For every outing we have there are countless stories created. These are stories we carry with us whether they're of happiness, of sadness, or stories of encouragement. Being able to be part of someones story is the reason we go back time and time again. When we see someone smile, or hear about their trials, or best of all see them succeed; it reminds us why we do what we do.
A Great Night Out with Just a Bunch of Friends and Cochco
Just a Bunch of Friends was proud to recently partner on an event with “Cochco”, an awesome group of people in our community that focus on and participate in year round daily COnditioning workouts, CHallenges, and COmmunity events.
Below is a summary of their experience.
“We were watching the news one night when we saw a clip on “Just a Bunch of Friends”. I thought what they were doing was so great for our community and emailed them right away to see if and how we could help them out.
They wrote me right back with a list of opportunities, and being a professional chef --- we jumped on the idea to make food packages. I run a wellness company called “Cochco” and my team divided the grocery list and conquered making over 500 sandwiches in less than an hour.
Our night spent with the “Just a Bunch of Friends” team was unbelievable to say the least. What they are doing for people in our community is so heart-warming. We helped them set up tables that were filled with donated shoes, blankets, coats, shoes, clothing, and our sandwiches. People who were in need began to swarm the tables in excitement for a new warm blanket or even a winter coat.
My Cochco team was beyond impressed with how organized and willing to serve those in need the “JBF” team was. They were also impressed with the conversations they had with those who were loving their snack bags and enjoyed outfitting people in warm clothes from head to toe.
We heard stories of people who were suffering from mental health issues and were trying to succeed but just couldn’t. Stories of people who were suffering drug abuse and addictive personalities that they couldn’t battle themselves. Stories of people who were abused or had lost their jobs, their homes, their families. We listened, we gave hugs, and we wished them the best…
Caring for others in need and seeing the challenges that other people are facing in life is humbling. The team at “Just a Bunch of Friends” aren’t just providing warm clothes and something to eat for those in need, they are spreading generosity, compassion and caring for others through our city.
We were so thankful that we had the opportunity to help out and we will gladly continuously help out their team in any way we can, any time they need us. I hope others join in their efforts, you won’t regret it.”
- Shauna Stewart :)
The Definition of Selflessness
Last year at our December 2014 outing, we had a special volunteer out with us. When most people heard the story of this volunteer they immediately felt inspired. For her birthday, she asked not for presents for herself but rather donations that she could bring out with us to give away to the less fortunate. She came out with us and was able to personally hand out the clothing items and gift cards that she had accepted as her birthday presents.
This year, for her 11th birthday she wanted to do the same! That is right, last year 10-year-old Mia gave up all her birthday presents in order to provide a gift to someone less fortunate and then wanted to do the same this year! For this birthday, in lieu of birthday presents she asked for a purse with women’s items or a backpack with men’s items so she could give away when she joined us for our Christmas outing. Also to add to her donations, her mom and dad got involved to help her increase their donations and collected from their company and clients at The Agency Real Estate Brokerage.
Together they brought out about 50 purses and bags full of much needed items and the gratitude and expression on people’s faces when handed one of these bags was priceless! So again, a special thank you to the Polakovic family; Dan, Rachael, Mia, her brother Jakub, and The Agency Real Estate Brokerage for joining us to help make a difference, one smile at a time.
If everyone in the world chose to place the needs of others before our own like Mia, an 11-year-old did…what kind of difference could we all make in our communities?
We All Get Knocked Down...But Love Will Pick Us Up
There was a man looking through the assortment of sweaters that were laying out on a table.
One of the volunteers approached him from the other side of the table to help him find the perfect fit.
He mentioned that when he first saw us there, he was going to just walk by and not accept the help. He decided to come over because he realized that we were there for that very reason...to help.
After he learned that we were there to help and so many others were accepting it, he felt that he was in a comfortable environment and was relaxed enough to check out what was going on. He saw we were offering sandwiches, drinks, and warm clothing.
He started talking to the volunteers and managed to find a few articles of warm clothing and was extremely thankful. The last statement he made before he walked away was that he recognized he was in a rut and just needed a helping hand and he was glad that he wasn’t too proud to accept it.
There comes a day in life when we all get knocked down and need a helping hand of some sort. It may not always be a sandwich or sweater that we need but everyone has lived a day where we needed something from another human being to help us remember that we all have a purpose in life.
Sometimes the difference between staying knocked down and getting back up on your feet is having someone show they love you as a human being.
The Gentleman with a New Pair of Boots
Just wanted to share a story from our night out on Tuesday November 10, 2015.
We had just finished packing up from our last spot and there were a couple of us standing there chatting for a minute before we took off.
A gentlemen walked up to us and he had a couple coats in his hands with some other items he got from us that night. He wanted to come back to tell us thanks again for providing him a warm coat and the first pair of boots he has had in over six years. He said the boots were a perfect fit and because of us, his feet were now going to be warm for winter for the first time in six years.
He mentioned that the extra coats in his hand were for his friends that didn’t have any winter wear. He expressed to us, almost in tears that because of us there would be a number of people that would stay a whole lot warmer this winter.
The “us” that this man refers to wasn’t the few of us standing there that he was talking to. The “us” that he referred to was every person that has gotten behind “Just a Bunch of Friends”. The person that physically donated those boots, the person that physically went to the street to help him pick up and hand him those boots, the people that physically donated those coats, that people that personally handed him those coats for him and his friends…it takes an amazing team to help move this cause forward that includes each and every one of you and we are extremely blessed to be able to call you all friends.
When talking to his gentlemen it was very tough to hold back the tears, just as it is now as I type out this story to share with you all.
Thank you for helping make a difference in this gentlemen's life.