Doing Good Celebrating those who do good!

Meet Tom Ruiz, a resident of Nolensville, TN and a life-long volunteer. He has had several, varied careers, and his volunteer experiences are just as diverse. He says that he has always sought to serve others and “fill a void.”
“Don’t hesitate; don’t look for a niche,” Tom says. From serving as an altar boy in his youth, to volunteering as a city councilman in Texas, to his current service at Nolensville First United Methodist Church, Tom says that opportunities to serve others find him. “You never know what can come from…being willing to raise your hand.” He says.  
Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about, and from, Tom’s life of service.

In this installment of the Doing Good podcast, we’ll meet Amanda Root. She is a mother, wife, and the founder and executive director of the Middle Tennessee non-profit, Hope’s Bridge.
The vision of the organization began in Amanda’s own family when they decided to adopt their two youngest children. Through that process, she felt called to use the knowledge and experience she had gained to help other kids like hers.
Today, Hope’s Bridge is a trail blazing non-profit that helps to keep kids out of state custody. They do this by finding temporary placements when needed and facilitating adoptions.
Amanda says that Hope’s Bridge aims to “remove monetary value from God’s children.” Their foster families do not receive financial compensation, and Hope’s Bridge does not get any money from adoption fees. Amanda is so passionate about this value, in fact, that she does most of her work for Hope’s Bridge on a volunteer basis. The unlikely model seems to be working as Hope’s Bridge continues to expand to serve Tennessee. Listen to learn more about this phenomenal woman and the work that she does.
Learn more about Hope’s Bridge here:
https://hopesbridgetn.com/

Meet Toby Swager, an avid volunteer who lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Toby goes above and beyond to live out his motto “be the good.” He volunteers full-time with the local nonprofit Walking with Swager, which he founded in 2016, and still finds time to help out at his church and volunteer with the city of Goodlettsville.
Walking with Swager is a multi-faceted organization with several major initiatives, including the Good Works program which helps Tennesseans get back on their feet after natural disasters and personal emergencies. Another initiative is assisting local nonprofits get off the ground.
Toby’s determination is fueled by his conviction that the actions of individual volunteers really do matter. He is convinced that everyone, regardless of background, economic status, or physical limitations, can make a difference.
“If each person would just serve one,” he says, “we’d change this world.”
This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv. Read Toby’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

In the newest episode of the Doing Good podcast, we’ll talk with Jacqueline McDonald. She is a mom, real-estate agent, and passionate volunteer who serves on the board of the Tennessee Action Council. She has a variety of causes dear to her heart—women with unintended pregnancies, children in foster care, underserved veterans—and she rises to the challenge of addressing them all. “Everyone has something to offer,” she says. Whether it is getting supplies to children’s homes, helping out at her church, or running a charity golf tournament with her husband, she uses her skills and expertise to benefit those in need.
This lifestyle of service started with her mother’s example, and Jacqueline strives to pass the legacy on to her children. It’s part of her life, her business, and her family. “Nothing is ever too small.”

Find Jacqueline’s blog at:
https://doinggood.tv/jacqueline-mcdonald-nothing-is-ever-too-small/

In this episode of the Doing Good podcast, we’ll meet Ana Laura Sura.  Ana volunteers with Begin Anew and Better Options Tennessee where she helps recent immigrants find their feet in a new country and culture. Having walked this same difficult road decades ago, she now feels driven to make the journey easier for others. Her passion is to serve this community with humility and love.  “When I help the people,” she says, “I have a new family.” Listen to this episode to learn more about Ana’s story, her volunteer work, and what drives her. This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv Read Ana’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.

Bryson McCarley is a father, husband, and business owner in Hendersonville, TN. In this episode, Doing Good celebrates Bryson’s passion of taking care of caretakers throughout his community. He serves to fundraise for many nonprofits by combining his personal passions, business mind, and resources to serve over 17,000 teachers and being “a good neighbor” through work at State Farm. This podcast is brought to you by Doing Good, a 501c3 nonprofit. www.doinggood.tv     Read Bryson’s blog post at www.doinggood.tv/blog.