Today we’d like to introduce you to Daria Lester.
Daria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
There is so much to say about my journey to 6 Stones and the journey just started six months ago. Have you ever had someone’s name stuck in your heart and you knew you needed to call them? You know that no matter how hard you try you just can’t get them out of your mind? That is exactly what happened to me. The current 6 Stones Director of Operations was my former boss at another non-profit five years ago, and I just couldn’t shake this feeling that I needed to call her. I tried to ignore it for four days straight but I finally gave in. I picked up the phone and she said: “I prayed and told the Lord that if you called me I’d know I was supposed to tell you about this position, not because I love you but because He called you”. And He truly did.
After interviewing with her and the Executive Director we all had overwhelming confirmation that heaven had ordained me to be the Community Ministries Coordinator, managing our New Hope Center (food pantry/clothing closet) and orchestrating church engagement. It was a natural fit. I instantly fell in love with being able to lead a staff of dedicated volunteers and the amazing gratification that comes with providing food, clothes and the love of Jesus to roughly 130 families weekly. It was all the more fulfilling to meet the HEB community Pastors and have their support in the endeavors of 6 Stones. It just doesn’t get better than that right? But GOD wasn’t done.
Our talented development team applied for the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders grant and we got it!!! When you have incredible leadership with a vision and a community with a need, we knew this grant was just what we needed to be the answer to so many other areas of poverty. And so from the generous support of Bank of America was birthed the Momentum Program. The Momentum Program, launching in 2020, is a curriculum-based life enrichment program intended to help move our HEB families in need from physical, mental, emotional and spiritual poverty. And guess who gets to manage such a life-changing program? You guessed it, yours truly, the newly elevated Director of Compassion Ministries.
I love that the program that I get to grow with is called Momentum because that is what my journey at 6 Stones has been. A trampoline into my destiny. A catapult into my dreams, and forward motion into my purpose.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Obstacles are only obstacles if you allow them to be. Challenges are only present to grow you not to stop you. The greatest challenge we all face is simply getting out of our own way and letting God truly be God. No matter the cost.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
6 Stones is truly a hidden gem. I knew nothing about the organization before I was employed there and my goodness how I wish that wasn’t the case. In my own struggles as a single mom, I wish I had known that there was a place that has free food, free clothes, serves over 3000 kids for Christmas and over 4000 for back to school and even fixes homes in the community for the elderly, veterans, and single parents. If you need a place for God to prove he works miracles every day and can provide your needs, 6 Stones is exactly where you want to be.
What blesses my heart the most and what 6 Stones is most known for is the favor of God. Anyone that is connected is fully vested and everyone in the community smiles big. The other day I was in the McDonalds drive-through line, when the cashier sees my badge and realizes I work for 6 Stones. And just like that here we are now holding up the morning line so that I can give her my number, so her son can come volunteer to get community service hours for school. From the businesses, to the school district, the apartment complexes, the churches, even the city. We are all one big family when we throw on a 6 Stones t-shirt.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is defined by what promotes growth in your life. I can be good at something, and even make lots of money doing it, and that not mean I’m successful. Success is when what you do changes you. It is the moments when you realize that everything you’ve done leading up to this point were all the puzzle pieces to reveal the most unexpected masterpiece you could imagine. Success is when what you do paves the way for open doors of progression in the lives of others in multiple facets of life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 209 N Industrial Blvd, Bedford TX 76021
New Hope Center Hours Monday & Wednesday 10am-1pm Tuesday 3pm-6pm
Saturday 9am-12pm - Website: www.6Stones.org
- Phone: 817-868-7400
- Email: info@6stones.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/
6stones - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
6stones
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