Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Jones.
Hi Jennifer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
May 2020. Worldwide Pandemic. The burning desire to help other women couldn’t wait any longer. A pandemic was no longer going to stop Hagar’s Heart. So a post on Facebook and many women, filled the desire to help others. We had created this idea of an I SEE YOU box: a shoebox filled with luxury items for women in domestic violence shelters and flowers for children to give to their moms. A local catering company prepared a special brunch too.
On Saturday, May 9th, 2020, 20 shoeboxes, a handful of orange carnations, and a brunch for 16 women, was delivered to a local domestic violence shelter.
Two weeks later, the nonprofit 501(c)3 became HAGAR’S HEART.
Hagar’s Heart was founded to support women in crisis, to connect women in a community, and to inspire women to rediscover how they are seen, valued, and loved.
We’ve grown from 20 unlabeled shoeboxes, to serving 4 domestic violence organizations (7 emergency shelters) across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. We’ve provided bikes, car seats, strollers, and meals, all so that women can take care of themselves. To date, we have provided 967 “I See You” boxes for women in emergency shelters. Each “I See You” box is filled with a handwritten note of encouragement and items for self-care to remind each woman who opens the box, they are seen, worthy, and loved.
The vision of Hagar’s Heart is to become the GO-TO nonprofit for Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex women’s emergency shelters, providing self-care support for women. When women are in need of more than the necessities: tools to help women rediscover they are seen, valued, and loved, Hagar’s Heart works to provide these things.
Our yearly events include the following: Hagar’s Heart Pop Up Shop: We partner with local boutiques to provide quarterly times for women of domestic violence shelters to ‘shop’ new clothes donated or bought from local boutiques. Our goal is to grow this project to be 4 times a year in 2022.
Mother’s/Women’s Day Brunch: Hagar’s Heart provides a brunch every May to celebrate the women in the shelters. Children present their moms with flowers, and a present is given to each woman to remind her she is seen, valued, and loved.
Santa’s Shack: Santa’s Shack was created for children and caseworkers to shop for the women of the shelters. Volunteers can use their gifts to create gifts, shop for gifts, and wrap each gift.
CARRY THE JOY Fundraiser: An annual silent auction and raffle, focusing on purses, handbags, and totes, to raise money for self-care support needs. Examples of these needs: yoga mats; art/craft activities specifically created by an artist with instructions; adult coloring books; puzzles; and essential oils/diffusers.
Yearly Drives: Throughout the year, emergency needs arise for women in emergency shelters. Hagar’s Heart will hold drives for select items to fill in the gap.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m an educator. Learning how to run a nonprofit hasn’t been easy, but it has been the best line of work I’ve been in. I’ve had to learn how to ask for help, establish a brand that people recognize, and create a plan to reach those who went beyond friends, family, and acquaintances. It’s required refining and restructuring, reaching out to those who have talents and trades, and building something from the grassroots up and building who we were in the process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the nonprofit founder of Hagar’s Heart. Hagar’s Heart was founded to support women in crisis, to connect women in a community, and to inspire women to rediscover how they are seen, valued, and loved. This was not far from what I did in the classroom for 20 years: building small humans, cultivating a love of self, nurturing self-esteem, and providing ways for them to know “I can.”
With Hagar’s Heart, we are planting the seeds in a small “I See You” box. Providing opportunities for women who have lost who they are to rediscover through ‘tools’ provided in this box. Healthy ways to learn to see who they are, value their worth, and feel loved.
Our goal at Hagar’s Heart is to show a woman that self-care of the mind and spirit is just as important as food, cleanliness, and shelter.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Women’s Nonprofit Alliance, Plano, TX The WNPA is the back office support for women who are creating nonprofits to serve a variety of needs around the world.
Pricing:
- $25 the cost of 1 “I See You” Box
Contact Info:
- Email: jennifer@hagarsheart.org
- Website: www.hagarsheart.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hagarsheart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hagarsheart
Image Credits
Toni Randle-Cook
Beholder Photography
