Red in a Small Town

So life after 40 has begun and I wanted to save a few blog posts for after I turned forty because I wanted to talk about something I plan to continue after 40.

Red in a Small Town is a non profit organization. The Adams family (Winter) and My family (Me) started to aid our community in May of 2015.

We called it Red Nose Day in a Small Town, a spin off from Red Nose Day which is a National Organization that supports six different groups that help with childhood poverty. Out of the six organizations Red Nose Day supports there are two trickle down groups in our communities. We thought that was cool so we decided to support Red Nose Day while bringing awareness to our community about our food pantries that really needed support.

The community of course jumped in full force .When we started we didn't even have a bank account, we just wanted to raise awareness for our local food pantries and Red Nose Day. Jewett and Marquez are so giving we realized after the first day we were going to have to get a business plan to really make a difference.

It is very important to us all the money raised stays in the community where it is collected. We did ask some local businesses, organizations, the city and most importantly the citizens in the community to donate. We sold red noses, held a Food Drive at the School and of course asked businesses for help. We ended the Fundraising with a Red Nose Day Event in Jewett where we served spaghetti plates. We were able to donate $4000 to the local food panties that year. Not bad for 16 days from start to finish but, our towns are amazing.

When the board met after the event we all agreed we wanted to do more so we changed our name to Red in a Small Town so we could also take on other causes.

In the last year we hosted a county wide officer appreciation. The kids in each City wrote letters to the Police, Sheriff and State Troopers thanking them for risking there lives day after day. Again we leaned heavily on the citizens, encouraging them to drop off meals to their local officers to show them they cared about them. Winter and I also made a point to go by each office and bring them something to eat and  thank them personally that day.

We then did the Green Light a Vet where we gave away eight porch lights and encouraged the community to light our towns green. I hope in 2016 this really kicks off and we will see lots more green lights.

After much deliberation, we decided in early 2016 to hold another fundraiser for the food pantries. You see our towns were hit really hard by the oil field layoffs and our food pantries really need help. So the campaign was called Pucker up for Poverty. We sold plastic lips and asked businesses for donations. We partnered with the two local Chambers of Commerce. The support they gave was instrumental to our success. I felt like our towns were in financial crises and still found a way to give something. Some gave time and some gave money but most of all they gave their support.

I don't know if a lot of people know this but all the start up money comes from Matt and Jerry, our wonderful husbands. Their hard earned money is what we use to begin a project and we pray we make enough each time to pay them back. A lot of work goes in to an event. It takes a huge support system including friends stepping up to help make desserts, serve tea, sell tickets at the door, cook and even go get the crawfish. So much goes in to an event. To me our last event, a Crawfish Boil, was a huge gamble. To say I was stressed out, worried, a hot mess and well, a bitch over the crawfish boil was a understatement. Of course the citizens and businesses didn't let us down and I had to tell the board they were right. We will be donating $3000 total to the two food panties. This has been my favorite donation because I feel so many citizens are hurting financially and still wanted to make a difference.

The Marquez Food Pantry serves 100 families a month. It is located at the All Around Cowboy Church. You do not have to be a member of the church to receive food. Every Wednesday at 5 they open and you are welcome to stay for free hot dogs at 5:45.

The Leon Community Clothes Closet and Food Pantry serves families throughout the Leon ISD area including families from Jewett, Marquez, Concord, Robbins and the Lake Limestone area. They also serve senior adults from across Leon County. Currently they serve between 80-100 people each month.

A lot of people asked me personally don't you feel like people are working the system. I have been to both food pantries and even stayed for the hot dog supper a few times and not one time did I feel like someone was working the system. I set with a sweet lady one time in Jewett that told me she gets there first so she can try to get a good dessert because it is the only time she can afford to have her grandchildren come over.

Winter and I encourage everyone that if you can't give money please donate your time to any organization, get involved and make a difference.

This Year we also won Organization of the Year at the Jewett Area Chamber of Commerce banquet. Winter and I and so many others work so hard and thanks to our wonderful husbands for their support we can keep helping our amazing community.

We are really excited to help our city, community and county. I can't wait to roll out our new campaign. You can keep up with all our news at www.facebook.com/redinasmalltown.