Giving Back with Purpose: Sam Iervese and A Christmas for Mama

On this episode of the We Share Podcast, Alex and Julie are joined by Sam Iervese , the founder of the A Christmas for Mama charity event. Sam shares her inspiring journey of creating this initiative to honor her late father, who was deeply committed to giving back to his community. Inspired by her father’s example and her own experiences as the child of a single mom, Sam launched this annual event to support struggling single mothers in Idaho during the holiday season.

Throughout the conversation, Sam opens up about her challenges, including her parents’ divorce, her personal healing process, and her desire to create meaningful change in her community. She emphasizes the importance of pushing through adversity and giving back as a way to heal and connect with others. The event features raffles, gift baskets, and community-driven support, with all proceeds going directly to help single mothers.

The discussion also touches on the power of social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook for promoting good causes, navigating the challenges of online communities, and building meaningful connections. Sam highlights how her efforts have been fueled by support from local groups, like Idaho Mom Talk, and her belief in the ripple effect of kindness.

Sam concludes by sharing her motto: every time you do something good, something comes back. She reminds listeners of the importance of community, resilience, and taking that first step toward making a difference, no matter how small. Her story is a testament to the power of love, perseverance, and giving back.

Transcript

Definitely do not give up. No matter how many people push you to or there's downfalls, or you have anxiety or just negative thoughts, try and push past them. And because every time you do something good, something comes back and it's just like more people are there for you. Once I push through, just like your I'm talking right here, right now in front of people.

And I was very closed off, sitting on my living room floor, sleeping there every single day. And now I'm out talking to people. And who else is going to hear this? I don't know, but.

Today on the We Share podcast, we're joined by Sam Iervese with the A Christmas for mama charity event. Welcome to the We Share podcast I'm Julie, I'm Alex. We share ourselves and we provide a platform for others to share. We believe everyone has a purpose and a story to tell. And we're back on the We Share podcast. I'm Julie and I'm Alex, and today we have a fun avenue.

We've never done something down this avenue before, so I'm super excited. She might be one of the youngest guests we've had on here. Yeah, well, because we're kind of we're getting more seasoned. We call it seasoned. Yes. Spicy yet seasoned. Her name is Sam vc. I don't I RBC or VC or say privacy error VC yeah, we're going to go with the Italian version because I just like a more off the tongue.

Yeah. Feels holiday like she is here to share her story with us and promote, an upcoming holiday event giving event that she has created, inspired by her late father to help struggling single moms in Idaho. So welcome, Sam. I'm so happy to have you here. Sam. We're so glad you're here. Okay, grateful. All right. If this charity event is encouraged by your memory of your father, tell us that story.

Wow. We. My dad, we weren't that close growing up, and he. But he was, an addict, but sober from when I was born, so he would have been 30 years sober had it been. He had lived, but he had a heart attack and passed, and we were starting to kind of rebuild our relationship when it happened.

And then it just kind of crashed. And so I've been depressed for a very long time. And then I joined Idaho, Montauk, and now, like, they were doing a bunch of kind of charity stuff and not really. It's just more of like moms getting together and do not stuff. I would just fine. It's great. But for me, I wanted to fully give back and how to do that and like, how do I honor my dad?

How do I run my dad? And I'm like the best way he did because he help people with their haven and he had a friendship club where him and his brothers had a friendship club all growing up. And it used to be where the police station is now, the new one on what is it? North gate. Right. North America.

Yeah. So it was there and, they just didn't have enough funds. But I was there. I spent my whole childhood at the Friendship Club with the money and sober people, with the of sober old man. And I know growing up, but he always just wanted to give back and have a space for something. But when they crashed, they had weekend warriors and they started.

They they still do it now. I mean, my uncle still runs that and they go and they camp out with, addicts and stuff to make sure they have somewhere to go instead of drinking or whatever else there are hard. Oh, that's the worst. So they did weekends instead, and that he was actually supposed to go to another one before he had a heart attack.

He was walking up some stairs. And because he's a stubborn old man in his 60s, but carrying groceries, and he drove himself to the hospital because he felt was just really big and called me first. So that was just like, wow, thanks, dad. And then he just when he got sick, everything was just horrible. But I didn't get anything from my dad.

When he passed me, everyone took it. So for me, this was like, hey, what can I give back that will like fill a hole that kind of left and I don't know, the best way I could figure is giving back to struggling moms because my mom was single my whole life, so I don't in giving somebody. So you're like, if I could have helped anyone, I try to help my mom.

Yeah, your dad had the example, so she just unleashed a lot of stuff, right? That's not the kind I want. Yeah. No. And and this is a safe place. I want to unpack some of that. Like, I want to start with the first happy part. Like Idaho mom talks to me now. And how does that compare to the mom talking to you?

Oh, I never I don't know, we had a mom talk. Yeah. So there's a Facebook group and it's really like, this girl Chelsea, she's the one that kind of organized the whole thing. And we all get together and we're all, all of all ages, and we, like, go to brunches and planned all these things. We did Thanksgiving stuff.

And there's other events that are really cool that, for small businesses for us, but it's mainly for just moms, which is great. But but I'm over here like I'm a lot of my friends or some not moms or whatever. And so that's where I got the I want everyone to come because it's not just moms over here.

Sometimes for moms, if we have something over here for moms, I want something for everyone. And that's kind of where I kind of branched off to Idaho. Small town mamas. Okay, was born and raised, but well. And mom talk can mean a lot of things to different people and it can mean soft swinging. Yeah. So I wanted to clarify that.

No, because I felt like this was different. So for people listening, this is not soft swing in Utah. But they were trying to go, okay, this one wasn't doing, trying to get on television, but there was a group that was they will not claim to be under Idaho mom talk, and they've switched their names because they started a whole thing on TikTok.

That was a whole big thing now. So, yeah, this is probably just beneath us, like our age. Oh, yeah, I think it is beneath our age group. But here's what I appreciate is that TikTok is a powerful platform, and I love that you're sharing it for good, that you saw that you could get together with some people and do do good with it, and not just become pseudo famous or whatever.

Yeah, I, I don't want to be like, oh this is Sam, she's doing that. That's why I just keep placing under Idaho, Idaho stuff because it's kind of scary also to get my name out there. I've been quiet for a very long time, but I'm very loud when I'm not quiet, so. Well, it's good for you to give.

Yeah. Just a platform for others to share. Yeah. And and that's exactly what we try to do. That's what we're doing here. I know, I feel so great. Yeah, I know we're happy to have you. I want to, also then, like, segue into you mentioned, you know, being from a family that's divorced, what was back and forth like with your parents, like, were you with your mom full time, just out on the weekends, or how?

Well, how did that work for you? My mom should probably get mad at me for saying it, but she was an alcoholic as well, and so it's. But she was not in active recovery or everything like that. Or she wouldn't, like, fully admit it. So my parents were both like, my dad was trying to be sober over here and then my mom.

So I honestly raised myself a lot of the times. So that's where a lot of the talking and it's me, like I'm a functional alcoholic as your mom. Yeah, right. So now she's sobered up and she's good. And that's what's great now. And I'm trying to that's where I'm trying to rebuild my relationship with my parents of one now.

But and being sober and having something to back. Did you have siblings? I have four older ones. I'm the youngest. Okay. So. But we're not close. That's another long family problem. So it's on my own my whole life, so. Well, okay. Like, what are you doing that like that would tie into, you know, we have a we've had other guests on here like Art McCracken and the gift of choice.

So the power in that like you choosing your own path and then and reframing it in a good way, where you're giving back how fulfilling that is for you. I'm trying to heal myself in a way where it's not like I'm being selfish at all. I don't want to take like, oh, Sam's doing this, I'm doing that. Yes.

It's helping my soul. Like, that's kind of where I because I've been broken for a very long time, so I'd rather help people, help me like it. So me up for a little while. We understand that totally, exactly why we do what we do. How many kids do you have? Because you're passing this on to them. Yeah. So you've got three kids and you don't want to keep this, this behavior pattern breaking the cycle.

Yeah. And it's really hard. And every time I do I'm like, oh. And I start crying. McGuire I'm like, oh yeah, I can't. That's why I'm pushing forward. And I have two daughters. They're eight, almost nine. And then a four year old autistic son. So it's a crazy world. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's hard for you to celebrate when you get through the the day.

I remember when you had three little and Julie had three little at the same time. And it's a lot. Oh yeah. I kind of forget sometimes it's like take a beat. And I just got done planning my wedding and then I'm like, what am I going to do? Because I think I'm trying to keep myself from crying too.

So at the event, I'm like, push it out. So I'm not sad. You know, what's something else to not make me sad and partying like dancing all night? Yeah, it's a great idea at work. Tell us about that. Then let's jump right into the event. A Christmas for mama. Yeah. So what we're doing is we are, And there's an entry fee.

Entry fee? There we go. For, $30, and then when you. There'll be door busters and raffles, dinner tacos, by Park Avenue Grill. Super amazing place. And it's at the dec a downtown event center. And what I'm going to do is everyone has a ticket that comes in and there's going to be a Santa's bag with gift cards, so everyone gets a chance to have something that way.

And then there's going to be the raffle for like gift bag baskets from companies and stuff. All the money is going to go towards Idaho single moms that are struggling. So I do need some nominations too. I got a couple, but I want a bag where we can get and then also, well, so I can push on later on and keep the names going.

But, thousand dollars is what I'm trying to do for each mom to try and just give a little bit before Christmas. Hopefully they can give their kid at Christmas, pay a bill because that's also right where rent is due. So maybe $1,000. It may not be a lot to someone, but it maybe everything to someone else, so oh, it might be.

The thousand dollars is a lot the first and last months to get them into a different place. Exactly. I mean $1,000 is nothing to to feel bad about. I, I was just talking with my kids about this over the weekend. There's a time when we've all been poor. It is very rare that you get to live a life where you've never not been poor.

I exactly, and I know it happens for people, but most people it doesn't. And the true test of character is to learn from that. Yeah, and learning from that is, going $1,000 can change my life. Yeah, I can make a difference here. And I think if you find the right people, they will feel that with that gift. Yeah.

And it just could be that little leg up that gives them and sends them on a completely different trajectory. My biggest thing is not letting I don't want anyone else to try and give up, because during the time I have tried to give up and it's like, push on, like do something else, like don't give up. There's a reason to keep pushing, especially if you're a mom.

It's there regardless. Three reasons staring up at you, right? That's always been my biggest why? Yeah, yeah I always find your why for sure. So I I'm looking at the flier. We will attach this fire to the post when we drop this episode on Wednesday. But there are a lot of local community sponsors here that excite me.

Ashley's homestore, Ingram's Titan, Volkswagen problems. Obviously the track where she's posting it and I can't read her at all. Oh. Downtown. Right. All in, the turtle LLC. It's a boba truck. Oh, yeah, it's my favorite. She, like, always has her little, truck everywhere, but she has the best boba. My daughters love her, so, my gosh, she's given us some, door prizes and all that stuff.

And she's awesome. For those who haven't been to the deck, it's beautiful. Yeah, it's a great place to have a day. You had a wedding there? Yeah, we did a wedding there. They're open up a speakeasy downstairs, and so they're trying to have it open on that day so everyone can go down. But if not, I'm just going to be doing some advertising.

But it's trying to be finished by the end of the year. But yeah, he's like, I did hear about that, that there's a new speakeasy. Have you, have you been in the Bay area? Yeah. He's talking about perfect speakeasy. Oh, it's a happy answer. I have to go in and do a video and come through and like all that and do set up.

So he wants to take me down there, like. I'm so excited. Jake. Mike. Oh, I only Mike works for Jake. Yes. I'm like, I don't I'm I think I talk to Mike. Yeah, yeah. Well, I just I'm just happy. Like, anytime I see beautifully designed fliers, but with local community people and companies just. You were the inspiration behind it.

But everyone comes together. And that was one of the great things in Idaho Falls. We love our community here. Like, yeah, it's. And I always tell people in the political realm, if you want to make a difference in this world, start in your community. Yes. People try to, you know, make the presidential election the biggest or whatever the real place you make a difference is amongst your neighbors.

Yeah. And my big like, I didn't realize how many people I knew and my connections to things. And I'm like, geez, I want to I want to help others to help help me help others. That's like, what can I do for you? But you can help us do well. Yeah. So we promised we talk a little bit about what you do with your day job, which is you just you're doing tick tock.

You're dabbling in tick tock. Tell us what that's like. It's. I only get overwhelmed because it's like, you get all these samples and stuff because that's what I. I try whatever's on there, and then, my kids are always like, you can't have kids in the videos, which is fine. I don't want to promote the kids, but you just on a day to day basis, you just try products, make videos.

And there's one product that I oh, that's like my biggest seller, which because I love food. So my biggest pleasure is food. They're easy bombs. Oh my gosh I'm going to have those these bombs I've never heard I'm having them as a raffle, giveaway too. They're my favorite things. Pecel varia. And the newest one is, I think, and it's like.

So basically, it makes it easier for you to eat, like, or make dinner if you're, like, running late or whatever. It's a little bomb of seasoning and you put it in your crock pot with either chicken, beef or pork, whatever it calls for couple hours and bam, your dinner's ready. It's my favorite thing. I love mixed. I know it's like, dude, you're going K, I've heard of like the hot chocolate bombs you don't like when you drop the bomb in like.

But then Graham Peaks pie meets. Yeah, yeah, yeah all the time. Yeah. And so the she. Yeah she endorses testimonial but I just picked up like one of the crockpot meals. Yeah. This last Thursday I was dropping off their Christmas present and I'm like, well, what should I try? And I picked the honey garlic pork chop sounds and oh, my gosh, they're so good in the crock pot.

I love crock pot. Whatever. Easy. Rice and broccoli. And the pork was so good. I'm like perfect. But that's the same idea that yeah, that's easy. No wonder you sell so many of those. Yeah. Oh it's great. And I'm all I do is cooking. And then also the seasoning for, seafood boil because I love seafood boils. I'm like, that's my top sellers is when I'm eating whatever sample I'm trying to you know how it is.

It's genuine. Well and everyone eats right. Or they should get. Yeah. Right. So eat too much. Yeah. Yeah. We don't judge but we listen okay. So did they come to you or did you seek out. So I got them or they were barely starting out and that's when I would start is. Oh and June I think is when I actually started.

I've just finished 20, 24. Oh, so you are new. Yeah, I'm pretty new to it. And I just got popular and I think I was have like, I think 300,000 views on one of the likes. It just keeps on selling. And they actually got sold out a week ago or so. But they're for Christmas gifts and everything.

And it was like, but they're they might even go in Costco. So that's they've been selling a lot. Right then selling for that company to eat because they were it is you. You find your niche and run with it. So I love that. Yeah. She was it was after the pandemic and, it's, older Hispanic woman that started it.

And her, she wants to help her community. And I'm like, I love your story. So I'm I want to keep using your products because it's really, really good because, you know, other people do copycat stuff. And I was like, I'm sticking to this one. I'm not trying anyone else's. And, it's been so good every single time. And just watching them grow has been crazy.

That is so fun and such a good give back. What's been the downside of creating content? Too much different plot, too much to do, too much like, samples that you really don't want to make a review on because you don't really like them and the companies aren't happy about you, like, and, or not liking them, or you get a lot of, like, team you stuff that's not supposed to be the product kind of thing.

And then you have to. So because it can like, so they just email it to you for or they mail it to you for free starting now. Or like a couple weeks ago, TikTok started doing, get a refund for a sample so you can get like, if they requested. And now you have to pay. And then if you sell some, then they'll pay you back.

But it it used to be just a request. If they accept you get you don't have to pay anything. But there's been so many people requesting and not making videos or not good videos that they're not charging some people. I'm lucky that I already have ones that I don't have to request, but yeah, wow. It's changing every time.

I think that's one of the things to learn, though, about these platforms is, I mean, we're 51. Yeah. And don't even look at us. Thank you. And we got really used to the way things were because things weren't as rapid when we were kids. It was a much slower growth. Oh, yeah. Of technology and everything we can take to patient.

Yeah. Change within three months now. Yeah, we can change in a day. Honestly. Like I've seen so many people that just like, are on live and all of a sudden have 100,000 people on and like, oh, that's a lot. Wow. Yeah, yeah, it is a crazy crazy. It's the wild, wild West on TikTok. It truly is. Yeah it is.

So there's a lot of comments that it's going to go away January 19th and there's a new pot farmer. Yeah. So the Twin American company I'm enjoying it. So I do have a lemon tea but I haven't posted on there. It's strange. I'm like I don't want to give away. I don't think it's going to quit. I don't I, I don't know, I feel like they're going to appeal it or whatever, and then it's going to have a three month push out and they're going to get all this work up of the ending on the 19th, because there's so many people that depend on TikTok and like they all their business is on there.

So I don't know how they could just take it away, but I don't know. I mean, they might do it from a political stance. Here's the deal. I know that people are scared that China's infiltrating America, but, all of our politicians, I shouldn't say all a majority of our politicians in Washington are doing insider trading. So pick your pick your battle here, people.

Exactly. Yeah. They just don't do insider trading on TikTok. Right? You know, see it right. It's weird. They don't share create this gigantic villain over here when we have representatives who's had Chinese spies employed by them. Like, I've been more, had scams and stuff come from Myspace or Facebook or, you know, TikTok. I don't run into trouble like I, I haven't, I haven't had anyone hack into my phone because of TikTok or things shut down because I take targets.

I know it does happen, but but more Facebook. Yeah, Facebook. Selling your data on everything else. Yeah. So if you already like putting your stuff out there, it's gone. It's I'm like, I sell my data. Yeah, I don't care, I don't care. I have nothing interesting going on here. It's so today we were talking on the radio show about the fact that if one person owns a, Android phone and one person who owns an iPhone and you send text back and forth, those texts aren't encrypted.

Yeah, so you can get them. I heard that, and Neil's like, we can't text the stuff we've been texting anymore because that's my co-host. Because, you know, we might make fun of like an interview or something, you know, and when you're going to be and then we're going to be busted. I'm like, we can't do that anymore because.

And here we are. What did I tell you? I only text Apple users. Yeah, I know they're trying to tell me, what kind of car do you have? I'm sorry. We can't be friends. We just can't. So interesting. So tell us your plans. Where do you think you go from here with TikTok? What's your what is your goal?

My goal is to be an influencer some sort of way. And then just having a life where I can travel. Honestly, I want to travel, eat and give back. That is my biggest thing I can give back. I can't get. I have an influencer T-shirt I bought once. I could give it to you. Oh, I it would be official.

You would say I was trying to manifest that way. I thought it was funny. Well, this is influential right here. I'm like, oh my goodness. Like I'm a star striker. No, we are lucky to have you and like to be so young and doing something so important because I, I've been a single mom twice and I've, I've worked and done the crazy and been broken, and even still, like, have moments and like, I can tell you if somebody would have secretly done something for me, oh, I would have so loved it and appreciated it.

But, you know, and I just, I wish I was more back like I even because I, I was once one too. Because I'm married was I'm the worst. Yes. And that was a whole thing and so I would I even married, I was a single mom, if that makes sense. And so it's like, oh, that makes sense too.

I was, I was married, but I also was a single mom. So I if I just had a helper and an ear to listen to during that time, I probably wouldn't have gone such had such depression because five years I just couldn't get out of it. And I'm just like, not finally. I mean, unfortunately, but fortunately, like my dad passed and something inside me was just like, no more.

And so now I'm like, now I'm. I'm more now. Yeah. And now you're now you're actually. Well, I'm an I see you're more of a more now because is are made a name. Yes. And let's even touch on that part. I want to ask about your dad because would you say maybe you feel him more? Yeah.

Now that he's passed? Yeah, for sure, because I feel that, too, like. And I don't know if it's just a belief I have in me that when they were a state away and they were in their old age and like, we didn't get to see each other as much, you know, if I wasn't driving down there or, maybe, you know, a little bit of dementia and stuff like that.

And so it gets hard. But now I feel them like daily. Oh yeah. And I might just because I have intuition or I start my day with parents, a psychic tell me that he was there to like to actually let them in. And then all of a sudden I got accepted to like, you guys were like, hey, let's do this.

And I go, I do feel like there is a higher power above that is, you know, maybe it's a metaverse or means of higher power. And that makes things just fall together. It doesn't mean I don't have struggles or problems still, but things come together when I am focused on helping. Yeah. And it seems just like that's what you're doing, and that's what Julie does.

And so we're just thankful to be a part of it. And I'm just thankful to be here. Help you. Yeah okay. Let's give the details again of the event. Oh yeah. I don't even know that we ever did. Okay. Let's the the details are December 21st from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.. We did mention where it's at, which is the deck.

Yes. And you have an Instagram page. I have, so I it's right now it's on TikTok and on my, Facebook. And there is a group on Facebook for the event for any updates and then. Okay. What's that? Facebook. Well, just the event for, Christmas for mama is what the event is called, this year, but I it's I want it to make it a yearly thing to for Christmas for mama.

So this was the first one Christmas for mama. We're going to give mama how many mamas you're trying to do. Five. Five. But right now we have to. Enough. Again, $1,000 each. So. And I'm trying to get more work in this whole week to get more sponsors. And if there's anyone out there want to sponsor, just send it to, right.

Idaho. So you know where you can send the money. And, if you're in town December 21st, come out and support her. A Christmas for mama. If you're not in town, get on a plane and try to be a party over here. Huge party at that. That'll be so fun. It is a great place to hold a dancing event.

It is just the atmosphere is. It's just good. So if you're looking to do something, this is a great thing to go and do. And what's the cost again to get in $30, $30 a person and then you get a doorbuster raffle tickets, a ticket for into a different Santa's bag and just games and just to have fun and food.

Lots of tacos. I don't know if you like tacos, but tacos. I'm a big dog. They are the best red flag. If you don't like toppings, you don't like tacos. I don't even know who you are. I mean, do you like tacos? That's not a red flag. Okay, at the end of each of our podcasts, we always ask our guests to share with anything with us.

You know, maybe a life lesson or a motto that you live by or the goal that you're trying to achieve, whatever it is you want to share with us, just go ahead and we'll close out the podcast with you sharing that. Okay. Just definitely do not give up. No matter how many people push you to or there's downfalls, or you have anxiety or just negative thoughts, try and push past them.

And because every time you do something good, something comes back. And it's just like more people are there for you and you realize you're not alone. So just not giving up is like my biggest like mono make this like, yeah, it is like a, like a life motto or mantra giving up and pushing through because that's my big because once I not once, I push through.

Just like here, I'm talking right here, right now in front of people. And I was very closed off, sitting on my living room floor, sleeping there every single day. And now I'm out talking to people. And who else is going to hear this? I don't know, but I'm here, I don't care. But someone needs to hear that because so often, like what goes on behind closed doors, right?

You never know what someone's going. Yeah. And if you weren't transparent to share that with us now. Yeah. You know, but had you not got off your floor, look at all the things that wouldn't have happened. Right. And how much your life has changed. And so that. That's amazing. Yeah, yeah. Well done. Good job. Thank you. Trying. Okay, Sam.

More say yes. Yes. Perfect. Oh I like it with that little more like I say. There you go. Now say chow chow. I love it.

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