really it’s
elaborate it’s best when it really it’s simple the simpler the better when we
simple the simpler the better when we
simple the simpler the better when we try to make it some kind of a big big
try to make it some kind of a big big
try to make it some kind of a big big ordeal is usually when it stresses us
ordeal is usually when it stresses us
ordeal is usually when it stresses us out so much the kids just want to eat
out so much the kids just want to eat
out so much the kids just want to eat they don’t really care about what we
they don’t really care about what we
they don’t really care about what we have planned for them other than feeding
have planned for them other than feeding
have planned for them other than feeding them and spending some time so I ask you
them and spending some time so I ask you
them and spending some time so I ask you how can you be mighty in your
how can you be mighty in your
how can you be mighty in your thank you
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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