How It All Started

Seven years ago, I was volunteering at FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville, Illinois. It was nearing the holidays, and I saw the stress in the eyes of the parents coming through the doors—parents who could barely afford groceries, let alone gifts for their children. I felt this pull in my heart, this voice inside me saying, Do something. Make it happen.

That’s how Operation Santa was born.

I didn’t have a big budget. I didn’t have a fancy team. But I had an idea—and I had passion.

I reached out to local businesses, asking if they’d be willing to hang tags on a tree. Each tag listed a child’s age and gender, and community members could pick one, shop for a gift, and return it unwrapped. It was simple. And it worked.

That first year, we served dozens of families. Today, hundreds of kids receive gifts because of this little mission that grew out of love.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

People think you need to be rich or powerful to make a difference. You don’t. You just need to care—and to act on it.

I’ve seen it firsthand. A local coffee shop offered to host tags for Operation Santa. A retired couple donated brand-new toys, saying it brought them joy. A teenager used her babysitting money to buy a baby doll for a little girl she’ll never meet.

These are ordinary people. But their compassion makes an extraordinary difference.

That’s what I love most about community work. It reminds us that kindness is contagious. When one person steps up, others follow.

It’s Not Just About Christmas

Don’t get me wrong—Operation Santa will always have a special place in my heart. But compassion isn’t something we should only dust off in December. It needs to be a part of who we are, year-round.

That’s why I kept volunteering after the holiday season ended. I helped serve hot meals through the Salvation Army. I sorted food donations, loaded bags, and greeted people with a smile. I joined the board of trustees at FISH and helped organize programs that supported families all throughout the year.

Every time I showed up, I saw needs that didn’t go away after the ornaments came down. Hunger, loneliness, and hardship are daily battles for many people. And while we may not be able to fix everything, we can do something.

Leading With Heart

I’m not a CEO. I don’t have a team of staff. I’m a mom. A wife. An actress. A woman who believes that faith without action is just an idea.

Leading with compassion doesn’t require a title—it just requires a willing heart.

So when I saw a need, I filled it. When I saw someone hurting, I reached out. When I saw a chance to help, I didn’t wait for permission. I acted.

And guess what? That kind of leadership inspires others. People want to be part of something good. They just need someone to go first.

The Power of Showing Up

There’s something sacred about simply showing up.

Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had didn’t involve grand gestures. They were found in the quiet work—packing groceries, offering a kind word, listening to someone’s story.

You don’t need to fix someone’s life to make a difference. You just need to be there.

Showing up says, “I see you. You matter.” And in a world where so many people feel invisible, that’s incredibly powerful.

What My Kids Taught Me

As a mother, I always wanted my children to grow up with strong values. But what I didn’t expect was how much they would teach me.

My daughter started a charity event in San Francisco called redHOT for Change, supporting La Casa de las Madres, a shelter for women escaping abuse. Watching her put together that event with so much heart and fire reminded me that this kind of love gets passed down. She grew up watching me give, and now she’s doing it in her own way.

We’ve traveled to her event each year, supporting survivors, raising funds, and reminding women they’re not alone. Those trips have become some of my most cherished memories.

Why I Keep Going

Some days are hard. Sometimes the work feels endless. There are times I get tired or discouraged.

But then I remember the little boy who hugged me after getting his first-ever Christmas gift. I remember the elderly woman who cried when we delivered her groceries. I remember the single mom who said, “You gave me hope.”

That’s why I keep going.

Because it’s not about recognition or awards. It’s about love in action.

Start Small, Think Big

If you’re reading this and wondering how you can make a difference, my advice is: start small. You don’t need a big budget or a detailed plan. You just need to care and to take that first step.

Call a local shelter. Drop off food at a pantry. Check in on your elderly neighbor. Hang tags for Operation Santa next holiday season. Whatever it is—just start.

You never know whose life you’ll touch. And you never know how that one small act might turn into a movement of compassion.

Ordinary people can—and do—create extraordinary change. I’m living proof of that. And so are you.