Hello, I'm Kelly
I was born in Austin and grew up in central Texas. I graduated from Texas State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I've worked for several state agencies doing environmental work, and I've always considered myself a public servant at heart. I attribute my passion for public service to my father, Bobby, who was an Austin fireman for 32 years.
My husband and I got married in 2013 and we have one son. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was little and although that career path didn't pan out, I'm still an animal lover. We have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 guinea pig, 9 hens, and some fish. My husband is very patient with me and knows that if there's a pet that needs a home, I'll probably bring it home.
Why did I join FWCC?
When I moved to Fort Worth, I knew I needed to connect with other moms. Let's face it, moms know everything and how else was I going to find the best pediatrician, a place to get a pedicure, and build a social network? I found a Facebook group and began attending events and connecting with other moms.
It all started when Texas seasons began to change and we'd realize that our quickly growing children no longer fit into last year's shorts or winter coats. We'd trade our newly outgrown and gently used clothing with those that may need that size. I think I've always looked for ways to help others and decided to make the seasonal clothing "swap" an event. I invited moms of the Facebook group to my home, asked them to bring clothes that didn't fit anymore, and take something that does fit.
The first event was so successful that we decided to help even more people and open it up to the community. We realized that fulfilling this one need really makes people's lives easier. I asked my partner in crime, Haley, if she wanted to make it official and become a non-profit. That is how FWCC was born.
My favorite task at FWCC is:
I LOVE to sort. Sorting is my Zen. There's something very satisfying about starting with chaos and making it all sorted and orderly. I love to put on my favorite tunes or a murder podcast and get to work.
My personal goals for FWCC are:
I'd love to see FWCC grow and serve more people. We outgrew our current space before we ever moved in and I'd love to have a large enough space that we could have triple the amount of racks we currently do, ample storage for back stock, dedicated space for our sorting volunteers and space to host specialty events. I'd also love enough overhead funds to eventually quit my day job and employ folks.
My business goals for FWCC are:
See above.
Where do I think FWCC will be in one year?
In five years?
I'd love to see FWCC in a space of our own within a year. We love our partnership with our current space, but we desperately need our own space so we can grow. In five years, I'd love to be able to quit my day job.