HelpingStarvingChildren

Hair nets, packing boxes and laughter—that’s exactly what Origami Owl® Founder Bella Weems recently found when she met up with O2 Designer Stacey Haynes on Origami Owl’s Force for Good Tour.

It all started when Stacey and her husband wanted to find ways to help their sons, Tyler and Kyle, give back to their community. The family would take excursions to downtown Phoenix, Ariz., to hand out water bottles and lift the spirits of the homeless. While meaningful, Stacey worried that the experience might be overwhelming for her young sons, ages 5 and 3 at the time. Then she found Feed My Starving Children, a Christian-based non-profit organization that involves families in hand-packing food before shipping it to malnourished children around the world. Two years later the entire family continues to volunteer there every month—and they were recently joined by Bella Weems, as part of Origami Owl’s Force for Good Tour in November.

Stacey was instantly impressed with Bella’s down-to-earth personality and desire to jump right in. “Bella’s super nice—relaxed and casual. She came in, threw her hair up and got to work!” It was a fun afternoon, with Stacey and her family creating memories with Bella, all while making a difference for others.

For Stacey, the opportunity to serve is a central part of her personal and professional life. As stay-at-home mom, a faith-inspired woman and Origami Owl Designer, O2’s mission resonates deeply with her. “I love our Core Value #8, ‘Uplift others with thoughtful words + actions,’” said Stacey. “I like to help people, and we’re trying to teach our children to serve others—volunteering has been a good fit for our family.”

Origami Owl has also been a good fit—empowering Stacey to be there for her children every day, while finding fulfillment in her own life. She discovered Origami Owl around Christmas of 2013, and immediately fell in love with the Living Lockets. Over the next few weeks, she brought up the idea of joining the company to her husband, and he surprised her on Valentine’s Day. “My husband gave me the gift of becoming a Designer—he gave me the money to join and encouraged me to go for it!” she said.

It’s been a labor of love ever since, with Stacey soaking in the opportunities to create Living Lockets that have meant just as much to her as they have to her customers. As a Team Leader, she’s also begun mentoring other Designers and enjoys spending time with them, offering training and support. “We get together every month for coffee—I love being able to help other women find purpose through Origami Owl, too.”

As for helping her sons find purpose, Stacey’s dedication to volunteering at Feed My Starving Children has paid off in more ways than one. Not only do her boys understand the value of giving back at such a young age, but for Tyler (who’s a picky eater), Stacey said, “It’s been a way to make him feel grateful for what mommy cooks every night.” Way to go, Mom—and way to be an example of Origami Owl’s Force for Good!