The Irony of Building Community in a World That Doesn't Trust: The Reality of Hosting a Community Charity Event
- Rae Taylor
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
There's something painfully ironic about spending months planning a community event designed to combat mistrust, only to be met with mistrust at every turn. That's been my raw, unvarnished reality these past few weeks as I've navigated the emotional rollercoaster of organizing Boise's first official Give Back Girls Day on Mother's Day.
Being honest, this has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. This was my mountain climb.
The Obsessive Research Period
It started with research, endless, obsessive hours of it for months. I wanted to create care kits that weren't just helpful, but that actually restored dignity. I researched the most practical items: socks that wouldn't disintegrate after a week, hygiene products that were travel-sized but substantial, non-perishable food that provided actual nutrition, things that would last.
I reached out to every organization that directly helps our homeless neighbors—Corpus Commons, Interfaith Sanctuary, Boise Rescue Ministries, and more—to understand what our community actually needed. The answer was consistent and heartbreaking:
"quality items that say 'you matter'"
I researched everything. The cost of each item. The best brands for durability. The logistics of distribution. The psychology behind how receiving new versus used items affects someone's sense of self-worth, learn more about it here. I felt I had to create something that would truly make a difference, not only for our community, but for every community.
The Mistrust That Broke My Heart
This is the irony: We're trying to build trust in a world that's forgotten how to, we were trying to create connection in a world that's become transactional.
As previously mentioned, we reached out to charity organizations in the area, asking for resources for participants and resources to put into the care kits that would be distributed throughout the city. Some said no. Others ignored us completely. One organization was even annoyed about us reaching out because they didn't have enough trust we were just trying to help get more people involved in giving back to our community.
Ouch. That stung. Here we were, trying to help, to support, to build something bigger than ourselves, and we were met with the very things we were trying to fight: isolation and mistrust. The "every person for themselves" mentality that has become so prevalent nowadays.
Then there were the donors, contributors and participants who questioned our motives at every step.
"Are you sure this is legitimate?"
"What's in it for you?"
"How do I know I can trust this?"
Valid questions, really. In a world where everyone seems to want something in return, it's natural to be skeptical, but it's also heartbreaking to be met with resistance when you're trying to give without expectation.
It's hard for people to trust, that's why it's important to continue to do good in a world that has so much bad, so we can start to change that. Trust takes time, we understand that, so we will continuously show you there are companies, and people, worth trusting.
How do you give back to the community?
I contribute to community events
I donate items and money
I host community gatherings
All of the above!
You can vote for more than one answer.
Expectations vs Reality: A Story of Numbers
In my head, this was going to be perfect. I envisioned 20-30 people showing up. I had space for it. I had planned for it. What I got was humbling in the most profound way.
Ten people showed up. Not the 20+ I'd hoped for, but ten people who showed up with open hearts, willing hands, and a determination that would change everything. And what those ten people accomplished? They built over 300 care kits.
Yes, you read that right. Ten people built over three hundred kits. How? Because this wasn't just about bodies in a room. It was about the power of community coming together in a different way.
We had over a thousand individual items donated by the community to build the care kits for our neighbors. Hundreds of items were donated from local businesses to the events honored participants, our local mothers. And well over 300 care kits were built by our community, for our community.
The impact wasn't measured in crowd size, it was measured in the dignity restored for our neighbors, the lives touched for all participants and recipients, and the hope re-instilled in everyone involved, that we the people have the power to make a real difference.
That's the real story, not the event itself, but the way community shows up when it matters.
The Heroes of Building Community
Here's what I've learned through all of this: the people who showed up, donated and contributed? They get it.
They understand that sometimes you have to be the first one to extend trust, even when you're not sure it will be returned. That if you want community to exist, you have to show up, when it's inconvenient. That if we want the world to be there to support us when we need it tomorrow, we need to support others today.
The hundreds of people who donated to, contributed to, or participated in Give Back Girls Day, they didn't do so because they knew me. They donated because they believed in the mission, they contributed because they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they participated because they remembered what community feels like.
We built over 300 care kits that day. Kits that will go to people who need them most, kits that say "you are seen, you are valued, you matter."
But we built something else too. We built connection, we built trust, we built inspiration, and most importantly, we built proof that people still show up for each other in a world that feels more disconnected now than ever.
The Good That Emerged From the Struggle
Yes, it was hard. The planning was exhausting. The emotional toll was real. The moments of rejection stung.
But the good? The good was worth every single tear, every sleepless night, every moment of doubt.
The good was:
Seeing strangers connect over shared purpose.
Hearing the stories people shared while assembling kits.
Watching local businesses step up in ways that restored my faith in humanity: Papa Joe's donating space and offering 10% off food and drinks, plus 20% off all services and products from Everything Efficiency.
Giving mothers, who spent their Mother's Day giving back to the community, beautiful thank-you gift bags with items contributed by Shift Boutique, Acero Boards and Bottles, Hearts on Fire Books, The Stil, Lee's Candies, The Peanut Shop, Everything Efficiency and more.
Seeing the impact in real time: 300+ kits ready to distribute to organizations that are actually making a difference: Corpus Commons, Interfaith Sanctuary, Boise Rescue Ministries, The Women's and Children's Alliance and more.
The good made me realize that even though a lot of people are mistrustful, there are still enough who are willing to take a chance, to extend grace, to participate in rebuilding community one "care kit" at a time.
Why This Matters Now, More Than Ever
Homelessness is at an all-time high, up 18% nationally to over 771,480 people, and rising daily. Resources are stretched thin. Funding is being cut. The safety net is fraying.
But community? Community is something we can rebuild. Connection is something we can restore. Trust is something we can earn, through one act of kindness at a time.
That's why everything we do at Everything Efficiency is about making community accessible again, it's why we created the Free Give Back Girls Day Blueprint, and it's why we're sharing our story, because if we can build 300 kits with ten people, anyone can do the same for their community.
The irony isn't lost on me: we had to fight mistrust to build trust. We had to face isolation to create connection. We had to experience rejection to find acceptance. But it was all worth it.
Give Back Girls Day is proof that community isn't dead, it's just been waiting for someone to believe in it enough to start rebuilding it.
The Blueprint That Could Change Everything
What if I told you that everything we did, every challenge, every lesson, every breakthrough, is available to anyone who wants to make a difference in their community?
We've documented it all. The research. The partnerships. The logistics. The emotional journey. And we've created a comprehensive, free blueprint that anyone can use to launch their own Give Back Girls Day event.
The blueprint includes:
Item research and sourcing strategies
Event planning timelines
Marketing templates
Event resources and signage
And all the lessons we learned the hard way
Why are we giving this away for free? Because community shouldn't have a price tag. Because connection shouldn't be transactional. Because if we want to rebuild trust, we need to start making a difference, one act of true kindness at a time. Check it out here: GBGD Blueprint
Join the Movement
The response has been incredible. A local Girl Scout has already reached out to host another Give Back Girls Day event for the Boise community. People from across the country are downloading and saving the blueprint. Stories are starting to emerge of communities adapting the model for their own needs.
This isn't just about Boise anymore. This is a movement that says "we can do better." A movement that proves small numbers can create massive impact. A movement that extends trust even when it's not returned.
If you've ever felt that pull to do more, to be more, to connect more deeply with your community, this is your invitation. The blueprint is free. The need is real. The impact is profound. Our team will even help you adjust the blueprint to plan your own Give Back Girls Day event for free, just ask! We are here to help (really)!
Let's keep showing up. Let's keep extending trust. Let's keep building community, one kit, one connection, one act of kindness at a time.
Because in a world that's increasingly disconnected, maybe we're exactly what each other needs.
Stay Involved
Ready to start your own Give Back Girls Day? Get the free blueprint here: Give Back Girl's Day.
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What's your community story? We want to know! Share in the comments below, let's inspire each other to keep showing up.
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