Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenea Haynes
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was on my way to work when a homeless woman, known as Ira, stopped me to ask for a bottle of water. I felt guilty, one because I didn’t have one, but also because I assumed she was going to ask me for money. We all know the saying about assumptions. While I didn’t have water that day, this led to a daily routine: a regular delivery of water, then water and chips, and eventually water, chips, and a breakfast sandwich each morning to the corner where Ira would sit.
After a few months, Thanksgiving rolled around and I found myself with a free turkey that I really didn’t need. Considering Ira, and the many others in a similar situation, I talked with my good friend Flo, and we decided to cook the turkey, some sides, and pass them out to the homeless that year for thanksgiving. It was the Saturday after thanksgiving 2021. It was dark, and cold, and rainy that year, so it was hard to find people because they were all taking cover from the weather. But we gave out 25 meals that first year. And it felt so good to do something meaningful, but so bad because you still had to leave them there at the end of the night. We decided to do it again the next year, and take donations so we could make more food and impact more people, and it just continued to grow and flourish into what it is today. All because I had to Pass by Ira.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anyone in entrepreneurship can tell you there is no success without some bumps and bruises along the way. What I can say, is there have been some smooth moments that made it clear this is work I am supposed to be doing. Fundraising has always been an issue and it’s a challenge that we continually have to work through, but the major things we needed to really get started came in small acts of kindness and generosity from others. Much like the relationship I built with Ira. A Dallas-based CPA sponsored our filing and incorporation fees, a coworker’s spouse built our initial website for free, and a friend donated the full cost of the domain for two years. It’s those small acts of kindness, generosity, and relationships that Pass by Ira was built on that get us through the tougher times.
Another hard but real fact is that we are a tiny team in a big city. There are a lot of organizations trying to help the same population and they have a lot of support and manpower. But we feel that we have something unique to offer Dallas. We believe that whether you are a unhoused community member, a donor, a volunteer, another organization, or anyone else, we are offering you an experience. We are offering relationship. You will know you are loved and cared for when you come into contact with us. You will know that we are concerned for you, we are developing ways to walk with you, and we want the best for you, no matter who you are.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This is a fun question. So my background is primarily in Social Work. I have a Bachelor’s and Masters degree in Social Work and I was a Hospital Social Worker for 6 years. I also worked in other areas: psych, eating disorders, hospice, mitigation, private practice, etc. Ironically enough, I never worked with the unhoused population. I graduated with my MBA in 2023, and recently transitioned into Aerospace and Defense. Hard left turn, but it has been such a challenging and fulfilling experience. I actually feel like I use my social work skills more, and I am learning how to be a more intentional and effective leader.
I’m most proud of myself for consistently choosing what is uncomfortable. I took a chance leaving Ohio, where I was born and raised, to move to Texas for college. I took a chance choosing to stay there with no family because I felt there was opportunity for me. I took another chance moving to Dallas when I married my husband. I took a chance when we started Pass by Ira. And I am currently in the middle of a chance on this new job in a new industry I know nothing about. But you don’t know what you don’t know, and every chance is an opportunity to grow and stretch beyond your current capacity. I want to never stop stretching.
My personality definitely sets me apart from others. Most people say they have never met anyone like me, and I’ve been told initially either they feel like I’m real or crazy. Luckily real usually wins. Sometimes I have felt that my personality was too much, or if I could just be like someone else, I would be better. But I have come to realize I was wired this way for a reason. Some people need that burst of energy, that outrageous joke that doubles them over in laughter, that overwhelming love. It might be what keeps them off the ledge. It might be the only bright spot in their day. I accept it as my light, and its the piece of me that makes others feel safe being who they truly are.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I know most people would never believe this but I am actually pretty introverted. I have an outgoing and energetic personality, and I love people, but I would totally be okay at the house wrapped up in a blanket with my books and The Sims 4. The exception is my husband and our two pups.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.passbyira.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passbyira/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557703994254
Image Credits
Donovin Haynes
Rachel Young
Jazmine Gamboa