Fridays 10:00am - 11:00am (EDT)
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Hopefully the audience will hear or message and want to be part of the solution to child poverty on Long Island
About Org: Longwood Blessings is part of a National Organization in 45 States and D.C. whose sole mission is to provide food for food-insecure children for school weekends. Longwood Blessings started 10 years ago feeding 50 Children and now we feed over 500 students every school weekend. Our organization is completely powered by volunteers who fundraise, buy, pack and deliver food each school week. About Trisha Ewald: is a founder of Longwood Blessings in a Backpack. She has been Program Coordinator for the past 10 years. She now also works as a full time employee of the National Organization and oversees about 100 other Blessings in a Backpack programs on the east coast. About John Ammirati: joined Longwood Blessings as volunteer fundraising coordinator a year and a half ago after retiring from managing real estate offices
Longwood Blessings in a Backpack Website longwoodblessings.org Facebook Profile https://www.facebook.com/BiaBLongwoodNY
#EndChildHunger #FeedTheFuture #NoKidHungry #HungerFreeKids
Tune in for this sensible conversation at TalkRadio.nyc
Tommy D begins the show by presenting himself as the nonprofit sector connector and provides an overview of the show's purpose. He highlights his social media presence and introduces his guests, Trisha Ewald and John Ammirati. Tommy D shares the backstory of his connection with John before inviting Trisha and John to discuss their involvement with their organization.
Tommy D begins the segment by shouting out the band that does the song leading into his show. He reads the mission statement from John and Trisha’s organization. Trisha gives a touching story to how the organization was founded. The trio talk about food insecurity and how unfortunate it is in the United States. John talks about his involvement in the organization. Trisha talks about how important John is to the organization.
Tommy D initiates the segment by reflecting on his own experiences in public school. John emphasizes the significance of donations to their organization, underlining their crucial role in supporting their mission. Trisha expands on the importance of volunteering to their organization's efforts. She further elaborates on how their organization addresses food insecurity among children, ensuring their comfort and well-being in school.
Tommy D kicks off the final segment with enthusiasm, introducing the lightning round and playfully expressing his aspirations of being a game show host. John takes the opportunity to discuss the organization's ongoing needs to sustain growth, highlighting its importance for their continued impact. Trisha shares her profound passion for the organization and its mission, emphasizing the personal significance of their work. Tommy D ensures listeners have access to their website for further information. Trisha and John conclude by providing contact details for themselves and their organization, encouraging engagement and support.
00:00:46.020 --> 00:01:04.859 Tommy DiMisa: What's up world? Your voice back your boy, the nonprofit sector Connector 162 episodes into an idea that I thought about and talked about, and then didn't do anything about. Don't do that yourself. The show is called phil philanthropy and focus. I do the show. Every Friday morning. I help nonprofit leaders tell their story
00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:14.510 Tommy DiMisa: and amplify their message. And I think it's critically important that we focus whether you spell that with a Ph like I spell focus, or whether you spell the old way with an F,
00:01:14.570 --> 00:01:24.490 Tommy DiMisa: I think it's important that we focus on the incredible work that nonprofits do each and every day. Listen. There are millions of organizations in this country.
00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:48.620 Tommy DiMisa: There are organizations that have very, very large budgets that do incredible work that make incredible impacts. And there are medium sized organizations. And then there are small organizations that have to raise funds just to make that make their programs work that are fully run by volunteers that don't have any staff that's being paid. And each of these organizations, large or small, make an incredible impact.
00:01:49.250 --> 00:02:17.090 Tommy DiMisa: In your communities. There are these nonprofits, and I'd encourage you as I do as often as I can get out there and volunteer. Get out there and commit. Get out there and connect with your nonprofit organizations. And if you can't figure out where to do some volunteer work with a nonprofit reach out to you, boy Tommy. D, send me an email, Tommy D at philanthropy and focus.com phos. Hit me up an Instagram. I like Instagram, although I did remove it from my phone the other day because I realized I couldn't get off of the watching Instagram. So it'll come back.
00:02:17.090 --> 00:02:43.790 Tommy DiMisa: you know. It'll come back. But it's it's been removed from my phone for about 4 days, and I've gotten so much more done when it was done off my phone. But send me a Tommy Dyc, I promise I'll I'll probably put Instagram back on my phone tonight, anyway. Listen, let's connect on that type of stuff. If I can be a resource and make those connections to nonprofits. I'm happy to do so. Talk about connections. Let me say hello to my guests, and then I'll rant a little more, and then we'll get into the show. Hello, Tricia Ewald! Hello, John Amarante! What's going on.
00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:44.990 Trisha Ewald: How are you?
00:02:45.295 --> 00:02:45.600 John Ammirati: Me.
00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:48.129 Tommy DiMisa: This, is it? Good morning. How are you both today.
00:02:48.790 --> 00:02:49.690 John Ammirati: Very well.
00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:51.053 Trisha Ewald: Doing, great.
00:02:51.650 --> 00:03:11.430 Tommy DiMisa: Awesome, awesome, awesome. So let me talk about connecting. Let me talk about networking. So I entered into a new business venture just this year with 2 partners. The the company is called the Philanthropy Network of New York, and what we do is we create volunteer opportunities for businesses and their employees to connect with the nonprofit sector. And
00:03:11.490 --> 00:03:22.940 Tommy DiMisa: it it was so on, Brand for what I do and what I'm all about, and I just tell you that to give you some information about it. If you want to connect with me, we could talk more gang, and and I'll share it with you. Look on my Linkedin. We'll we'll get something out there.
00:03:23.550 --> 00:03:25.340 Tommy DiMisa: But I bring it up because
00:03:25.350 --> 00:03:26.940 Tommy DiMisa: one of our friends
00:03:27.343 --> 00:03:37.559 Tommy DiMisa: my 2 partners, Liz and Kim. We have this friend, Rob and Rob was being honored by big brothers, big sisters of Long Island. So I'm not this big brother's big sisters of Long Island event.
00:03:38.160 --> 00:03:43.899 Tommy DiMisa: the typical Tommy D stuff, right, you know, networking, connecting schmooze. Meet some new friends.
00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:57.079 Tommy DiMisa: and I meet this man John, and John is telling me what he's don't doing. And he sort of didn't tell me really what he does professionally like as a business person, but was more focused on this organization's blessing and Longwood blessings in a backpack.
00:03:57.210 --> 00:03:58.260 Tommy DiMisa: And
00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:06.500 Tommy DiMisa: I go. It's funny you should say that because I'm the nonprofit sector connector, which is a funny thing to say when when you say it, because
00:04:06.590 --> 00:04:09.370 Tommy DiMisa: when I say it, because I made it up.
00:04:10.220 --> 00:04:21.850 Tommy DiMisa: But it is a badge of honor that I wear very seriously, and when I say it to people, some people laugh and they go. Oh, wow! You're the nonprofit, like guys. If they were looking for the nonprofit sector connector. Now they have found him.
00:04:22.330 --> 00:04:30.823 Tommy DiMisa: But what's funny to me is this platform that I have philanthropy and focus. The nonprofit sector connector has
00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:33.560 Tommy DiMisa: given me an opportunity
00:04:33.610 --> 00:05:02.220 Tommy DiMisa: endeared me to certain people, because right away, I know what they're talking about when they're talking about nonprofits. And I mentioned at the front of the show. You know, some organizations have millions of dollars and hundreds or thousands of employees, and some of those right here on our own island. The Long Island have the big big organizations. And then there are other organizations that are doing incredible work on the front lines that don't have those resources. And I want to support all of them. But I gotta be honest with you. I want to support the one
00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:21.820 Tommy DiMisa: more focused on the grassroots work that's going on. So John and Tricia. What I'd like to do is start with the conversation around how you got connected to this organization, the history of the organization and and some of your backgrounds together. So, Tricia, you want to start, and John will jump into the conversation as we go through it.
00:05:22.094 --> 00:05:46.559 Trisha Ewald: So I just wanna say again, thank you so much for having us. This is a really amazing opportunity to be able to share the work that we do with the community. And your audience. That's really great. So how I learned about blessings in a backpack. It is a national organization. I take pause because I'm trying to like wear 2 hats sometimes. So it's a national organization. I learned about it through a talk show that I was watching back of the day. It was
00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:53.100 Trisha Ewald: 2,013 in the whole mission is to be able to provide weekend food for kids
00:05:53.510 --> 00:05:55.860 Trisha Ewald: like it doesn't get more simple than that. So.
00:05:55.860 --> 00:06:00.810 Tommy DiMisa: Let me let me stop you for a second all the details and stuff. I want to understand something. You're watching a program.
00:06:00.880 --> 00:06:04.560 Tommy DiMisa: right? What like 60 min was it on news? 12 like what.
00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.670 Trisha Ewald: Queen Latifah, Queen Latifah.
00:06:06.670 --> 00:06:11.990 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, it! I'm really glad I asked. I didn't so well, hold on. So you're watching is why did she have a talk show? Queen Latifah.
00:06:11.990 --> 00:06:23.339 Trisha Ewald: She had a talk show for about 30 s back in the day, and there was a check presentation, and I just happened to be flipping channels it caught my eye, and I paid attention so.
00:06:23.340 --> 00:06:30.685 Tommy DiMisa: First of all, I did not know. I'm a big hip hop, Fan, you know I'm I was. I was born in 78, so grew up in the nineties.
00:06:32.010 --> 00:06:39.699 Tommy DiMisa: Queen Latifah had a talk show. Didn't even know about it. What what was it about the the program, or what she was talking about that.
00:06:39.940 --> 00:07:09.370 Trisha Ewald: You know, when the ticker goes across the bottom it said something about blessings in a backpack. And so the name just caught my eye. I consider myself a spiritual person. And I was like, Oh, what is that? So I just got curious. And then she did a check presentation. It was like, you know, a 10 min segment on her show. And then she explained what the organization was, and the person who was out in Wisconsin or Wyoming. I don't even remember you know, and it was just I just blown away, blown away at the whole concept.
00:07:09.370 --> 00:07:11.679 Tommy DiMisa: Shout out, shout out to Queen Latifah! Queen Latifah!
00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:12.250 Trisha Ewald: Yeah.
00:07:12.250 --> 00:07:31.880 Tommy DiMisa: Come on, Tommy d show and talk about nonprofits. Talk about hip, hop, or just talk did be. That'd be fun. That'd be a cool show between Latifa and Tommy D. But so! Isn't that great? Isn't that special like? Isn't that what we're all about? Curiosity? You talked about curiosity? And you saw something. I will tell you this. This is the truth.
00:07:31.880 --> 00:07:50.279 Tommy DiMisa: Well, most things I say the truth. But this one I remember, hey, the curiosity way before I realized, shout out to my people, who found out late in life that you had Adhd. I'm one of them. But way before I realized that I had this thing, this beautiful brain, as my Coach Joe calls it. Coach Joe, shout out to Joe, the beautiful brain of Adhd.
00:07:50.310 --> 00:08:11.089 Tommy DiMisa: I would watch television with my ipad next to me, because, first of all, I I couldn't do one thing, but I had to be doing it too. But I would if something came up. If I saw a Latifah giving a check to backpack blessings, I would have been Googling that right away, like on. Now this is even before, like our phones were as cool as they are. I'm going back to like where the ipad was like the move.
00:08:11.371 --> 00:08:15.530 Tommy DiMisa: Now. You don't even need to do anything, because every you got a computer in your pocket, right?
00:08:15.790 --> 00:08:30.009 Tommy DiMisa: That to me, though, is is that's a blessing in itself, Trisha, because you were connected to something that now has. And you said you wear 2 hats. So you're trying to. You're wearing back and forth. But it's 2. It's 2 hats. Maybe it's the front and back of the same hat. Maybe.
00:08:30.266 --> 00:08:30.780 Trisha Ewald: Love that.
00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:31.589 Tommy DiMisa: Right cause, because
00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:51.649 Tommy DiMisa: cause it's on the same brand. So I wanna get into those 2 hats in a second. But I wanna just have John introduce himself and and his connection to this. And if I'm not standing this I believe in right. You don't see the Queen Latifah thing that was like, maybe she had 2 episodes of the show, and you caught one of them right and then, sorry, Latif, I just thought maybe wasn't a long I might have known about it if it was any longer.
00:08:51.650 --> 00:08:53.199 Trisha Ewald: Think it was. I think it was 6 months.
00:08:53.200 --> 00:09:03.750 Tommy DiMisa: I done 162 shows on this program, man, you know so. But I don't have to answer to anybody. I pay it myself. It's a little bit of a different deal. Even when I met John. And I do this a lot when I meet somebody I go.
00:09:04.210 --> 00:09:31.419 Tommy DiMisa: That's incredible, incredible story. That's an incredible organization. Would you like to come on my show? And then I go. Let me just check with the board, and I look away for 2 s, and I come back, and I said, We're good. I we all agree because I am the board. I'm the whole thing, and when you make. When you make all the decisions, you know, they talk about the Golden Rule like, treat others how they want to be treated, the other golden rules, the one who has the gold makes all the rules. So in this scenario I get to make all the rules. So I said John John
00:09:31.420 --> 00:09:38.800 Tommy DiMisa: would be awesome to feature this story on the program, and that's how we got there. So, John, why were you at big brothers, big sisters that night?
00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:41.999 Tommy DiMisa: What and how did you get connected to to the organization.
00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:47.920 John Ammirati: So big brothers, big sisters. I have a good friend, Don Levine, who, you know.
00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.160 John Ammirati: That's.
00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:50.000 Tommy DiMisa: Like Buddy.
00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:56.400 John Ammirati: Yeah, your buddy. And he invited me, and I was very interested because it was at top golf.
00:09:56.490 --> 00:10:04.020 John Ammirati: We had just been there a couple of weeks before looking at. Maybe that's a good site for a fundraiser for us.
00:10:04.410 --> 00:10:21.280 John Ammirati: So now we had a chance 2 weeks later to actually see how a fundraiser was done at top golf, and you know what the possibilities were. So I was there, just hanging out with Don and his friends, and you came by, and boom!
00:10:21.778 --> 00:10:48.189 Tommy DiMisa: That's what was funny about. Sorry to interrupt. What was funny about that part, too, is you and I met before Don had gotten there, and you and I were chatting it up, and then, later on, like you're like, Oh, there's my friend who invited me. You point over. I go. Let's Don Levine, that's my guy. So like, I know Don, for a lot of years from the health and business alliance. And it's just what a small world, you know. I mean, as long as this island is, I'd make a joke there as long as this island is.
00:10:48.190 --> 00:11:00.480 Tommy DiMisa: you know. It. There's so many people that are so connected and know each other. But I will tell you. People go. Tommy D. Knows everybody which is so not true. I know a lot of people. A lot of people probably know me, but
00:11:00.530 --> 00:11:19.611 Tommy DiMisa: I love to walk into a room, and I know very few, or if not, and it happens a lot, and I don't know everybody, or I don't know anybody that's the best one, or I don't know anybody, because then it then, whatever ego issues I have. So it has to get in check because I can't just be arrogant, Tommy D, because these people don't even know who his clown is right. So that's a whole, not
00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:30.310 Tommy DiMisa: I am I? I was floored by reading the information on your website. I why was I floored? Why am I shocked. I mean, I I just did some research right before we started the show.
00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:32.860 Tommy DiMisa: There's 33. Excuse me.
00:11:33.010 --> 00:11:37.050 Tommy DiMisa: 333 million people that live in this country.
00:11:38.360 --> 00:12:04.019 Tommy DiMisa: 37 million of those people face food, insecurity. That's higher than 10% of the country. This is the United States of America, and I don't care about lines and borders. And let's not get into any of that stuff right now, because on this planet I am disgusted that on this planet. Anyone should go without food or not be secure about if they have access to food. So forget the border lines and all this stuff. And now you you if you don't like me, because now this is political
00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:21.449 Tommy DiMisa: political thing, it isn't political. I'm not making this political. This is one planet, one race of human beings gang no one should be without food. This is ridiculous. I don't curse in the show, I mean, do you don't say this is bullshit. All right. I just said it. But this is bullshit that this is a real what we're dealing with. It doesn't work.
00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:32.419 Tommy DiMisa: Okay? So then you take that to this. You know, this empire that has all these resources and all this money and and beautiful things, and what always got me crazy was.
00:12:33.030 --> 00:12:43.130 Tommy DiMisa: let's go into Manhattan. Let's play. Let's play. Let's get on the Long Island rail or take the train into New York City and go get a steak. Get a steak. I don't know what a Kobe state cost 150 bucks, or something like that, right?
00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.690 Tommy DiMisa: And there's a man or a woman and a child
00:12:45.890 --> 00:13:11.199 Tommy DiMisa: not 20 yards away, eating out of a trash can what is going on? What are we doing? That is not any sort of significance as a society. When that is the what what goes on. All right. I'm not going to change all situations today on this program. But it's organizations like this organization that's here today that are changing the world and are making an impact specifically as it affects our young people. So
00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:12.960 Tommy DiMisa: I'm cranky.
00:13:13.230 --> 00:13:35.800 Tommy DiMisa: freaking deal with it. You all showed up. You wanted to pay attention to this. You know why? Because we're changing the world because the organizations I hang out with are changing the world each and every day. So, Tricia, I want you to jump in. A couple of weeks ago I did an event with the Rotary Club out here where I live right, and we packed these food bags where you pack the rice, and then you do the you get the beans and the and the flavoring, the seasoning, and all.
00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:47.050 Tommy DiMisa: We pack 15,000 meals that day in like 2 h, like incredible when you put a community of people together to do it. I want to ask you. We are going to go to break in about a minute, but I want to ask you quickly.
00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:55.690 Tommy DiMisa: how how did you get involved with this organization? What was you saw that the Queen Latifah thing and the whole deal? But what was the first move? How did you get started.
00:13:55.890 --> 00:14:05.310 Trisha Ewald: So it it means so much to me because I was a hungry kid. So I knew that I had to do whatever I had to do. Because now, when I see this show, I'm a grown adult.
00:14:05.790 --> 00:14:23.060 Trisha Ewald: I'm not a hungry kid anymore. I can be the kid that I could be the woman that the kids need. You know the one I I needed when I was a kid. So I approached the school district. I called a friend, I did the research on the national website. I just made the commitment and I started fundraising immediately
00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:29.120 Trisha Ewald: started buying food. Within 6 months we were delivering 50 backpacks to kids at Longwood.
00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:45.110 Tommy DiMisa: Why did you know, though, that, or did you know without seeing the the this piece that was done on the TV show? Did you know that the Longwood district and we'll talk about the district and what it represents in a little while. But did you know that? Did you have an awareness. Is that where you grew up? Maybe I I.
00:14:45.110 --> 00:15:12.539 Trisha Ewald: Yeah. So I grew up. I grew up in the neighboring district, which is William Floyd. And so yeah, the socioeconomic platform here is pretty similar across the this part of the island, so you know, it's got pockets of poverty like every community. But there's probably averaging about 50 of this entire area is about poverty. You know, where they, the kids, would lean into free and reduce lunch. So I was aware of that statistic just for being.
00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.300 Tommy DiMisa: 50%.
00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:14.790 Trisha Ewald: Yeah.
00:15:14.790 --> 00:15:20.710 Tommy DiMisa: If it's not you, it's me. If it's not me, it's you, every other person, every other child.
00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:30.740 Trisha Ewald: Right? Yeah. And I just want to throw out a statistic. We estimate you said 37 million people across the nation. 13 million of them are children
00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:32.910 Trisha Ewald: hungry.
00:15:32.910 --> 00:15:33.660 Tommy DiMisa: 13 million.
00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:36.582 Trisha Ewald: 14 million hungry children. We've identified
00:15:37.070 --> 00:15:43.059 Tommy DiMisa: Country right in this country. You know the the whole Glitz and the glamour, and we got it all, and you know
00:15:43.100 --> 00:16:03.470 Tommy DiMisa: the Grammy awards and hip, hop music, and beyonce and Jay Z, and right, and everybody's got Glitz and Glamor, and buy the new sneakers and buy the new car because you're not enough gang. So you need all this crap that Madison Avenue wants to sell you. But 13 million children don't have enough to eat. That's.
00:16:03.470 --> 00:16:04.390 Trisha Ewald: Audrey Ken's.
00:16:04.390 --> 00:16:34.009 Tommy DiMisa: On the weekend. Well, that's the thing, too, John. Show me a shirt. Who will feed the kids this weekend? I will. I love that. Speaking of which I we need to get Tommy do some swag. We'll work it out. Let's work it out behind the scenes because I like to wear. I don't know if you have any hoodies, but we gotta get some hoodies, because, although it's getting warm out, I like a nice hoodie pair of shorts on a crisp like spring night. Just if you wanna know and flip flops, why are you telling us about your fashion sense, Tommy? D cause you guys showed up. You punched your ticket. Welcome to the show. We gotta take a quick break. We'll be right back philanthropy and focus
00:16:34.010 --> 00:16:36.209 Tommy DiMisa: John Tricia and Tommy D. Right back.
00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:42.949 Tommy DiMisa: Cute song on a great show. This is, I love water.
00:18:42.950 --> 00:18:44.060 Trisha Ewald: That's so. Fun.
00:18:44.430 --> 00:19:08.112 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, my goodness! Shout out to Brendan Levy. I call him Uncle Brandon, Queen's Chamber of Commerce lead singer of damaged Goods! If you ever want to see, they play cool music from like, you know, the late eighties, the nineties they they were band back in the day, called the goods. But now, since they're old men, they call themselves damaged good, which I love to tell that story because I think that's hysterical. We. So we'll have to go out. They play a docs out in
00:19:08.430 --> 00:19:25.320 Tommy DiMisa: I'd like was Atlantic Beach Island Park over there at Island Park alright. Anyway, we're not. We're not here to promote the damage right now we're here to talk about. Listen to this gang. Listen to this, this situation back in the little history lesson. I'm pulling right off of the website. Longwood blessings.org.
00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:40.499 Tommy DiMisa: The National School Lunch Act was signed by President Harry Truman in 1 46 research shows that participation in school lunch programs reduces food, insecurity, improves, dietary intake positively impacts health and and obesity rates.
00:19:40.510 --> 00:19:54.429 Tommy DiMisa: and by meeting children's nutritional needs, leads to a better learning environment. Yeah, of course. How do you go to school and try and learn and pay attention when you have hunger pangs? How you don't that doesn't work?
00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:57.280 Tommy DiMisa: Come on. And some of this stuff? Yeah.
00:19:57.590 --> 00:20:13.010 Tommy DiMisa: alright. So my friend Tricia asked me to ask her the question. So I was, Gonna say it's funny, because in 2,005 there was a teacher named Missy Hammerstrom, who came up with this concept of blessings in a backpack tricia
00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.230 Tommy DiMisa: who's missing.
00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:25.341 Trisha Ewald: So small correction. She wasn't a teacher. She's actually a lawyer, and no, it's it's I don't. I've actually spoke with her daughter recently and learned that that correction. So she's
00:20:25.650 --> 00:20:44.809 Trisha Ewald: Missy was sadly. She's passed now. Was volunteering. So the power of volunteering Tommy right she was volunteering, shadowing in a school, working with kids, as I think. She was working for a law firm at the time, and she was in a school and was spending the day with the kids.
00:20:44.810 --> 00:20:52.309 Trisha Ewald: So when she was spending there eating lunch, they, the one child said to her, was a little girl. She said, Are you going to eat your apple?
00:20:52.390 --> 00:20:57.739 Trisha Ewald: And she said, Hmm, I don't know. Probably not why she said. Can I have it?
00:20:57.880 --> 00:21:04.510 Trisha Ewald: And she said. Sure. Why, why do you need my apple? She said. So I have something to eat this weekend.
00:21:05.110 --> 00:21:14.519 Trisha Ewald: Missy went home. Yeah, yeah, that's the difference. So school lunch is great, but what do the kids do over the weekend? So Missy went home that night.
00:21:14.530 --> 00:21:21.710 Trisha Ewald: cleared out her garage, went to the local Walmart, bought backpacks, filled them with food and.
00:21:22.550 --> 00:21:27.169 Trisha Ewald: The help of the staff at the school, identified the kids who would best benefit
00:21:27.850 --> 00:21:40.820 Trisha Ewald: and be able to take those backpacks home. So that's how blessings in a backpack was born, and I love that I absolutely love. And so our vile, our our whole organization.
00:21:40.910 --> 00:21:55.319 Trisha Ewald: I would say I don't know. I don't know the right data or statistics. But I would say, close to 90% of our people. You know, we reach 90,000 children every single weekend through the national organization.
00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:58.470 Tommy DiMisa: So so there's okay. So that's where your 2 hats, or what my made up.
00:21:58.470 --> 00:21:59.730 Trisha Ewald: Yes, yes.
00:21:59.730 --> 00:22:04.190 Tommy DiMisa: One and a half hats, or however many hats, but like so you
00:22:04.310 --> 00:22:08.469 Tommy DiMisa: are our representative here on Long Island for Longwood. Blessings.
00:22:08.755 --> 00:22:09.040 Trisha Ewald: Yeah.
00:22:09.040 --> 00:22:11.340 Tommy DiMisa: Blessings, longward blessings and background.
00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:18.540 Tommy DiMisa: And you're also on the leadership team, nationally or or programmatic team. Tell me, correct me if I'm wrong.
00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:31.210 Trisha Ewald: That's right. Yeah. So I'm on the program team. And you know, I oversee. Personally, I oversee about 100 volunteers that work with about 10,000 children up and down the east coast into the Midwest.
00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:35.970 Tommy DiMisa: So. So let me understand this. So we're are we more talking about
00:22:36.670 --> 00:22:37.989 Tommy DiMisa: a supplement
00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:46.349 Tommy DiMisa: to the school launch meaning a supplement for the weekend, or we talk about a combination like talk to me again. Nobody knows it's better than you programmatically. So.
00:22:46.350 --> 00:22:46.920 Trisha Ewald: Hey!
00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:52.529 Tommy DiMisa: Tell me what this looks like, and then I want to hear from John. You know John's one of those 100
00:22:52.680 --> 00:23:01.351 Tommy DiMisa: volunteers that you're dealing with right. And in these all these different markets up and down the east coast. So I wanna hear what that feels like. By the way, John, just tell me when you need me.
00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.190 John Ammirati: Problem.
00:23:02.190 --> 00:23:08.128 Tommy DiMisa: You know what I mean. We're gonna make that. No, I mean, when you need me to come out to do this thing with you like. I'm there like that's already.
00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:09.489 Trisha Ewald: Figure out a date, for sure.
00:23:09.490 --> 00:23:18.769 Tommy DiMisa: I'm I'm I'm crying right now, so we need to you to talk so. And don't look at me. Look at other people, but I'm visually. I'm screwed up from this right now, because this is not right.
00:23:18.770 --> 00:23:20.240 Trisha Ewald: Yeah, it's. And you know what? Tommy.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.590 Tommy DiMisa: Also.
00:23:20.590 --> 00:23:21.510 Trisha Ewald: That was.
00:23:21.510 --> 00:23:23.600 Tommy DiMisa: Because we're fixing it, though. Just wanna.
00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.120 Trisha Ewald: What absolutely we're fixing.
00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:25.560 Tommy DiMisa: Pressing. Yeah.
00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:49.349 Trisha Ewald: Absolutely right, so so I couldn't be happier. But I will be quite honest when I first started to volunteer with blessings back in 2,013. I couldn't tell the story without weeping. I really couldn't, because not just the missy story, which is near and dear to my heart cause. I was one. I was the kid asking for the apple, you know, but but now I'm an adult, and I can make a difference and impact in my own community. And I want to give back.
00:23:49.380 --> 00:24:17.529 Trisha Ewald: And so it just became really important to me, really important. And so when when you have a heart forgiving whether it's for the cancer, or saving the horses, or feeding the puppies, or whatever it is that you're doing like your heart is your heart, you know. So we're all coming from that same perspective. And it starts with volunteers. That's what my whole point was. It's like. So, yes, I work for the organization. But you know, quite honestly, I don't have a job there, if it's not for the
00:24:17.670 --> 00:24:22.200 Trisha Ewald: thousands of volunteers that work with us every single day, so that.
00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:26.166 Tommy DiMisa: Manage volunteers if there's no volunteers to manage, baby, that's just what it is.
00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:33.759 Tommy DiMisa: Well, you're what do you do while I manage programs and volunteers. But we have no volunteers. We have no program. Well, sorry. We have no Trisha either.
00:24:34.790 --> 00:24:39.849 Tommy DiMisa: But isn't that critically important? Because, as many I said, like, I said at the beginning of the show. There's many organizations that have.
00:24:39.850 --> 00:24:40.230 Trisha Ewald: Wait!
00:24:40.290 --> 00:24:50.359 Tommy DiMisa: Of thousands of employees. But most organizations have to have a volunteer army, you know a every, and then there's some that only have a volunteer army. So take from there. Yeah.
00:24:50.360 --> 00:25:03.939 Trisha Ewald: We're we're really invested to, you know, not just to. We're. There's probably well, there's several programs on Long Island and you know, we're we're invested like, with my national hat on. I'm really invested in making that grow, you know. So every time.
00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:06.350 Tommy DiMisa: Which Park Grove you mean the Long Island piece for.
00:25:06.350 --> 00:25:33.869 Trisha Ewald: Absolutely, absolutely, because it's, you know. So personally, I have a team that does the Longwood, you know fund. But then there's also Dick's Hills. And there's half how Hills is a program. There's another program at Islip. Now, there's a program at way employee school district. There's a program at Springs district. There's a program all the way out in Port Washington. So there's volunteers that are really trying to make a difference. And we need to connect more of those dots and help them grow.
00:25:33.870 --> 00:25:39.350 Tommy DiMisa: I wanna keep. I wanna talk more about that. How we could do that, you know, today. And then also, when we're not on on live?
00:25:39.669 --> 00:26:00.250 Tommy DiMisa: We can really strategize. The the thing is, though it's interesting. Some of the neighbors, you say you know you mentioned poor Washington. Now I I love Long Island with this comment I'm about to make, because right next to Garden City and 2 and 3 and 4 million dollar homes is Hempstead, and I'm when I say that right next to gang for you, we're not Long Island, geographically inclined.
00:26:00.250 --> 00:26:20.730 Tommy DiMisa: I mean, you walk down a block, and all of a sudden when you're in Hampstead. So let me give you more context. What does that mean? You have like very severe, severe, extreme poverty in certain parts of Long Island like we're talking about right next to like. And you mentioned Port Washington. So Port Washington has pockets. Right? You have Sands Point right for for you all. We're talking
00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:24.559 Tommy DiMisa: big mansions, you know, like
00:26:24.890 --> 00:26:50.560 Tommy DiMisa: I don't know if there's hundreds of them up there, there's a lot right that are multi 1 million dollar homes. And then there's a pocket right in the same neighborhood, you know, down the road a piece, as they say. I wouldn't really say that here. I think they say that down the south that just down the road piece, but down the road a bit is is this poverty and food insecurity? And and you know all these not only food, insecurity, right? They don't have access to healthcare in in some of these occasions, and you know, to find different things and
00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:54.150 Tommy DiMisa: the resources again. This is the stuff that makes me so angry.
00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.370 Tommy DiMisa: Be, but
00:26:55.470 --> 00:26:56.329 Tommy DiMisa: I guess I have.
00:26:56.330 --> 00:26:57.559 Trisha Ewald: Out there, though, and the more.
00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:59.490 Tommy DiMisa: Have to find that Trisha help me because I have to.
00:26:59.490 --> 00:27:12.631 Trisha Ewald: Yeah, the more there the resources are out there. Tommy D, the more we talk about it. You know. I want to give John an opportunity to talk about how he found us and decided on us. Because I think that's really impactful.
00:27:13.770 --> 00:27:15.120 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, John, take it away.
00:27:15.510 --> 00:27:16.680 John Ammirati: Okay, great.
00:27:17.676 --> 00:27:18.523 John Ammirati: So
00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:25.709 John Ammirati: a good part of the last 20 years. I spend 5, 6 days a week managing a real estate office.
00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:29.139 John Ammirati: and when it came time to
00:27:29.510 --> 00:27:33.847 John Ammirati: stop, which I was not unhappy to do.
00:27:34.870 --> 00:27:42.459 John Ammirati: I found myself with time, now that I could give back, you know, and I didn't want to fill the time with making more money
00:27:42.470 --> 00:27:46.210 John Ammirati: that didn't make any sense to me. So I started looking at
00:27:46.280 --> 00:27:48.540 John Ammirati: believe it or not. It took me a year
00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.240 John Ammirati: to find blessings.
00:27:50.300 --> 00:28:00.410 John Ammirati: all kinds of different organizations, and nothing nothing. It was just kind of strange. I guess it was because
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:06.300 John Ammirati: I was supposed to be a blessing. So I live in a community a beautiful gated community called Birchwood Spring Lake.
00:28:06.610 --> 00:28:11.590 John Ammirati: and a whole bunch of ladies have been very faithful volunteers for many years.
00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:23.810 John Ammirati: and one of them, Lorraine Baker, put an ad in our Newsletter and our Co. Our Newsletter is like 20 pages printed, delivered to every house. Really? Okay? Yes.
00:28:23.830 --> 00:28:31.070 John Ammirati: And I looked at the ad, and it said, Blessings in the backpack. We need volunteers, you know. Call
00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:37.230 John Ammirati: so. I called Lorraine, and she said, You know, why don't you come down every Tuesday at 3 o'clock? We pack.
00:28:37.280 --> 00:28:39.039 John Ammirati: Why don't you see what we're about?
00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:44.269 John Ammirati: So I went and I packed, and obviously it blew me away.
00:28:44.762 --> 00:28:47.340 John Ammirati: And then the next week I came back.
00:28:47.370 --> 00:28:50.009 John Ammirati: and this is really the the crux of it.
00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:51.574 Trisha Ewald: Sorry.
00:28:52.350 --> 00:28:53.529 John Ammirati: So okay,
00:28:54.920 --> 00:29:10.860 John Ammirati: one of the things we put in every bag almost every week is Mac and cheese. We we're gonna move away from that, probably. But that's not the point. The point is, the lady who was in charge of inventory, and the second week I was there said, this week. We can't do Mac and cheese. We're gonna run out of money this year.
00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:15.189 John Ammirati: And it was like, No, you're only putting 6 things in a bag.
00:29:15.190 --> 00:29:17.979 Tommy DiMisa: What? What is the bag? Break the bag down for me, John? So people.
00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:22.289 John Ammirati: So typical bag is Mac, and cheese ravioli.
00:29:22.490 --> 00:29:26.861 John Ammirati: 2 soups, a tuna, a belveda
00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:30.919 John Ammirati: an oatmeal, and sometimes a fruit bar.
00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.530 Tommy DiMisa: Okay.
00:29:32.810 --> 00:29:36.829 John Ammirati: So I went up to Tricia, and I said to her.
00:29:37.310 --> 00:29:44.299 John Ammirati: This is not acceptable to me. Yeah, next week you're putting the Mac and cheese in, and I'll take care of the money. Yeah, and that's how it happens.
00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:56.029 Tommy DiMisa: How many bag? Thank you for that, John. How many bags are you packing that that like I'm not trying to be like a jerk, but like it didn't cost a lot to to get some more Mac and cheese right. It wasn't like a heavy lift.
00:29:56.030 --> 00:29:59.090 Trisha Ewald: No, it is a heavy lift, because 500 a week.
00:29:59.090 --> 00:30:04.690 Tommy DiMisa: 500 a week. Okay, so it is a heavy lift. So let's so, John, you said, I got the Mac and cheese now.
00:30:04.890 --> 00:30:06.739 Tommy DiMisa: right? Yeah. So
00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:12.919 Tommy DiMisa: now that what what it would have been like is no Mac, and cheese, which is a meal
00:30:13.110 --> 00:30:18.310 Tommy DiMisa: that's one of the meals that young person would have throughout the weekend. Okay, so
00:30:18.910 --> 00:30:21.460 Tommy DiMisa: do we still put Mac and cheese in every single week. Now.
00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:26.650 John Ammirati: Absolutely. Although the the national is changing, we're probably going to move to something else.
00:30:26.650 --> 00:30:29.490 Tommy DiMisa: 500 500 bags a week.
00:30:29.730 --> 00:30:34.549 Tommy DiMisa: 500. Is it a hold on? Let's go back. Because is it a new backpack every week, too.
00:30:34.550 --> 00:30:38.610 Trisha Ewald: No, we use paper bags because it's just not. We weren't getting them back. It wasn't.
00:30:38.610 --> 00:30:41.540 Tommy DiMisa: No, and that's not. That's not. That's money that shouldn't be spent on.
00:30:41.540 --> 00:30:45.385 Trisha Ewald: Oh, we we also, though, try to give them a backpack each year. Monday.
00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:51.210 Tommy DiMisa: I'm sure you do, because in in late August and September that's probably filled what they need at that point in in.
00:30:51.210 --> 00:30:51.960 Trisha Ewald: Exactly.
00:30:51.960 --> 00:31:01.477 Tommy DiMisa: Out there alright. So let's go back. So we're packing. I we have to go to break in a second. But this is part of the show. It's like, you know, it's a it's Logan. Just wait. We'll go to break
00:31:02.633 --> 00:31:05.469 Tommy DiMisa: so so we'll go to break in a sec. John.
00:31:05.710 --> 00:31:18.899 Tommy DiMisa: Thank you for. Thank you for meeting me in in that place at at the golf place, where I didn't play any golf that night, by the way, and so if you're gonna use it for a fundraiser, it's a cool place to do a fundraiser. But if you're going to play golf, I was too distracted, meeting new people and talking.
00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:20.210 John Ammirati: I'm not kidding.
00:31:20.210 --> 00:31:26.460 Tommy DiMisa: Might be my own thing, and people might be laughing about, you know. That's what you always do, Tommy D. But that's true, but
00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:31.560 Tommy DiMisa: I'm taken by the fact that Lorraine Baker puts this thing in the newsletter.
00:31:32.290 --> 00:31:34.340 Tommy DiMisa: Did you know Lorraine? But Baker already.
00:31:35.126 --> 00:31:35.659 John Ammirati: Not really.
00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:38.240 Tommy DiMisa: No, she didn't. You didn't know her right. But now.
00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:41.380 Tommy DiMisa: for the last, how many years are you connected to you? A year and a half? 2 years.
00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.300 John Ammirati: 2 years. Yeah.
00:31:42.300 --> 00:31:48.190 Tommy DiMisa: 2 years. Yeah. And and Tricia Ewald, what is the impact that John has made in being connected to this organization?
00:31:48.633 --> 00:31:50.850 Trisha Ewald: Incredible! So he! So he
00:31:51.460 --> 00:32:15.350 Trisha Ewald: fiscally, we're a different. We're in a different place because of John's effort, because of his passion, because of his connections. It's just amazing, because I think at some point, like all volunteers, we, you know, use all of our resources, and sometimes we just exhaust those resources or or resources get exhausted. And and so, when he just came in at the perfect time that you know, we were 8 years old
00:32:15.350 --> 00:32:23.710 Trisha Ewald: and you know I'm I'm looking at reducing because of food costs going up. I'm looking at reducing what's goes in a backpack. So I was devastated.
00:32:23.710 --> 00:32:34.489 Tommy DiMisa: Got it. Of course you were devastated. We gotta go to break. We'll go in a second. Here's the deal. Of course you were devastated because the work you're doing is changing lives. And then all of a sudden go. Oh, we gotta kind of cut this back a little bit. Cut this back hopefully.
00:32:34.490 --> 00:32:41.340 Trisha Ewald: Because it really does, we can end on this note. We can end on this note. If when when a kid gets to Monday they're behaving.
00:32:41.510 --> 00:32:42.770 Trisha Ewald: they're fed.
00:32:42.810 --> 00:32:48.920 Trisha Ewald: they're ready to learn. They're that everything is different when they have food in their belly.
00:32:49.010 --> 00:33:03.820 Trisha Ewald: When kids don't have food in their belly and they get to Monday. It takes until Wednesday with free school lunches and breakfast to get balanced again nutritionally and with hunger. So like it really does make a difference. We're making a huge impact.
00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:08.689 Tommy DiMisa: I love it! Oh, my God, I I I want to be there on a Tuesday afternoon. Is this going every Tuesday.
00:33:08.690 --> 00:33:09.450 Trisha Ewald: Yes, sir.
00:33:09.450 --> 00:33:26.790 Tommy DiMisa: Okay. Alright. Well, John, I'll be there with you, Trisha. I'll be there with you. We gotta. And what I'd love to do is I mentioned at the beginning of my show today. One of my new ventures is the philanthropy network of New York, and I think we should probably figure out with my 2 partners a way we can do something together. As a.
00:33:26.790 --> 00:33:27.350 Trisha Ewald: Need that.
00:33:27.350 --> 00:33:29.889 Tommy DiMisa: The bagpacking thing. What
00:33:30.040 --> 00:33:46.553 Tommy DiMisa: this is my life gang I get to hang out with people changing the world. Some people want to hang out hedge funds. Some people want to make the world a better place, so all your choice. I only got 50 years left, and I've been saying that for 3 years, so I found the Fountain of Youth. Let's take a break. We'll be right back.
00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:59.259 Tommy DiMisa: Way you are back. I just wanted to sing to you. My daughter was singing last night, and I mentioned that I was in chorus in the seventh and eighth grade, because before I went to Shaman I was in public school, you know, Long Island and
00:35:59.561 --> 00:36:04.878 Tommy DiMisa: you had to take a music, so I guess you had to take like either play an instrument which I didn't want to do
00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:34.950 Tommy DiMisa: or you had to be in like a music theory class, or you had to be in chorus. So I was explaining to them we had sang or song. Well, we I'm not sure if it's signed or song, but we did it, and it was it was a song must have been love. But it's over now, right? I'm singing this. It was also putting on the Ritz. We had to do this in the seventh grade, and I was singing this last night, and my daughter, I just had Misma the other night, and she's like, you know. Now. No, no, go, man.
00:36:35.310 --> 00:36:40.880 Tommy DiMisa: My wife says my daughter she was. You didn't get singing talent from him, and you know that's love that's love.
00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.719 Trisha Ewald: Yeah, I'm sure.
00:36:42.022 --> 00:36:58.060 Tommy DiMisa: I was sharing during the break the website. Go to Longwood. blessings.org Longwood blessings, or G there's a Casino night coming up. Friday, May third, which is sold out, sold out right. That's awesome that it sold out. That being said, Yang will still take your money if you want.
00:36:58.580 --> 00:36:59.280 Trisha Ewald: Sponsorship.
00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:14.339 Tommy DiMisa: Need sponsorships. We still need sponsorships. How about this 500 elementary school students in the Longwood School district? Get these meals on the weekends for $200 donation that will feed this to child for the weekends for the entire year. $200
00:37:14.770 --> 00:37:25.270 Tommy DiMisa: a kid gets food for the entire year. Or how about this? Set it up as $22 a month? Right? That's see. So we wanted to talk about that Trisha. Talk to me about it. I totally stole your thunder a little bit there, because I was.
00:37:25.270 --> 00:37:28.704 Trisha Ewald: You're good. You're good. I'm gonna give this one to John. John. Go ahead.
00:37:28.950 --> 00:37:30.910 Tommy DiMisa: Take it away, Johnny a let's go.
00:37:32.120 --> 00:37:33.050 John Ammirati: So.
00:37:34.210 --> 00:37:35.040 John Ammirati: you know.
00:37:35.190 --> 00:37:37.470 John Ammirati: big donations are important to us.
00:37:37.640 --> 00:37:38.500 John Ammirati: but
00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:46.279 John Ammirati: really our bread and butter are smaller donations, and you know the local Boy Scout Troop doing a
00:37:46.490 --> 00:37:55.410 John Ammirati: food drive for us, you know, school district doing a school drive for us several, the gated communities in here helping us really great.
00:37:55.450 --> 00:38:02.649 John Ammirati: But we wanted to find a way that connect people to sort of sponsor a kid for a year.
00:38:02.650 --> 00:38:03.280 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:33.179 John Ammirati: And that's why we came up with this 200 or $22, and we don't have that many people doing it yet. I don't know maybe 1015 people but we just started it. I'd say 6 months to a year ago. And you know, there's only so much hours in the day to do things. So we keep pushing that. And it would make a big difference, you know, if we had 500 people doing it, you know. Then we can move on to other fundraising for bigger things.
00:38:33.330 --> 00:38:51.380 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, I like that. And and unfortunately, we're not gonna run out of need even here on Long Island, it seems like, right? So we can. Yeah, I you know. Trish, you mentioned. There's other. Excuse me, correct me if I'm wrong. Other districts and other communities that have the have a similar need and already have some program.
00:38:52.300 --> 00:38:59.090 John Ammirati: There are some island harvest, has said that there are 65,000 food insufficient children on Long Island.
00:38:59.090 --> 00:39:13.171 Tommy DiMisa: 65,000 babies, I mean. Tricia just hit me in the chat and said, I want to help feed more babies. 65,000 of our babies are not, and I don't mean inference gangs, I mean 5, 6, 7, 8 year old, 9 year old kids that are that are expected to go to school hungry.
00:39:13.430 --> 00:39:16.780 Tommy DiMisa: What are we doing like, what are we doing?
00:39:17.990 --> 00:39:25.539 Tommy DiMisa: This is, I didn't want to get this bad today, but I'm really. I'm frustrated like I can't. My head doesn't wrap around this one very well, it doesn't, because
00:39:25.610 --> 00:39:42.599 Tommy DiMisa: I I go back to. And this is the story I always say and listen, gang, I don't have the answers, so don't. It's not like I have this thing figured out. I'm just pissed off like about it. I want to help figure it out, but I don't. I'm not like so arrogant that I know how to fix it, but it seems like what we're talking about is not so difficult.
00:39:42.710 --> 00:40:00.839 Tommy DiMisa: I don't have something, and you do have something that sounds like an accessibility issue. And yes, there's dollars involved. I understand there's dollars involved. So I'm not being so like, oh, it's no big deal like, you know, you know, Pollyanna, and the whole. No, I'm not saying that. But we're talking about some basic Fundees here. This is fundamental stuff like.
00:40:01.130 --> 00:40:04.523 Tommy DiMisa: I don't know to somebody else say some words because I'm just gonna start yelling.
00:40:04.750 --> 00:40:14.159 Trisha Ewald: Right? No. So what? Yeah, it's it. What you're absolutely saying, Tommy is accurate. But all it takes is one person like, so me
00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:36.730 Trisha Ewald: saying, I wanna do something. And then me calling my friend Becky and saying, we have to feed the babies. I couldn't even read through the website without being absolutely hysterical. It just it cause it. It hurt my heart, and you know, and then I go on to school. digger.com, and I find out the statistics at my local school, and then I call the school, and I find out.
00:40:37.130 --> 00:40:50.039 Trisha Ewald: how can we help? Can we help if we do the shopping. If we do all the fundraising, can we drop off backpacks every single week? Can we have your permission? Your your blessing pun intended to do that right? And they were like.
00:40:50.040 --> 00:41:07.979 Trisha Ewald: yes, and you know, and you know, so the reality is, they're already so taxed. So I wanted to make it on a personal note. I my team. I wanted to make it so that when we show up on a Friday, you know, their commitment is to identify the children, and then distribute the bags, which is huge, right.
00:41:07.980 --> 00:41:08.940 Tommy DiMisa: And actually so.
00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:10.040 Trisha Ewald: To be able to do that.
00:41:10.040 --> 00:41:25.537 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. So you're asking. And and I don't think you're wrong for asking it. But you're asking this like you just said over taxed district right of pro professionals, whether they be, you know, administrative staff teaching staff guiding staff. security staff.
00:41:25.890 --> 00:41:26.240 Trisha Ewald: Oh, they!
00:41:26.240 --> 00:41:36.340 Tommy DiMisa: Hey, Tricia? We know we got an issue here, and we're actually trying to run a school here. So you know, I I can't imagine the number of educators, though, that go into their own pocket. I think.
00:41:36.340 --> 00:41:38.690 Trisha Ewald: You all the time. It's it's amazing.
00:41:38.690 --> 00:41:41.130 Tommy DiMisa: Do this every week, I'd be like, Okay, I gotta do this. But.
00:41:41.433 --> 00:42:04.839 Trisha Ewald: It's time, Lim. It's so. It's time, it's money, it's energy like. And that. And the school meets us 100. The whole district meets us 110% on that every single week. It's just incredible. We even are so blessed to have a dedicated space that we can have or you know things. We could store things so that we could pack them on a regular schedule. Have guests come in pack with us.
00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:13.220 Trisha Ewald: you know. It's it's been incredible, they. And and so each district that I encounter same thing, you know. There, there's giant hearts who just want to help.
00:42:13.220 --> 00:42:17.970 Tommy DiMisa: And we do a thing, can I? I'm just gonna ask you if you tell me. No, it's gonna be embarrassing. So you probably gonna have to say yes.
00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:20.820 Trisha Ewald: Yes, Tommy.
00:42:20.820 --> 00:42:21.960 Tommy DiMisa: But yeah, we're doing this.
00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:22.380 Trisha Ewald: Brilliant.
00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:30.740 Tommy DiMisa: I do it. It's my show. It's my show. Here's the thing. Can we do a food packing event where I come by? And we like record and make a big.
00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:34.803 Trisha Ewald: Absolutely. Yeah, that's not even a fake. Yes, absolutely.
00:42:35.210 --> 00:42:39.380 Tommy DiMisa: I'm gonna fake. Yes, I would have given you a fake. Yes, Tommy D. But I didn't need to on that one.
00:42:40.230 --> 00:42:45.366 Tommy DiMisa: That'll be super fun. Because maybe if we do like a Instagram live, or a Facebook live, or whatever just or link link.
00:42:45.590 --> 00:42:46.060 Trisha Ewald: Thanks.
00:42:46.060 --> 00:43:07.450 Tommy DiMisa: Doesn't matter. Maybe it's like a live show that we do this there, and we just hang out and pack. I don't know cause cause that to me is what my mission is. That's what I'm supposed to be doing is this, I love this platform, and I love the other platform where I'm actually doing the work in the community doing that stuff. So we'll make that happen. I wanna talk more about the logistics of a Friday afternoon when this happens, because.
00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:20.160 Tommy DiMisa: although I I although as as a society, I think we're becoming more loving and compassionate, we're not there yet, but we're get. We're on our way, I believe, right as a as a race, and
00:43:21.030 --> 00:43:25.599 Tommy DiMisa: there's a stigma attached to. I'm the kid that's getting the paper bag with the food for the weekend
00:43:26.120 --> 00:43:36.870 Tommy DiMisa: there is straight up. So what? What is the what? Logistically, what happens like? How I'm not single, down it goes. Oh, there's that guy who needs, you know, because there's there's shame, and there's the piece to it.
00:43:36.870 --> 00:43:43.540 Trisha Ewald: Yeah, we we we're well, a couple of things. We're trying to not normalize hunger. But we're trying to
00:43:43.943 --> 00:44:08.539 Trisha Ewald: help other kids understand what hungry is right? So there, there's, you know, lessons around that which are being taught on a regular basis, so that the kids don't or not mean, you know. But we also pride ourselves on really being as discreet as possible, you know. So the names are not public knowledge. So you know the one on one aid, if you will, during her break or prep. Time, will take the backpacks on a Friday
00:44:08.540 --> 00:44:14.639 Trisha Ewald: and put them in a classroom because she knows Mrs. Smith's class gets 3 backpacks. She doesn't know the actual students.
00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:16.200 Tommy DiMisa: So who they are right. Thank you.
00:44:16.200 --> 00:44:16.750 Trisha Ewald: And so.
00:44:16.750 --> 00:44:22.279 Tommy DiMisa: Curriculum. Sorry. Just one quick, because I want to point into. Is there a curriculum you talk about not normalizing
00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:30.120 Tommy DiMisa: hunger, but under educating around Hungary being so, is there? There's some of that, too, that you were bringing into the district.
00:44:30.120 --> 00:44:34.959 Trisha Ewald: I think it's informally, you know. So and because, like it's.
00:44:35.060 --> 00:45:00.049 Trisha Ewald: I'm I'm not an educator, but you know we do offer tools. There's a book out there called Maddie's Fridge. It's a wonderful little text. I don't know the author off the top of my head. I'm sorry. But Maddie's fridge, and it talks about food and security, and how to be kind to people cause you don't really know. You know, you just said, you know it's you or it's me right? So that's what we're dealing with. And when we get the children to understand that, you know they're
00:45:00.050 --> 00:45:08.770 Trisha Ewald: some schools across the nation that you basically pick up a bag on your way out, because that's what you need, and nobody even flinches, you know.
00:45:08.770 --> 00:45:26.030 Trisha Ewald: when you get to like middle school. It's a little tougher, junior, high tougher, because, you know, there's a much bigger stick. But but you know, when there's a first or second grader hopping up and down because they know it's Friday and their bag is coming. They ask about it. If it's a few minutes late, is I'm not gonna get my bag this week, you know, it's a big deal, you know. So
00:45:26.030 --> 00:45:34.988 Trisha Ewald: we're we're. It's so we're discrete. And you know, it's it's also embraced. You know, we we try to the both end. And also, too. It's like.
00:45:35.320 --> 00:45:50.640 Trisha Ewald: you know, it's not like the truck just shows up on a Friday morning and dumps bags, you know. We pack on a Tuesday. They get picked up, distributed, or brought to the schools on a Wednesday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and then those bags over Thursday and Friday end up in the kids hand.
00:45:50.640 --> 00:46:05.579 Trisha Ewald: which is the biggest difference. If I could say anything about how blessings in a backpack is differentiated from like a traditional food bank or church, you know. Food drive, or something like that. Like for for us to be able to
00:46:05.580 --> 00:46:20.430 Trisha Ewald: put a a backpack in a kid's hands directly. They're not dependent on a car, a parent, or anything else. We empower the child and they get to bring that home, and then hopefully, they have a you know, a guardian or parent that's there to support them.
00:46:20.750 --> 00:46:27.610 Trisha Ewald: But if there's not, it's okay, cause they can. They can manage the things that are in that bag to get them to Monday.
00:46:27.610 --> 00:46:36.040 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. Maddie's fridge, by the way, best friend Sophia and Maddie live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, play the same park.
00:46:36.910 --> 00:46:40.419 Tommy DiMisa: But while Sophia's fridge at home is full of nutritious foods.
00:46:41.090 --> 00:46:42.850 Tommy DiMisa: the frigid 90 S. House is empty.
00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:45.320 Tommy DiMisa: Sophia learns that Mattie's family doesn't have enough
00:46:45.400 --> 00:46:56.359 Tommy DiMisa: the money to fill that fridge, and promises Maddy. She'll keep the the discovery secret. Okay, the book is written by Lois Brent. Check it out. I will be checking it out. I'm gonna read it with my kids this weekend
00:46:56.620 --> 00:46:57.190 Trisha Ewald: Yeah.
00:46:57.750 --> 00:47:05.830 Tommy DiMisa: You are changing the world, Trisha and John, I appreciate what you're doing. It's incredible. Thank you for doing this, which we have one more. Say, when we come back with it.
00:47:05.920 --> 00:47:17.570 Tommy DiMisa: figure out how we can help and how we can be supportive of the work you're doing. I wanna I want. We're just gonna do a show. One day. I'm just gonna we're gonna make it. Tuesday. I'm gonna come by. We're gonna do this thing. There was one other question. I had real quick.
00:47:18.310 --> 00:47:19.960 Tommy DiMisa: even in district.
00:47:20.170 --> 00:47:29.539 Tommy DiMisa: You're serving 500 now, but that number probably was 4 99 at 1 point. It's probably going to go to 5. One. So are there kids that are in need, and.
00:47:29.540 --> 00:47:33.139 Trisha Ewald: Wait, list. There's a wait list about twice the size of what we're doing now.
00:47:34.050 --> 00:47:40.490 Tommy DiMisa: Okay, folks, there's a wait list. So not only are they able how to. Who makes that determination?
00:47:40.560 --> 00:47:44.589 Tommy DiMisa: Who decides who's getting there? We're gonna go to break. We'll come back.
00:49:55.890 --> 00:50:18.830 Tommy DiMisa: Baby. Welcome to the lightning round your boy. The one and only nonprofit sector connector always wanted to be a game show host and apparently a crooner. You know, I I just this part of the program is where like, this is the entire show. Right now, like the whole show, I'm gonna let you in on a secret, everybody. The whole show is, how can we help the organization on the program? But if I started the show with, hey, there's 2 people here. How can we help them?
00:50:18.830 --> 00:50:29.530 Tommy DiMisa: That doesn't help. I have to get you emotional. I have to make you cry a little bit. I have to make you feel what impact that the organization is making. So then you say, I want to be part of the solution right on.
00:50:29.530 --> 00:50:35.519 Tommy DiMisa: Talk about the solution. I'm reading this little note from my friend Trisha, and it says we are part of the solution. One
00:50:35.520 --> 00:50:44.287 Tommy DiMisa: belly at a time. There's a little mug around here somewhere, and it says no big deal just changing the world. Because and that's actually what I think the
00:50:44.680 --> 00:50:46.310 Tommy DiMisa: kind of the theme behind.
00:50:46.350 --> 00:50:55.120 Tommy DiMisa: The new thing that I'm gonna do is gonna be is me going out and watching these organizations just change the world in real time. And we're gonna do it on a Tuesday afternoon out here in Long Island.
00:50:56.020 --> 00:51:08.789 Tommy DiMisa: out of breath. Alright! Let's do it, Tricia. How can we help John jump in as well. How can we help? How do we? Who do we connect? What? Who do you want to meet? What's coming up? I know the Casino night, which I gotta be honest. I know it's sold out, but if I could sneak in the side door I will cause.
00:51:08.790 --> 00:51:09.380 Trisha Ewald: Be there.
00:51:09.380 --> 00:51:12.539 Tommy DiMisa: Alright cause I'm kind of a big deal. I'll tell you all about it. So
00:51:13.970 --> 00:51:14.820 Tommy DiMisa: Trisha.
00:51:14.820 --> 00:51:15.849 Trisha Ewald: Spot for you, Tommy.
00:51:15.850 --> 00:51:20.680 Tommy DiMisa: I figured you might, I figured so. Alright. Let's let's figure something out. What do we? Who can we hook you up with.
00:51:22.270 --> 00:51:23.520 John Ammirati: So one of the
00:51:23.890 --> 00:51:27.039 John Ammirati: 2 main things we need. We have 40 volunteers.
00:51:27.810 --> 00:51:30.870 John Ammirati: Many of them deal with the food itself.
00:51:31.596 --> 00:51:36.459 John Ammirati: What we really lacking is more people to do fundraising.
00:51:36.840 --> 00:51:44.870 John Ammirati: We're dearly lacking someone to take the responsibility of the social media. And
00:51:45.110 --> 00:51:46.063 John Ammirati: you know,
00:51:46.660 --> 00:52:00.060 John Ammirati: graphic designer, you know, we can't pay anybody, but it's got to be somebody good who wants to do it for free and wants to do it regularly, because, you know, we change the website regularly as we move from event to event.
00:52:01.880 --> 00:52:05.860 John Ammirati: and then, you know, we need sponsors, the bigger the better.
00:52:06.120 --> 00:52:27.430 Tommy DiMisa: So I want to interrupt real quick. You, I think I made the connection to the nonprofit resource hub already. Right? Yeah, alright. The non gang. If you don't know the nonprofit resource hub, go to nonprofit resource. Hub org. That is an organization that I founded with my partner. Well, my business partner and 3 other partner firms, Sirenian associates, our friend Ken Sereni and Kelly, and serene from serene associates.
00:52:27.580 --> 00:52:50.700 Tommy DiMisa: Our friend out Alison Lafour, leader, is the executive director, but we also found it with David Goldstein, from Sir Tillman Ballon and my friend Christine Desca and Frank Orzo. They run nonprofit sector strategies. Those are our people, those are my partners, and that's the nonprofit resource up. I tell you it. I want everybody else to hear about it. But John and Tricia. I know I made that connection. Let's get you out to an event and get you connected to the, because that's an incredible resource and community.
00:52:50.700 --> 00:52:51.240 Trisha Ewald: Thank you.
00:52:51.510 --> 00:53:11.619 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, you're welcome. So I I the other thing I wanna just throw out there is if you're doing anything for the volunteers like an appreciation of something like that, you know. I'll I'd like to come by. My dad owns rouse Italian ices. So if you're ever gonna have like a big packing event, or bigger than normal or something to recognize. I'd love to come through and just scoop some Italian Isis. I'm gonna get one of those like maybe like a good
00:53:12.250 --> 00:53:16.080 Tommy DiMisa: costume like like white paper hat. And like all this kind of stuff, because I think it's funny.
00:53:16.080 --> 00:53:17.809 Trisha Ewald: Brilliant, isn't it? Brilliant?
00:53:17.810 --> 00:53:23.230 Tommy DiMisa: I'm gonna do it. Trisha, in your world, are there people? I saw their sponsors on the website. I you know.
00:53:23.230 --> 00:53:39.290 Trisha Ewald: Yeah, those are our regular partners who have really stepped up and been helping us, you know, week to week, month to month, year to year. But you know it's like I said before, we're we're looking to expand, you know. So the more people that can step up. You know we have a $22 a month
00:53:39.565 --> 00:53:56.814 Trisha Ewald: commitment. That's you know. You don't even feel it really. Just give up a cup of coffee, you know once a week, or something. That kind of thing. In that. And all the way up to, you know, really, meeting the need, the total need at Longwood, which would be if we got to a thousand kids at Longwood, would be incredible.
00:53:57.270 --> 00:53:57.650 Tommy DiMisa: Get these.
00:53:57.650 --> 00:54:04.800 Trisha Ewald: That would drive the budget, though, to $200,000 a year. So $22 a month makes it impact. But it's not really where we need to be.
00:54:04.800 --> 00:54:19.089 Tommy DiMisa: Right? Okay? So it would cost. It would cost $200,000 to feed these 1,000 kids that are in need. So I'm not to like. Be like, bring out the pain. But what you're actually saying is, 500 of these children
00:54:19.120 --> 00:54:26.590 Tommy DiMisa: are getting a pack, and 500 who needed are not getting a pack. So that's that's what we're talking about. Ladies and gentlemen.
00:54:26.590 --> 00:54:28.280 Trisha Ewald: That's all over Long Island. Yeah.
00:54:28.280 --> 00:54:33.419 Tommy DiMisa: Right. So how many? What do you think it? You might have said it before? What do you think? 65,000? Is that what you said, John?
00:54:33.420 --> 00:54:34.166 Trisha Ewald: Long Island.
00:54:34.540 --> 00:54:36.851 Tommy DiMisa: Long Island adults and children, or just children.
00:54:37.140 --> 00:54:37.810 John Ammirati: Children.
00:54:37.810 --> 00:54:38.800 Trisha Ewald: Just kids.
00:54:38.800 --> 00:54:39.460 Tommy DiMisa: Miami.
00:54:40.350 --> 00:54:46.269 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, you know how difficult it is to pay attention while I do. But you know how difficult it is to pay attention with a full belly.
00:54:46.832 --> 00:54:49.099 Tommy DiMisa: You know how difficult it is when you're hungry.
00:54:49.100 --> 00:54:50.949 Trisha Ewald: Yes, I do actually.
00:54:50.950 --> 00:55:04.248 Tommy DiMisa: You do. Well, Tricia, does I? You know what? Listen, whether my parents work 2 jobs each at when we were growing up, and certainly my wife and I hustle and do different things. You know this is Long Island gang. It ain't easy to make it, you know.
00:55:04.520 --> 00:55:15.399 Trisha Ewald: You know what Tommy? D it is. It is like so, for on a personal note my dad passed away when I was 7, so that left my mother as a single mom. And she worked 2 jobs much like you named your parents.
00:55:15.400 --> 00:55:15.950 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:55:15.950 --> 00:55:40.910 Trisha Ewald: We couldn't control our circumstance of her being a single parent, you know that was just the way it was. And so we just don't know, you know, with if there's a new baby born in a family that you know takes Mom out of work for 6 months, we don't know if it's the car takes a crap, and, you know, gather down to one car or the oil burner goes, or whatever you know, you just don't know what? What's gonna land? A family in a situation where they're choosing between putting
00:55:40.910 --> 00:56:05.465 Trisha Ewald: oil in the tank and food on the table, in the on the weekends, right. And so that's unfortunately, you know, families lean into the free and and reduce meals at school. They lean into that so much, and then, on the weekend, you know, that's not there. So that's where we step in. We're making a difference. We are like, we're part of the solution. I'm not like, I want to feed more babies right?
00:56:05.780 --> 00:56:14.499 Trisha Ewald: So it. It. It's my passion. It's my employment, I mean. It was a passion that became my employment. How lucky in Boston am I? That's crazy!
00:56:14.500 --> 00:56:39.450 Tommy DiMisa: Listen, you know, at the end of Willy Wonka, the Charlie and charcoal factor, he says, what happened to little Boy? I got everything you wanted happily ever after. Tricia, you all do you live in happily, ever I? But again it's not. You know. You can't do it without people supporting. You can't do with the with the John Amarada. It's getting out there and making it happen and bringing in saying, Yo, listen. I got the Mac and cheese that's on me. I'll take care of that. That's what it takes. I need to make a quick shout out, and then we'll have to just let you share your information
00:56:39.450 --> 00:56:54.729 Tommy DiMisa: how to get you in the whole deal. But the website is Longwood Blessings, or G. Long wood Blessings org. But I gotta give a shout out to my friend, Heather Edwards Heather Edwards runs Allied Foundation. I don't know if you know Allied Foundation Allied Foundation makes sure that that babies have diapers.
00:56:54.730 --> 00:56:55.380 Trisha Ewald: Nice.
00:56:55.380 --> 00:57:07.220 Tommy DiMisa: And wipes they give them like 3 million. This is Long Island based gang. We're home game today. But it's Long Island organization, 3 million diapers, because both diapers and period products are not covered by wicked.
00:57:07.220 --> 00:57:07.810 Trisha Ewald: Flight.
00:57:07.810 --> 00:57:09.320 Tommy DiMisa: Social service programs.
00:57:09.320 --> 00:57:10.100 Trisha Ewald: That's right.
00:57:10.100 --> 00:57:34.280 Tommy DiMisa: We'll need these things. But I think there's this cause you keep saying babies and all. My friend Heather Edwards is always talking about keeping babies clean and dry, and at you every time you say babies. I don't have babies. I have kids in my house now, but the when I'm hearing you say that we need to all hook up. We need to jump on a call with heather. It's crazy. I won't do it during a live show. But if we were doing a Zoom Meeting right now, I would text her, I go. Can you jump on this meeting right now, and there'll be a day when I probably make somebody jump on while we're doing the show live. I'll just text them. But
00:57:34.606 --> 00:57:38.620 Tommy DiMisa: how do we get in touch with you, Trisha, how do we become part of your solution?
00:57:38.790 --> 00:57:40.529 Trisha Ewald: Longwood blessings.org.
00:57:40.820 --> 00:57:48.929 Trisha Ewald: It's everything is right at that hub, how to contact us by email, a phone number, you know, just make a donation show up.
00:57:48.970 --> 00:57:50.260 Trisha Ewald: Give us a call.
00:57:50.370 --> 00:57:54.360 Trisha Ewald: We'll tell you where to go and how to get there, and how you could be part of the solution.
00:57:54.360 --> 00:57:57.319 Tommy DiMisa: I love it. I'm gonna be there, John, what do you have for us? Anything else.
00:57:57.570 --> 00:58:01.209 John Ammirati: Email give to lb@gmail.com.
00:58:01.520 --> 00:58:08.790 John Ammirati: And if anything goes through there, Tricia and I see and we're happy to talk to anybody who has questions about today's show.
00:58:08.870 --> 00:58:15.440 Tommy DiMisa: All right. We gotta stop here because my friend Steve Fry's coming up the Smb. Guy, I'm your boy. The nonprofit sector connector. Make it a great day. Hug people.
00:58:15.620 --> 00:58:18.099 Tommy DiMisa: that's my words for you to hug people later.
00:58:18.100 --> 00:58:19.520 Trisha Ewald: Thank you so much for everything.
00:58:19.520 --> 00:58:20.250 Tommy DiMisa: Thank you.
00:58:21.070 --> 00:58:21.410 Trisha Ewald: Bye.
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