#15 Birthright Memphis – Kyleigh Glisson & Wesley Wade

Amy (00:00) Welcome to Just a Thought with Amy Keys. We are here to inspire, educate, inform, and entertain. On today's very special episode, I am so happy to welcome very special guests from Birthright of Memphis, Kylie Glisson, Executive Director, and Wesley Wade, Director of Development. Welcome, ladies. I'm so excited to have you. And you know, it would never be a podcast without a little bit of humor.

So I've just got to go into the fact that we are actually at Birthright right now, a very special place in East Memphis on Alexander, just west of University of Memphis and Highland. And it has taken us over an hour to get all the technology going. User error, maybe a little bit, a lot of technical error, maybe a little bit. But the show was on the road today. And I think

All the forces of the world just did not want this podcast to happen. But by the grace of good things in God, we are here and everything's recording, hopefully. So anyway, welcome. Happy to have y'all. I thought we could jump right in to the purpose of birthright. I'm gonna tell you what I know and then I want you to tell me more. So it is a non political interfaith organization with a focus on love, support, friendship.

For expecting moms during the journey of unplanned pregnancy. And things that happen here are confidential, non-judgmental, and lots of resources. Is that am I touching on just the surface? You are. Okay. You are. Okay. And it's also, I I said expecting moms, but it's here for the dads too. Mm-hmm. Right.

Wesley (01:46) Right? Correct.

Amy (01:47) Right? What am I missing in that description that you see on a daily basis? Like that you're here and you see, am I missing something? Is there anything that I've

Not touched on?

Kyleigh (01:58) No, you hit on a lot of it. I think that I think one thing that people may not know is just our our purpose and what we do here. We've been here in Memphis for 54 years and we're really proud of that. And we have a long history of people just l taking care of women in the community that are facing pregnancies that are unexpected.

or unplanned or just just crisis pregnancies in general. And what we do here is meet every woman or dad who walks through our doors, like you said, with love and encouragement and support. And just our main the best way I would describe it is just to let them know that they're not alone. They don't have to go through anything that they're facing by themselves and that there are people out here who love them and care about them and want to see them succeed.

Amy (02:55) And and when I have volunteered here for the little welcome breakfast, it is the happiest experience. Like I think as a volunteer, the few times I've done it, I've left with more than maybe the guests that are receiving the benefits of coming here have. Because it's so wonderful to see women keeping their babies and some of them are bringing the dads. it's just it's such a happy experience because life

Kyleigh (03:24) Mm-hmm.

Amy (03:26) Well, so s okay, services. So there's the friendship, the love, the hope, there's all these great things. And you work on pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, prenatal care, community programs, parenting skills, child care. I mean, that's a lot in one little building here. Mm-hmm. That's a lot of work.

Kyleigh (03:50) Yeah. So when moms come to us, our our goal is to just sit down with them and hear their story. Hear how, you know, what it was that landed them in our office and walk them through their options and and try to meet them where they are. And so when a mom comes to us, it they could be here for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes they're excited, they want to be pregnant, but they don't have what they need in life.

to my gosh, the best way to put that, to sustain their dream. You know, they want to be a mom. They're excited about having a baby, but they don't have the resources that they need to take care of their child. And a lot of them come to us that are pregnant unexpectedly. And they they still they want to have their child, but they just don't know how to make that happen.

And then there are moms that come to us that wish that they weren't pregnant and it is a shock to them and they don't know what to do next. And so it does take a lot of work. We try to sit down with them and meet them where they are. We ask them, everybody that that comes to us has three choices. They can have their baby and and parent that baby. They can have that baby and find a loving home for the baby to be raised in through adoption.

Or a lot of them that come to us are considering not letting the baby live. And so our job is to just present those three options and talk to them about where they are and depending on what they say, just immediately begin to show them the truth that there's always a way for them to have their child if they want it and then lead them to the resources that they need to be able to sustain the baby once it's once it's here.

Amy (05:39) 'Cause there's such a support system need. It's not just financial. It's who's gonna keep the baby so I can keep my job. And I mean, I've several many of the ladies that I've met have they have jobs.

Wesley (05:50) Mm-hmm.

Amy (05:51) Have significant others. So

Kyleigh (05:51) yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. There in fact at our breakfast we had a breakfast a couple of weeks ago and you just made me think of a mom who came here who she has her bachelor degree, a bachelor's degree, and she is working towards her masters right now. And her life is in order. And I think it it's just still just too she's just overwhelmed at how how is she gonna be able to continue to do

pursue her goals in life and to she doesn't want this pregnancy to be an obstacle to her future. And she doesn't have the support of the dad the father of the baby. And and so, you know, for us with her, it just it looked like letting her come here and meet our volunteers, meet the staff and meet other women who were facing the same struggles as her and to help her see, I can do this. Right. And

Amy (06:48) And she probably left that breakfast with a whole nother

Kyleigh (06:51) She it was a message.

Wesley (06:53) And kind of piggybacking on what Kylie was saying and and what you said, Amy, about the sense of community, the network they're building here, yeah. A lot of our clients don't come they they're lacking traditional support systems, if you will. So, you know, in addition to like the free resources that EarthRite provides, like pregnancy testing, resource counseling, pregnancy counseling and material items, I think the most important really one of the most important things is

Just that we we show them what a community is, that the support that they can get from us and from other families and women that are almost walking in their same shoes. Like at the breakfasts in our parenting classes, it's so fun for us to see, you know, moms exchanging numbers because that's really what you know, people that face these decisions in it during a pregnancy, sometimes it's just a matter of of

Needing someone to listen, right, listen to their concerns, listen to their worries, which are all super valid. Sure. and t t that's that's one of the I think kind of

Amy (08:02) They

find you? What where where does that information come from?

Kyleigh (08:07) Most of the time it's just as everything is these days online. They are s Google, you know, search pregnancy centers or I'm pregnant and don't know what to do, pregnancy support and we come up.

Amy (08:20) So I guess before the world wide web and internet and that availability, maybe word of mouth?

Kyleigh (08:26) Yes. And it's so funny that you say that too because we have so many women who come to us now and their moms come with them and they tell us

Amy (08:35) I've met some that are and they're the the grandmother's so proud. The expectant grandmother is so proud.

Kyleigh (08:40) Yeah. Yes, and a lot of times they say, I came here with her. Yeah. And so it's just what they do, you know.

Amy (08:46) Well that's that's really nice though to know that mom has done this for her daughter and then daughter is doing this for her ex you know, baby that's on the way. That's that's wow.

Wesley (08:58) And and we we get excited to learn too that doctors are actually telling their clients when they they go for an OB visit, they're they're even telling them about us. I mean the work that we're doing in the community. and then at one breakfast we learned that someone's insurance told them about us. And we are not medical. We, you know, don't bill, we don't, you know, no insurance is ever involved here. Right. And to know that local, you know

doctors' offices, the H Shelby County Health Department will send us, you know, people that are needing help too. It's it's just very comforting to know that there's a lot of good being done.

Amy (09:35) Good. Do you know how many do you have any and it's okay if you don't, any numbers on maybe how many women you serve a year? Or

Kyleigh (09:44) Yes,

we have usually between fifteen hundred and eighteen hundred that comes.

Amy (09:48) In

this one location.

Wesley (09:50) I think twenty twenty five we saw around twelve eleven hundred new people with about three or four hundred families.

Amy (10:01) No idea

because I've only been to the breakfast where there's not I'm not here day to day when they're coming in for things. So so when a mom I guess okay, so I gotta give a a little prop to Kylie here because you are called for this job. This is this is your calling. And I know I'm not the only one that tells her this, but and you're very humble, but you are called to do this because I've seen you sit in front of these women and their some of their husbands and boyfriends.

And you are the most comforting, kind, welcoming soul that even your voice is so calming that I think you just being you is is a light and an encouragement that you are definitely doing what you were called to do. So I've only been to the breakfast. I haven't been to the day to day. I haven't been in, you know, I mean, and when I'm glad that you said, Wesley, about the fact that it's there's nothing medical here. This is not a medical

place this is a place where that they can get maternity clothes, they can get baby clothes, baby supplies, and all the other little resources that you offer. Counseling? Yes.

Wesley (11:12) Yeah.

Amy (11:12) Yeah.

Wesley (11:12) Mm-hmm. Pregnant pregnancy counseling. When a client comes and they get a pause well, when they have their pregnancy test, the counselor then discusses with them the outcome and then also s learns where that mother is based on the result of the test. But then it doesn't stop there. If she's pregnant, she becomes a client and the counselor follows up with them, like at each of their appointments with the doctor, you know, kind of

checks in with them, make sure everything is going as planned, if they have any questions, get them enrolled in our parenting classes here. Okay. Also resource counseling. A lot of our clients, you know, have unreliable transportation. They're dealing with food insecurity. You know, it's a it's a lot housing. And so they can all while we don't provide those services, we can

our counselors can get set up with who they need to be speaking with regarding those kinds of things.

Amy (12:13) So as far as when I've been here at these breakfasts, you can't leave without like some hope because people are leaving they're all leaving smiling. They're happy they're here. And that's thankfully because of people like y'all doing this. But it takes a village and this would not run without all the volunteers and fundraisers and monetary donations and things. If you could say the to our listeners today, if someone's like, hey, I want to get involved.

What what can I do? Or I wanna Amazon ship something or I wanna go to Target and get something, what would you say like two or three things that that are really always in demand are? Diapers. I know diapers. Diaper.

Kyleigh (12:57) Yes. Any we can do ever we don't all it's kind of easy to say what we we can't do here. We don't do baby furniture here. we have partners we can connect our moms with to get those things. We can't do car seats here. Okay. But anything else baby we can do. And so typically a c a couple of things. One is diapers. We predominantly ask for a size newborn in ones, but we do keep a few other on hand for you know, when moms need those.

And then another thing that we need is baby clothing size zero to six months. And then we do bottles, we do blankets, maybe blankets are a huge thing. Just most of our moms that come to us have nothing. And so that's one thing too, you know, Wesley was saying that when a mom comes to us and they they go through our classes, I was kind of gonna just give you a quick timeline. Like at the very beginning

When they come to us, they get their test, pregnancy test, and then they meet with their pregnancy counselor. Then after that, after their first trimester is when they come for our breakfast. And the purpose of that is to just celebrate the fact that they've chosen life and to let them meet other moms in the same stage of pregnancy. And then of course, volunteers that come in like you did, Amy, to work with them and just sort of be mentors and share your experience. You know

My childhood and upbringing looks really different than the childhood and upbringing of most of the women that come to us. Right. But at the heart we're all the same. And so for them to experience that and the love of other people is really big. Then they get their counselor meets with them once a month, usually via phone, but they can come in person. Then they go through our classes. They can get maternity clothes. And then at the end of the pregnancy,

they get a nice big baby bundle from us. no. And that baby bundle is full of all of these supplies that we're talking about that are very helpful.

Amy (14:57) Well, so basically diapers, anything I I I I brought in some goodies from my I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago, hey, they're short. I knew I was coming to do this. And I said they're short of some supplies. If y'all wanna drop stuff up at my house or have some Amazon deliver. And I mean, we took a picture out front and w there's a lot of stuff. And I do wanna say Angie Hill, Brooke Wilson, Jamie Carpenter, Kirsten Howe, Leslie Colvet, all these ladies made it possible.

They dropped things off at my house. They made it really easy to do it. They just or one Amazon delivered it to my house. The stuff I brought, I am I just went and picked out cute baby stuff. It's fun to pick out cute baby stuff. But it takes a village. And these women made it possible for me to be a bring a trunk load to you today. So there are really great people out there. You couldn't you couldn't be supported without your volunteers and people just doing those things. And I do want to talk about the book.

Because the books are one of my favorite parts about birthright. And I say that because when I was here one time, there was a sweet little couple leaving. They were right around 20 years old. I can see the dad standing at the doorway over there with me. And the little book cart was over by the door. And he looks at me and he says, Ma'am, could I take an extra book? Because I really want to read to my baby. And the baby, like in the belly. And I thought, my goodness.

I said, you can have as many books as you want. And I don't work for Birthright, but I was like, look, I don't care, boy. You can have the whole rack of books. Take Whatever. But the the sweetness and the intention he had, I thought, wow, he just wants to be a good daddy. And he's going to be. If he wants to read to the baby in utero like that. And the little his little lady was so adorable and she was smiling. You could tell they were very much in love. And so it was so sweet to see him want to do that. So I guess I have a little bit of a

a gravitational pull to bringing books here because of that. And I mean, every baby should have books. And every baby deserves a daddy who wants to read books to them while they're in mama's belly. So that's like a little heartstring part for me about birthright is I could I could drum up books all day. And I'm glad we brought you some because I just think of that young man. And I remember telling him he should be a model because he was so handsome. He had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen. And this would have been at least a year ago.

Yeah. So but I really think books are a great way to help. And I also wonder if there's Eagle Scout projects or Girl Scout projects or community service projects or local schools can do to do book drives. How hard is that? that could be

Wesley (17:37) Yeah. We we do have don't want to interrupt, but we do have some school programs called bottling up hope. But Pope

Amy (17:44) Bottoming up hope.

Wesley (17:46) and it's really cute. It's easy and and student governments, you know, they usually sponsor at the schools. I know St. Ann Bartlett and Saint Louis Catholic School have helped us with those. And it's fun for them. You know, we drop off baby bottles and they fill up and usually the school will do a contest with the Pete's party.

And OLPH. They've helped us too with their youth group. So but kind of circling back, Amy, too, when you talk about supporters, I I do want to throw out there that we are a 501c3 and we by our charter are not allowed to accept any municipal, state, or federal funding. So everything that we do here is is donation, donation based supporters, but you know.

So I wanna make sure that people know that, you know, what we're doing, our mission is supported it's supported by people that who agree with us and, you know, want to give these babies the best chance they can. They could give us a call if they wanna start getting our newsletters, follow us on socials. We have Facebook and Instagram. So

Amy (18:57) And a great way to I'm a big fan of putting a face the name. Yes. And so is anyone who's listening welcome to make an appointment or stop by and have a tour or see what you do? Because somebody on this listening may say, you know, I've got time to go fold baby clothes in the baby closet or I've got time to do this or that. So they can just call up here and I don't think you want them just coming unannounced, right? I mean

Kyleigh (19:24) Well, they can come anytime if we're here we'll I don't want to be with them.

Amy (19:27) I

don't want to tell the world wide web to just start knocking on your door.

Kyleigh (19:31) actually welcome with open arms. But yes, they can call and you can actually also send us a message through our website. Okay. If somebody it's birthright of Memphis dot org, they can go there. And so that's really important to mention too, is that we are a very small staff, small but mighty. we have seven staff members. One is just temporary. She came to us as an intern from CBU. Okay. And we couldn't let her go. But she can only stay through the end of the year. So she's

Really, there's six of us long term who work here. And so we get by with help of volunteers. And so we have volunteers who come regularly and every week and do a shift here. And they greet our clients, they meet them at the door and stay with them through their s their whole appointment if if the client is open to that and can be part of that mentoring process with them. You know, we just I think the thing that is

really on my mind to share with regard to that is just the importance of these families, these moms and these dads having somebody to connect with because they do not have that. And, you know, I think their basic needs most of the time aren't met. I mean, no food, no no water, no shelter sometimes. And and then the shelter that they do have, a lot of time their utilities are turned off or it's just not they're not in the best of situations. And so

You I when I came here, I had no idea

Amy (21:04) How?

Kyleigh (21:06) these families were living and the things that they were going through, the struggles that they were going through. And the importance of a smile, a hug, and just the encouragement. Everybody, the thing we hear all the time is it's just so welcoming. It's just so welcoming. And when you're used to standing in lines at government agencies or you're used to being a number, having somebody look at you and show you the love of Christ in that way without

Preaching to at you or telling you what you need to do better, just loving you. It's huge. Right. And our volunteers play a huge role in that. And that's what every donation that we receive goes toward. Every financial donation is felt in someone's heart. And I think that's something that sets us apart.

Amy (21:55) do know a volunteer that stands out when I think of birthright, I think of Mary Joe Hines. Because she to me is like I I know there's others, but she is one that I for years, every auction, can you make a donation? Like she's the first on it and she knows I'm gonna say yes. But like she is she I walked in the door and she's here today. Like and she's the it's so interesting. I did ask her in case she listens

I did ask her when I walked in if she wanted to join us on this podcast, and she said, no, I do not want to be on a podcast. But you'd think after having five kids, she'd want to I think she has five six six kids. You'd think she'd just not be phased about jumping on a podcast last minute impromptu. And she has some awesome kids too. Hello,

Kyleigh (22:40) So

Amy (22:41) Heinz generations and all you

Wesley (22:44) One of them serves on our board.

Amy (22:46) awesome. Which one?

Kyleigh (22:47) Liz Mark Sales.

Amy (22:49) course. She's amaz that whole family's amazing. She's like me. She's a boy mama, so

Kyleigh (22:53) Yeah. Yeah.

Amy (22:55) So

Wesley (22:56) What?

Amy (22:57) is something that is the biggest challenge. I mean, you mentioned a lot of them, but what what's the one thing like when you come in here, you're like, okay, I hope this doesn't happen today? Or, you know, I mean, is it I not necessarily from an emotional standpoint, maybe from a business standpoint, like making sure you can sustain this or what what is something and you might be like, Amy, the list is long. You don't want to hear all this long.

So it doesn't have to be one thing.

Kyleigh (23:27) I mean I mean, Wesley, feel free to jump in at any point. But I think, you know, it is interesting 'cause we start every year with you know it's so funny when you're budgeting for nonprofit like this because in other instances, you know, it's like, well, here's how much I have and here's what I can do with that money. And in this world, you start with your dream and then you have to go to work to raise every single dollar.

to make that happen. And so the two sides of what we do are so connected. And that's why we're so thankful for Wesley, who she, you know, she goes out and she helps us with the fundraising and, you know, to meet the needs of these moms. And so everything is just so connected. It's the circle. And so I think one of the biggest fears is to not have the funding that we need for the needs that we have.

You know, it's that's that's the kind of the it's like, okay, what's gonna come up today? And the fact that another thing that's really hard to balance too is like it's never gonna be enough. And so because the need in Memphis is great. It's great. And so it's sitting down and looking at how can we best meet the needs that are in front of us today and how

And knowing what's your best yes. And keeping that balance there is very hard. And it's very hard to watch a mom and a family walk through crisis. I'm I'm picturing one in my head right now. And I I if why my heart wants them to come to my home and live with me and to fix everything and you can't. And so you do kind of wake up in the morning like, let it be a good day, you know.

Amy (25:13) yeah, I bet. Yeah.

Kyleigh (25:14) But then at the same time, you want

people that are struggling to find their way to us. Right. So it's this just it's it's a heart. The heart the struggles in the heart.

Wesley (25:24) And that's what you just said, Callie, is my biggest thought is every morning or every day that I'm here, I pray, like, Lord, the moms that need us, please let them find us today, you know, or tomorrow or whenever it is. Because you know, you know, some people just don't know about us. And we just want everyone that is dealing with these struggles that they're facing during an unplanned pregnancy or just or pregnancy that they're just not sure

How they're gonna move forward each day. Right. Like just the fact that, you know, we are here. We have the energy. We've got the we've got the tiny but mighty crew that and we have been sustained. We've been in Memphis since what, nineteen seventy two, yeah. So

Amy (26:11) There's I mean, I want listeners to know this is not the only birthright, right? Like there's a lot of them.

Kyleigh (26:16) There's

a lot of them. So we're all independent. Okay. But they're we were founded in Memphis in 72. And I actually can't remember the year that International was founded. We started in Canada by a lady named Louise Summerhill. And she was fascinating. Like she's just an amazing to hear her story in the heart. She actually has a book about why she started Birthright. And but they're all over the world.

predominantly in the US and Canada. But we actually just got a newsletter from the birthright in Ghana, South Africa. And I mean, th it was that they've helped thousands of women this year. Wow. So it's just it we're all over. Wow. but I will also say too though, that in the United States, Memphis and St. Louis are the two largest birthright. Yes. And the

most other volunteer I mean birth rights are led by volunteers only. so but we're the two that have paid staff because the need is so great. And so we're a little bit in a class by ourselves, you know, compared to the rest of them just because the need the need is so great. But

Amy (27:29) You know, you're kind of like a teacher, a paid volunteer working in this field. Like you're not doing this to throw

Kyleigh (27:37) Right.

Amy (27:37) cash out your window. Right. Like I know, you're a paid volunteer. Yes. So you're that when everybody has a job like that, you know it's a hundred percent from the heart that you're doing. But that's why I say again, you're called to do this. You are called to do Kylie used to cut hair. Like that's how I met you through cutting Jennifer's hair, right?

Kyleigh (27:57) Yeah.

Amy (27:58) So yeah, I mean, like you completely pivoted, but a hundred percent never doubt your calling. And you know, that leads me to also a little off track from this, but I I really have talked in other podcasts too, and I I try to live my life as know your why. Like I sometimes ask myself, Amy, why are you doing this podcast? It's taking up a lot of time in the day with pre production, post production, da da da, finding the guests. And my why is because I love people and I love the opportunity to tell people.

let people sit and tell their story. Yeah. And like I told you before we started recording, I've had people hug me, leaving, saying, Thank you so much for just letting me tell my story. Yeah. Thank you. It was or one was like, it's like therapy. I'm like, well, I don't know about that. But that, you know, I think it's really important to know your why would but find but why do I paint? Because I like to. That I love to spread that. Why what is your why? Why do I not like to cook? I don't know, but I don't like to cook. But anyway, back to the why part of

You know, your why and your why is I mean, what's your why of what's your why of being the director of development?

Wesley (29:06) Well, I got a I a big why. My eye was a teenage pregnancy. So it was really I I went to school, trained to be a nurse, worked as a nurse for many years, s you know, parented our three children with my husband and it's kinda funny, like every birthright Sunday during Respect Life month, the Holy Spirit was kinda like nudging me, nudging me, like, come on, come on.

you know, you're not listening. You're not listening. And so I s so I went through Curcio and kind of learned more about what my whys were. And really my why was my birthright, my own very own birthright. I was adopted. My parents were young teenagers. I'm so grateful. I you know, 'cause birthright was here in Memphis. I was born in nineteen seventy five. So I like to think in my little head that

You know, maybe they had the support and the love that that we offer people to give me a chance to live. So that's kind of my big why. And I love

I

Amy (30:13) Yes.

Wesley (30:13) started volunteer volunteering here a lot. then Kylie was like, Do you wanna work?

Amy (30:20) Couldn't couldn't have a better person to do that. That is awesome.

Wesley (30:23) Sure.

Amy (30:28) Yeah, I didn't know that. Now the world knows. But I love that because my story. That's sim that's that's like the anchor of why you're here. You're not just here to kill time. You're here and your kids are older now, so you get to have a little more free time and you're doing that and I'm doing podcasts. Yeah. I mean, what can I say?

Wesley (30:43) you never know.

Amy (30:44) Well, what's your why?

Kyleigh (30:46) Well, when I turned forty, I decided to go back to college. I had been doing hair for fifteen years in Memphis and loved it. But I decided to go back to college and get my I got my masters in social work and I happened to do my both of my internships here, my undergrad and graduate intern here at Birthright. And I I just it's so funny, the director at the time I came here for my first interview and I sat down

at the table with her, this exact table actually, where we're sitting. And she said, So what do you want to do after this? And I said, I I don't know how to tell you this, but I'm gonna be here. Like I just knew it the second I walked in the door. Wow. And she goes, You don't want to be here. We can't pay you enough. You don't, you know, you wanna go I was like, No, I wanna be here. And then later on that week or the next week, I sat in on my first appointment with a counselor and she was meeting with a mom.

And I had to cover my face because the whole time I was sitting in there, I I had tears just streaming down because I heard for the first time. I saw I realized that there are things about the world that I thought were true that are not true. Absolutely. And things about women that are facing unplanned pregnancy or, you know, having a baby when they should maybe be doing something else in their life or you know, I had all these

just really negative mindsets about what people are going through and why they're going through it. And I just felt in that moment like this is it's a calling. Like I felt I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be and and I've never looked back. And I don't have children. I have three dogs. And it's like I have three dogs. I I feel like in this season of my life, this is where God has called me. And I have to say this too that

Birth rate changed me. And I've always, you know, loved people and I I knew I wanted to do something like social through social work in some sort of way. But the it's the volunteers here and the moms themselves that changed me. They changed I I ended up this my personal journey ended becoming Catholic because of becoming to Birthright So many. We're not a Catholic organization, but a lot of our volunteers are and just seeing people walk out their faith.

And seeing people just love others like with the love of Christ. Like it changed everything about me. And and so it's just this is my home. Birthright is my home. It's where I want to be. And

Amy (33:23) It's like therapy, she's tearing up.

Kyleigh (33:25) It just it's just precious. It's precious. And it's so hard to put into words what happens here, but there's just something special that happens in this building. And we're so proud to be a part of it.

Amy (33:38) Well, I love that you bring up the faith aspect. Being a Madonna Circle member, Proud Board member of it too. I am loving the fact that that is how I really became involved more here. And we fill up our volunteer hours like this when for those who don't know Madonna Circle is a is a Catholic mem it's in Memphis and there's I think there's three hundred and fifty five members and you ladies should join it if you're not in it.

Because we do have nighttime meetings for after work, after you go let your dogs out, right? Right. But we we're a service organization and do all kinds of stuff in the community. And the service hours that this organization produces is astounding. And so I when I joined, I picked up a ship doing this here, the work welcome breakfast. And I'm think brought an egg casserole and some orange juice and worked this and got, you know, like nine hours or something of service. And I

I cannot tell you how fast the sign up genius sign fills up for this. We could probably do it every month if you needed it. I mean, they're probably like, Amy, we hear you. Maybe don't tell the world that. But I mean, it is unbelievable. Everybody wants to be that here because if you've done it once, you're gonna tell everybody else how great it is. And then everybody it's like FOMO. You don't wanna miss out. But that's a faith faith organization. I know you have lots of cause is because

Birthright is non denominational. and I do know you have a lot of Catholic support because Catholic, you know, pro life and all that, which is awesome that this is gonna air. We're we're recording in September, but this is going to air in Right to Life month, right? October. So it is so cool how the full cir circle and congratulations on beingcome Catholic. I did not know that. Yeah. And speaking of cutting hair, I don't know if y'all have met Jennifer Johnson. So she's my hair girl.

Kyleigh (35:28) Do you know what I

Amy (35:32) And we she was doing my hair one day. I've gone to her for a almost a decade. And she lives right around the corner. And she was doing my hair and she was like, I want to get involved in something. I know you'll know something to do. And I was like, Well, what's something? I I just said, Well, I love working at Birthright. She is hooked. Like I she's like, I want to do more there. She loves it. She wants to bring her girls here. I don't know if don't know if she has yet. Her girls are gorgeous, sweet girls. But Jennifer has a very big heart.

And I'm really glad that she's gotten involved because she's like, I want to give back to my community, but I don't know how. And I think a lot of people feel that way. Yeah. And I don't know if you know Renee Plattin, but she's just amazing. One of my idols, love her. She, you know, she is mentioned as well about what you did about the stereotypes and preconceived notions about I mean, I have sat with people with Room in the Inn

One who, you know, had a had a job and then another job, but he he's a working poor and he can't afford to pay rent, to buy food, power, have a car. So he's homeless, but he has two jobs. Yeah, he was there in his work uniform. And that really this was years ago. My boys remember his name. I still kinda wonder what he's up to, if he's okay. But the hard part of these volunteer organizations is I personally get very attached.

Kyleigh (37:00) Mm-hmm.

Amy (37:01) I I worry when I've worked at Room in the Inn. My husband sometimes like, you know, you you you ha you have to leave that there. You can't bring it home and be worried three days later when it's snowing where they are. Well, I'm sorry. I have a heart beating in my chest and I can't help that. So I don't know if I could do your job. I don't know if I could work here. I can volunteer here, but I can leave. I don't have to be here every day. But I think I would wear it and it'd be hard to separate, isn't it?

Kyleigh (37:29) It is hard to separate and but you know, it's just the hard is always out overshadowed by the the blessings and what you take away. Just how you shared, you know, you left you leave fulfilled. Yes. Even in the hardest days at the same time are the most fulfilling days, you know. And I'm thinking of a story not long ago where we were just coming up against a brick wall trying to help a girl.

get into some housing. She was living in her car, pregnant, eight months pregnant, and had left an abusive situation. There was all this stuff going on. And I mean it it took e that day our Wesley was like, I'm gonna get on the phone and I'm gonna start calling around too. And we finally were able to get someone on the phone from St. Vincent de Paul who was able to partner with this mom and help her get somewhere to stay. And I mean, it just it you it's so stressful and it's so overwhelming. And

You go home at night and it sometimes I'm like, I don't I don't want I don't feel like I can eat dinner 'cause I know this mom is not eating tonight. Yeah.

Amy (38:37) Yes.

Kyleigh (38:38) I how can I go home to my house where I keep it a crisp sixty eight degrees all the time and it's I I get upset if things aren't in the right place. Right. Or, you know, things don't look a certain way or I need to paint the bathroom or whatever it is and I know there's a mom sleeping in her car that night. Right. And so it's just

It's the hardest days though end up being the most rewarding with when you find when you know that because of you and for us it's because of our donors, it's the people who are supporting us. Right. Because of them, someone is safe tonight. You know, I it you it's worth it. I guess that's what I'm trying to It's worth

Amy (39:16) That's beautiful. Yeah. When I've when I've done certain things, you know, I I wonder, well, did she have her baby yet? I'm sure you and I'm sure you get to see lots of the babies. I'm sure they're really proud and want to bring them and have the babies. You see the babies, right? We do. yeah. I mean bring back.

Wesley (39:30) lot of times and want to take pictures of you know with us and their counselors and it's it's really it's rewarding. And it and those stories, you know, they're the best of stories. But just kinda like you were saying, we worry about our clients and you know, it's also those hard days where someone leaves here from a counseling appointment and we can all rally the beauty in being a small charitable organization is we say let's

Let's let's pray for her. She's she's really considering maybe not keeping the baby. And you know, those are the things too that, you know, just make us grateful to have each other and work in the confines of birth, right? Where we can do that. Right. And right. Just offer them the support and the

Kyleigh (40:16) It wasn't long ago. There was a mom who came in and she had her child and and she reminded me, she was like, This baby, he would not be alive if it weren't for this place. So she brought the baby in and was like, you know, y'all helped us me see that I had what it took to do this. And, you know, so it just there's things that for every loss or every down, there's a a win, you know, that just it it keeps you going.

Amy (40:45) That's beautiful. And and that's all your why. It goes back to the whole why. I've really learned a lot through doing this podcast with guests about why it's so important. And I love your whys. So, you know, we're gonna have all the information, like we'll put everything out there for on the World Wide Web so that they can, you know, if somebody listens to this, like I would love for some Eagle Scout to to hear her mom to hear this or dad to hear this or to hear this himself or herself and say,

You know, I want to do something for Birthright. And that would be an awesome project or any group project together. I know a lot you've said some do that, but I would love for this specific podcast to light a fire under somebody out there, wherever your community is. I mean, I'd love to see it in Memphis. I'd love to see it happen because I'll donate and help you with your project. But I would love to see something happen like that, or some major donor or another church or congregation pick you up.

to help you would be amazing. So maybe that will, hello world, make this happen for me. do y'all have any other thoughts about birthright, about like the community around birthright or anything that, you know, is a main part of not necessarily the the emotional or or faith why, but like the tangible wise. Like

Are you getting more of things from auctions? Are you getting more things from community projects? Are you getting more d donor money? Like where where do you think most comes from?

Kyleigh (42:23) We get a little bit from everywhere, you know. I mean, it we it's funny, whatever the need is, it we've seen it this week, like God just showing up in ways that our minds are blown, you know? And so we the we have needs everywhere. You know, we need all of those things, we need support, we need, you know, the we need we need work on the outside of our building. We need we need to ex grow and expand our classes, you know, we have all these t things when

Finances. I mean on obviously we have to have the financial donations. Right. The need is great everywhere.

Wesley (43:01) Exactly. And kinda like you were talking earlier, Amy, about the breakfast that there were so many people it was a full house and we could do it every weekend. And really, maybe not every weekend, but our goal right now, because our parenting classes have a steady wait list. And a lot of times that wait list, you time is of the essence. You know, you're pregnant for nine months and and their schedules, you know, when they can get in for the classes. So we offer quarterly right now.

But our goal is to double the capacity, double the the physical capacity of how many people we can serve at each, you know, class and breakfast. But you know, with that comes the need for funding and and we've applied for some funding we're feeling really good about so that we can serve more. I mean

Kyleigh (43:49) Yeah. And I think too just at at this point, we've been around for 54 years. You would not believe how many people say, I've never heard of you. So just spreading the word that we're here help raise awareness that we're here. and and so there's nothing too small, whether it's a Facebook post to help us collect donations or whether it's coming to volunteer and bringing a friend or

You know, sharing our social media post. Follow us on social media and share that so that people know we're here because you never know. I know. I

wanted to do this.

Amy (44:24) not this

podcast. You y'all are one of the first people I asked. And it took us a few months to get together because life is busy. Y'all had a lot going on here too. And like, I mean, hello, World Wide Web. I don't know how big of a platform I can give you, but I'm trying because I think I when I believe in something, I I believe in it. And there's a lot of people who believe in birthright and believe in you. Because you when to see you at work in front of these people is so like I just I want to hear when you sit down with them.

And I love that you like sit down. You like sit down and and it's not like you're being lectured and you're very approachable and calm and speed, like I said earlier, but like I hang on to every word you say because it's so and I know they are. I mean, I'm a hysterectomy. I don't need your your pregnancy advice. But like, I mean, when I'm here, I'm like, she's saying exactly what these people need to hear. And then you invite the volunteers to

say what they want to say or whatever. And the two times I've been here, I've talked about how I had postpartum depression with my second child. It was mild and it was not long, but I did have it. And I'm such a bubbly happy person. Some of my friends that were here with me were like, wow, I didn't know you? What? I'm like, well, you gotta watch out for your look out for your people. And and so I remember telling these ladies, you know, crying does not hurt a baby.

And sometimes you have to just let them cry in their crib and that's what I had to do, you know, or you know, it's okay, you're not gonna be a perfect mom. You it's no such thing. And those are things they need to hear from people that are sitting there breaking bread with them at a breakfast. But we can do all that all day, but like you're the one who they like just are like listening to every word is so awesome. So

Kyleigh (46:10) Well

thank you for saying that. I think, you know, the truth is that I have had a lot of struggle in my own life. And I think just being willing to be vulnerable with the moms is the main thing. Or just with in with people in life in general. Right. Just one hundred percent. Like I've messed up a lot. I still got a lot I gotta get right in my life, you know, and and I'm not perfect, but you know, there is there is hope beyond struggle and just, you know.

just to put aside the differences that, you know, if it's obvious when you come to our classes who's here for support and who's here to help. It's just it's very obvious.

Amy (46:51) Yeah it is.

Kyleigh (46:52) And and but that at the core we're all the same. And everybody has gone through struggles and and will continue to. And, you know, just showing them that they have the same strength. They have the strength inside of them to do this through Christ and

To, you know, that they can always lean on us and just to show the truth, to tell the truth. Right. That life isn't always easy. Right. You know, but that that their struggle is gonna be the thing that helps them be a white to somebody else. Right. And

Amy (47:27) Every single time.

Kyleigh (47:28) and they're everybody wants to hear that. You know, everybody wants to mean something. Right. And they want their life to matter. And it's hard when you're sleeping in your car.

Or, you know, if this is your fourth child and you're embarrassed or you know, your your eighth child and you're embarrassed by that and you know, you you you're un Yeah, like your situation. Mm-hmm. Just to know like you don't have to there's no shame. Well

Amy (47:54) Find that they really enjoy being asked, have you picked a baby name yet? Yeah. Or is it a boy or a girl? That's what I go with. Like I always say when I volunteer, I need I want to be on the front lines, like talking to the people and engaging with them and asking them questions I would ask my friends. Same when I'm with a room in the inn, I want to engage and talk to them just like we're we're the same. We're the same. We all put our pants on the same way every day. So I I love to ask them at these little breakfasts, you know, what what

Do you know what it is yet? What's the due date? that's near my own birthday, you know. Or you're gonna have a baby near Christmas? Wow. And they love to and they because we might be the only people who ask them that all day or all week or all month.

Kyleigh (48:35) It's so true. It's so true. And, you know, they're used to having to make you know, things that I do with ease. Like one thing people may not realize, like if if any of us found out that we were pregnant, we could just call the doctor and make an appointment. Right. They can't even make an appointment. They have to come here first and get a proof of pregnancy before the doctor's office will even let them come in for a for an appointment. Wow. and there's a lot of reasons why. You know, things are like that. But

Everything takes them about twenty steps, you know, and it's something that I do without even thinking about it. Right. And so for us to follow through, you know, if we say we're gonna call our moms, we call them. Right. For nobody's asking them their baby's name anywhere else, you know. Yeah. Nobody's those it just that's the thing.

Amy (49:24) Favorite

part. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. I know. Are they twins? Like or or what are they get what are you gonna name and you know, all that good stuff. yeah. And that's not exact they're not they're not they're not people who you're gonna say, Well, what's your nursery gonna look like? Yeah. I mean, you have to have kind of have a little bit of a filter and ask the proper questions and all that good stuff. And well, so it's time for rapid fire.

And it's gonna make it really easy on you since it took an hour to get the podcast started. Y'all, we even had to call my husband for like hotline help. And he's like at work trying to make a living, going, Well, try this, turn this on, do this, do that. I'm like, I can't do it. You're saying, Okay, bye. So but we sure appreciated him. Yes. And they did say they did notice how calm he is. He's a very calm person. He was. Y'all need to listen to episode two because that is him and me on the podcast. Wait, him and me? No, me and him. Him and I I don't remember.

He and I. gosh. Wow. Hello. Hello. it is Sean and I on the podcast about why the podcast exists. And it's thirty minutes. And it's the little listen. Everyone's like, he sounds like he should be on the radio. He has been told that for his whole life. Yeah. His voice is very deeper.

Kyleigh (50:37) It was very soothing in our crisis at midnight.

Amy (50:41) All the time. He immediately the man walks in the room and he immediately calms everyone. And speaking of pregnancy, I had a high risk pregnancy with my first one, bed rest seven weeks, proclampsia in the hospital for a week before baby went Chris went to NICU for five days. he Sean was like completely calm the whole time. Wow. Until we got the baby home, I'm like, Well, what do we do now? I don't know what to do with this baby. And he was still like

He was the one who could swaddle the babies. He would swaddle them like a burrito before they had the new kind that like have the magnets on the blankets. And I was like, How did you do that? Mine unraveled so fast. He's just a very calm, he's a good one.

Kyleigh (51:21) Yeah.

Amy (51:22) All right. Well, I think you already answered some of these, but what keeps you coming back?

Wesley (51:28) Love.

Kyleigh (51:30) That's good. Same.

Amy (51:32) Okay. Biggest challenge, we've talked about some of that. We've talked about how can a listener support you? Describe birthright in one word.

Or two. You can use more than one.

Kyleigh (51:48) I would say hope. Hope. Mm-hmm.

Wesley (51:50) Miraculous. I don't know if you heard.

Amy (51:52) Okay. Mighty.

Kyleigh (51:53) Special.

Wesley (51:56) Mighty a force.

Amy (51:58) What are y'all doing when you're not what are y'all doing when you're not at birthright?

Wesley (52:03) That's a loaded question. well, usually doing something for one of my three kids, filling out some form.

Amy (52:11) Really?

I know. Yeah, you know about that. Yes, yes.

Wesley (52:14) Grocery

shopping, all that good stuff.

Amy (52:16) how old are your kids now? What

Wesley (52:18) twenty-three, twenty-one, well almost twenty-three, twenty-three, twenty-one, and sixteen. So yeah. So it's a different phase, a different season. So

Amy (52:26) Yep.

Wesley (52:27) I find myself, even when I'm not physically here, I'm at home on my computer searching ways to write up a grant proposal or

Amy (52:36) You know.

Wesley (52:38) it's not. And and I think it's

probably a lot of people in charitable organizations would say that because if your heart is truly in it, I mean you can't it's hard to put away. Mm-hmm. For me. And I know for Kylie too. Mm-hmm.

Kyleigh (52:53) One hundred percent. I it's just me and my dogs. And so I do a lot of birthrighting at home too. And we were talking earlier. I love I love podcasts actually. And and I love my church and I have a Bible study that I do on Tuesday nights.

Amy (53:12) With purple.

Kyleigh (53:12) No, actually it is called Women of Grace. nice. Jonna Sofker got me involved with it. And it is so church do you go to?

A holy rosary. Okay. Okay. But this is actually it's an online Bible study. But I think they're actually gonna be bringing it to Saint Michael Church maybe next next year or something. But anyway, so I do that. All my family lives in South Carolina and so I don't see them all that often. But you know, just

Amy (53:40) You've got a family here at birthright though. I do. You definitely have that when you're not in South Carolina. When did you become Catholic?

Kyleigh (53:48) three years ago. Three years ago. At Easter. So it'll be four I think it'll be four years this coming up Easter. Yeah.

Amy (53:53) I love it. I love it.

Kyleigh (53:56) It it was all because of here. I have to say. Now my great grandmother was Catholic and I can remember watching her pray the rosary by her bed and kneeling with her when I was a little girl. But I have I've been in church my whole life, you know, I've always had a relationship with God, but there was just something

about the women that were coming here and volunteering and I could just they were just oozing Jesus.

Amy (54:22) Hello, Mary Jo Hines. Yes. Again. You're famous again, lady.

Kyleigh (54:26) Yes. And then another lady that really impacted me is Kathy Hamway. Okay. and she doesn't live here anymore. She moved away, but just she just just touched me. Like all of them. I mean, g another Gabriella Piompiano, like I I would sit with these women and I would see how they just love God. And I was like, I always thought Catholics were weird, but it's not weird at all. Like it's just beautiful. It's beautiful.

Yes. And it's been it's the missing piece of my life. I mean it's the thing I I needed. That's yeah.

Amy (55:00) Some

you know, iron sharpens iron. Yes. And you are who you hang around

Kyleigh (55:05) Uh-huh.

Amy (55:07) and what you hang around. And so clearly that was a clear picture for you of iron sharpens iron. I mean, it's in the Bible and it's true. And I've raised my boys to think that iron sharpens iron. and hopefully that happens here for the ladies who meet each other who are having babies and they iron sharpens their own iron to each other so they can, you know

navigate and make friendships and support systems. Hopefully I think they do build some support systems here through that, which is beautiful. but but my main word in closing when I think of of birthright is is just babies. And I love baby elbows. I think they're the cutest things I've ever seen. Because and like it's the only time in your life where it's okay to not have teeth, you know, and they don't have any teeth and they're just so cute. But I love baby elbows. I every every time I meet a new baby

Or anybody has a baby or grandmy been like, okay, I'm one of my friends, Jenny, she's about to be a grandmother. And I'm like, okay, I'm gonna have to see baby Rob's elbows. Isn't that cute, Rob? That's gonna be his name. He's

Wesley (56:08) Really cute.

Amy (56:09) so cute. He's gonna be so sick. Let's

Kyleigh (56:11) Yeah.

Amy (56:11) do Christmas Day. But I'm like, I can't wait to see his elbows. I just love baby elbows. But we appreciate y'all. The world appreciates y'all, but I really do. I appreciate you walking through the technical mud we had to for for a

long time this afternoon. I think every force possible was against us, but we stood together and made it happen. We did. Thank you, Sean. And who's the young lady who helped us?

Kyleigh (56:38) Gabby

Amy (56:39) Thank you, Gabby. If you hear this, you are my angel today. I just I need to bring you something. but everybody we will get you all information when we make this post, it'll be on our website. It'll be on our social medias. It'll be everywhere so you can reach them about donations.

volunteer hours, anybody who wants to do community service project, anything that you want to do to help, or if you just want to pop by and see these sweet souls that are here, I would love for you to see Birthright. It's very unassuming. You would not think it's I mean it's very I when I first time I worked here, I was like, what? This is it. It's so tiny. You

can reach us about anything here as well at Amy Keyspodcast at gmail.com. That is Amy Keyspodcast at gmail.com.

You can listen on Spotify Audible, iHeartRadio, Amazon Radio, YouTube, and wherever else people are seeming to find us, which is wild that they are. And we just hope that you have learned a lot today about this wonderful nonprofit. Nonprofits were one of my whys of letting them have more exposure to the world. And I hope you all have a wonderful day. Until next time.