Living Dreams: Sara Powers

This section is called Living Dreams. So often I meet people that I'm intrigued by. Just by speaking with them, I think, "You're living your life, not anyone else's, but the one you're supposed to be living." I'd like to introduce you to some of these most wonderful people, too. It may be their philosophy on life, their love, their passion. You don't have to agree with or like everything that everyone says. The point of this is not to reaffirm everything we already believe but instead challenge us to new heights. Hopefully, we engage an open heart where people are free to be different and not a threat, thus shaping us into more loving people.

So I'm serious, people. No rude and mean comments; I will delete them. Show each of our guests all of the respect. You can still walk away with your beliefs in tact; no one is asking you to throw them away--only asking you to listen with love.

This week, I spoke with Sara. Sara is wonderful. She is so sweet and crazy smart. Sara has such a giving spirit. It's truly inspiring to watch and listen to her. I hope you find this interview moving and motivational. 

Keely: Hi, Sara! So tell me a little bit about yourself. Who are you? I like to start with the question what do you love (not what do you do)?

Sara: Well, for starters, I love my family and my friends. I love to put a lot of my energy into making them feel loved and happy. Although I'm starting to realize that I can't give so much of myself that I don't take care of my needs. It's something I'm trying to learn to balance. 

I also love to give back in lots of different ways. My main concern that I try to address is food insecurity and poverty. Children and adults. I've been fortunate to never have experienced it myself, but that doesn't mean that I don't empathize. I don't understand it as well as those that have lived it, but I've tried to see as much as I can. I love to let others know that they are loved and cared about no matter what their circumstances are!

Keely: See? I love your heart so much. So recently, you made a pretty important move in making a dent in that very issue. I love it. Do you want to talk about that a little bit?

Sara: Absolutely! I've been a 'middle man' for a couple of organizations, and sometimes it's such a hassle. Trying to find meeting places and times is frustrating. So I decided there needed to be a way to give back that didn't have strings attached. 

There's also red tape for the people that need to use food pantries. That's not to say that those pantries shouldn't have requirements, they definitely should. However, there are situations people get into, for lots of different reasons, that make it difficult to receive the help they need. Having a way for them to get something to help them through a rough weekend, for example, I think is very much needed. 

I named it The West Plains Giving Tree. It's a small pantry, about the size of a kitchen cabinet. It is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for donors and recipients. There are no conditions that need to be met, no questions will be asked. 

It has been active for only 3 weeks, but I already see that the community is embracing it! I go check it at least once a day. It has never been empty, which shows me that people aren't out to take advantage of it like some people feared. People seem to simply be taking the things they need, and nothing more. I am seeing that people are donating to it very regularly. People are putting lots of different things. Yesterday I saw that someone placed a new, without tags, hooded jacket. That made me happy. 

The pantry has been very important to me in the last few weeks. It has reiterated my view that people are generally good, and want to help those around us. The media would lead us to think that we're all very separated, and not out to help those that are different. I'm very proud of the pantry and what it says about our community. I'm hopeful that we will add at least one more in the near future!

Keely: And I am so proud of you. This project didn't magically happen. You put a lot of time and love into it. Thank you, by the way! Have you been able to hear any actual stories about how this has been helpful to people? I know it's super confidential, which is amazing. Just seeing if you've heard back from the receiver's end. 

Sara: I haven't heard any feedback just yet. I've been thinking about ways that I could encourage that. I'm using my imagination at this point. Lol ;) However, I did put in a dry erase board, and I've seen some very sweet notes. Donors have left notes, as have recipients. 

Keely: Well, even if we never hear a single story, we know it's making a huge impact. So tell me about your empathy. What triggered your passion to help people? And if it's been there for as long as you can remember, what were first outward acts of empathy? 

Sara: As far as I can remember, I've always wanted to do things for others. My mom says the same, but she recalls that there was one experience that really triggered me. In the 3rd grade, I won a contest (reading, I think), where the prize was that the winner got to go with the principal to deliver Christmas presents to need families. Well one of those families was heating their home by leaving their oven turned on and open. With small children in the house. I guess I was traumatized. 

I've never held any kind of work position or anything that could help from in a large way, so I've tried to find as many smalls ways to help as I can: buying groceries when I hear of parents that need help, getting a propane tank filled when people need it, leaving enough cash for a tank of gas. I have people around me that alert me if they think there's people that need help. And I prefer to do things under the radar. I don't want people to know that it's me. Hopefully, no one knows. I am bothered by people that do things and post to FB immediately about it. It shows that they're in it for themselves and the kudos they get for it. 

Keely: Yes. Those acts of kindness would change the state of our world if everyone responded to need like that. As a parent, how do you think is the best way to educate and inspire our children to be givers and a general awareness of their peers? 

Sara: I wish I knew the answer. I don't think any of us know. The only way that I've found that seems to have some success so far (since my kinds are young and haven't had the time to do big things), is simply by setting the example. Show them the kind of person that you are and hope that they see the good that gets put into the world. 

Keely: Yes! I honestly think example is bigger than any words you could say. Well, I think you're totally wonderful! In your experience as a volunteer or in working with this particular issue, what are some of the hardships people face? What stories are happening around us that we may not even know about unless you try to know about them?

Sara: There are so many people here that struggle with everyday life. We have several programs that do a lot to help, but there just seems to be an ongoing sense of hardship. For many families, it's a generational problem. Down here it doesn't happen as often that it's a problem with a job loss or something situational like that. Many families lack the knowledge on how to break the cycle. I'm hoping to see that change in the future. 

One issue with some programs is that we just aren't sure what the actual needs are. For instance, we have a backpack program in the local schools. It provides food in a backpack for kids every Friday. These kids live a life where they may not have food to eat when they're not in school. We were getting some instant macaroni and cheese packets back. When the folks in charge asked the kids why they weren't eating them, the children responded, "We don't have a microwave to cook them in." 

They also often lack a can opener to open things with. What we consider to be the most basic things, so many people don't have. That's hard for most people to understand. That's not to say that we shouldn't give those things. We should. But we should also try to understand what needs actually are. 

Yesterday, I went to stock the pantry. As I was pulling away, I saw a young looking man and a small girl. I watched from my car as they went to the pantry. He helped her look inside. He grabbed a bottle of water, and she took what looked like a granola bar. They then sat down in the pavilion and shared a snack. There's a chance that they would have not eaten then if it isn't for the pantry. Maybe that's not the case. Either way, they had a sweet moment. It made me cry a bit. 

Keely: That certainly made me tear up. What a sweet time and that you were able to observe. I'm so proud of who you are terribly honored to call you friend. Thank you for talking with me, sharing your heart, and educating us a little more! You're awesome.

That is my sweet friend, Sara. I hope this opened your heart a little more to our friends around us. She was recently featured in an article for The Washington Post. We're so proud of her. Thank you again, Sara! 

x Keely