SPRING 2022
THE
EXPERIENCE
2 | Spring 2022
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
THE PROVIDENCE VILLAGE EXPERIENCE
Copyright 2022 ©The Providence Experience and MAC Publishing & Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Spring 2022 | 3
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CONTENTS
07 Teacher Appreciation
18 Small-Town Girl Making Big Splashes
25 Ready to File Your 2021 Tax Return?
28
12 Indulge With Natural Bath & Body Treats
23 Choosing Doggie Daycare & Boarding Facilities
26
Valentine's Day Trivia
31 Important Dates & Other Helpful Information
No Shoes, No Shirt— No Problem!
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MEET KYLE WILBERT
I think it is important for teachers to be patient, good listeners, open-minded, and try to see multiple points of view. And most importantly, possess the ability to make learning fun so students enjoy showing up to school every day.
Learning thru Engagement and Experience How long have you been teaching, and what grade and subject(s) do you teach?
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Wilbert
What is the greatest success you have had in teaching?
What is your educational background? What is one of the most memorable moments in your teaching career? List five yourself.
adjectives
that
describe
How do you motivate your students to become active learners in your classroom and encourage class participation? What is the most difficult aspect of teaching today?
8 | Spring 2022
What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?
y p p Ha y a D s ' r e ach
Te
Teacher Gifts 1
CUSTOM TUMBLERS Village Tumblers FB: VillageTumblers ProvidenceVillage
2
JALEPENO BREAD
1
Good Dough Bread Company FB: GoodDoughBreadCompany
3
BE YOU BEAR
Stitching Star Designs FB: StitchingStar
4
CUSTOM CLIPBOARDS Pretty In Ink Creative Co. FB: PrettyInInkCreativeCo
5
PERSONALIZED GIFTS
Happy Camper Creations FB: HappyCamperCreationsTX
6
BAKLAVA
Liza's Greek Delights FB: LizasGreekDelights
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L s e 10 | Spring 2022
HELLO. I'm not just YOUR NEIGHBOR. I'm your Real Estate Agent! I'm here to help you every step of the way. Whether you're buying or selling, I'll work with you to ensure the process is seamless, successful and EASY! Let's chat soon!
Carlos
PSST....Don't forget your FREE food!
CARLOS URQUIDEZ 972.292.8160 CarlosURealtor@gmail.com www.CarlosURealtor.com
Did someone
say FREE food?
Let the professionals do what professionals do! That's our motto at URealty Partners. In order to provide world-class service, we only partner with the best in the business. Together, we make it easy to have the best home buying/selling experience you ever dreamed of. Live your life while we do the rest...photos, repairs, maintence, staging, moving and more! Spring 2022 | 11
Indulge With Natural Bath and Body Treats from
Deluxe Bath Soap By Ashley Cook
We’d like to introduce you to Julia Grant, owner of Deluxe Bath Soap. We recently had the opportunity to visit with Julia and hear more about her business. Hi, Julia! We’d love to learn more about you and the story behind Deluxe Bath Soap, LLC. When my husband and I were preparing for our first child, I became interested in healthier living. I discovered that most body care products contain harmful chemicals that can enter the bloodstream through the skin. They also commonly use animal fats as cheap substitutes for the more expensive plant-based oils. After further research, I realized that the best products are made from simple, natural ingredients. This triggered my creative side, and I decided to try making some things at home by myself. At first, I made soap as gifts for friends and family. They liked my creations so much that they urged me to share my passion with others. That’s how Deluxe Bath Soap, LLC was born. Tell us a little more about Deluxe Bath Soap and your products. My luxurious bath and body treats are handcrafted in small batches and use natural and organic ingredients. I make everything from artisan and all-natural soap to party favors, bath bombs, body butters, body scrubs, soy wax candles, and gorgeous soap bouquets. Every product is tailored to each customer’s preference. What was it like to start your business? Starting a small business is probably the most challenging, exhausting, and rewarding endeavor I’ve ever attempted in my life—aside from giving birth. In a way, running a small business is like having a small child. The demand for attention
@deluxebathsoap 12 | Spring 2022
and level of commitment needed is very similar. Just like when I had to learn a ton after first becoming a mom, I had to learn a ton to make sure my business stayed viable. When you look back over your business, what are some of your stand-out memories? Some of the most memorable moments for me are when I made my first batch of soap and when I realized that people actually like my products. When I started dabbling in soap making, I wasn’t sure what I was doing. Even though it seems easy, there was a lot to learn. At first, it seemed daunting. But once I made my first successful batch of soap, I found the process of soap making creatively appealing, intellectually satisfying, and emotionally rewarding. The next big moment came when a few of my friends offered to pay me for my soap. That’s when I realized that soap making could be more than just a hobby. It gave me confidence in myself. What’s your favorite product? What do you love about it? I love and use all of my products. Bath bombs seem to be particularly in high demand, especially with kids. I think it’s because it’s a single-use product and fun for kids to play with in the bathtub. My son always asks for a bath bomb when he’s taking a bath. He likes to play with the foam. My custom soap bouquets are also popular. I make rose bouquets, tulips, and various combinations of flowers. They’re perfect as a bride’s bouquet, for baby showers,
www.deluxebathsoap.com
anniversaries, as decorative centerpieces, or as gifts. They’re practical, beautiful to look at, and have a long-lasting, wonderful aroma. One customer even told me that the scent of her bouquet lasted for six months! How long have you lived in Providence Village? What do you enjoy about living here? We’ve been in Providence Village a little over a year. My husband was the one who picked this neighborhood. I especially like the people here. Everyone is so friendly, polite, and helpful. I’ve heard that the people in Texas are very nice in general, but I think this is especially true in our neighborhood. I was amazed when a 13-yearold boy, who didn’t know us, saw us carrying pieces of furniture down the street and offered to help us. He picked up the heaviest piece and carried it all the way to our house. To me, this speaks volumes about the character of people in our neighborhood. Anything else you’d like us to know? I would like to thank the people in our community for a warm welcome and a friendly hello. It’s a pleasure living among great, independent-minded, freedom-loving, welleducated, faithful people. I hope to contribute my share of an effort to make our community even greater through my business. Thank you, everyone!
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By Ashley Cook
How a Small-Town Girl Is Making Big Splashes
18 | Spring 2022
If you’ve lived in Providence Village for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the name Ami Yarbrough. As the founder of MAC Publishing & Media Group, Ami is a champion of building up our community. She does this by partnering with small businesses in and around Providence Village on their marketing and publishing needs. Originally from Pilot Point, Ami began her corporate career soon after graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in journalism and marketing. She was caught up in the daily grind of commuting to her job and working long hours—something she kept up for over ten years. Ami then moved abroad for nine years and was a stay-athome mom to two daughters. When it was time to move back to the States in the summer of 2014, Ami and her then-husband decided she would remain a stay-at-home mom. She grew up in a household where both parents worked outside the home, and because of their schedules, it was difficult for them to always be present at her school events and gatherings. Ami wanted to provide a different experience for her girls. She didn’t want to get caught up in the cycle of dropping her kids off at school, jetting to the office, and working a full day—only to hop back in her car, swing by to pick up her kids, and head home to eat and then to bed. And then wake up and do it all over again. She wanted to be present and available for her daughters. After moving back to the States, Ami and her family settled into Providence Village. With both girls in school, Ami dabbled in a few things here and there. But she wanted more—something to call her own.
“Providence Village isn’t just a neighborhood, community or town. It’s an experience!” Together, with the help of her business partners, Ami and her team came up with an idea over lunch at a local restaurant. Providence Village was growing. The quaint little community was now a town, which touted several HOAs, two school districts, and a bustling social calendar. There was so much to do and so much to see, but where could residents go to learn about it all? Plus, with more families moving into the area, there was a growing need for information on utilities, emergency services, and local events. The community needed one central place where they could find all the information they needed. After much brainstorming, The Providence Village Experience magazine was born at that lunch table. “Providence Village isn’t just a neighborhood, community or town. It’s an experience!” explains Ami. The goal was to highlight the local community, its residents, business owners and entrepreneurs while being a source of community information. It would include everything from local businesses, mom and pop shops, and the small at-home businesses. To be highlighted or featured in the magazine, the only criteria was that you had to be a resident of Providence Village.
Add to that, Ami knew Providence Village had a major entrepreneurial spirit. Small businesses were popping up often. She decided to take her marketing background and use it to help them grow. The catch was—many of these businesses had limited budgets. Others didn’t understand how to effectively market their products or services. Ami knew she needed to bring a solution that was affordable while giving businesses the visibility they needed. Then came the matter of publishing the magazine. Ami quickly realized that using another company to publish the magazine would be expensive. This would likely bump it out of the price range for their clients. Ami and her partners decided to cut out the middleman and create their own publishing company—MAC Publishing & Media Group. They established the company in March 2019 and got to work. The first edition of The Providence Village Experience magazine hit 3,200 mailboxes two short months later. In the beginning, Ami’s entire focus was on the magazine. It was a direct mail magazine so she could guarantee that every resident and business in town would receive a copy. Business owners had two options for promoting their products or services—a standalone ad or a sponsorship bundle. The magazine included features, business profiles, resident stories, community news, and ads. One year in, Providence Village found itself in lockdown. Business owners faced new, pressing challenges. While residents were driven inside their homes, many businesses fought to keep their doors open.
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During the height of the pandemic, Ami knew that getting businesses the exposure they needed would be challenging. So, she expanded her services to include tailored marketing solutions. Ami helped her clients develop their online presence by shifting into Zoombased advertising. Also, families were cooking more in their homes, so she
When asked about the marketing challenges that local businesses face, Ami responds, “A lot of people think that if someone has a good product or service, everyone’s going to buy it. Not so much. I see people come up with a great idea— whether it’s a food truck or a service or a cool website. But if people don’t know about your business, they can’t buy your product or service.”
“Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint, and we’re in it with our clients for the long haul.” partnered with local business owners for live cooking classes and to create takehome meal kits. She also encouraged businesses to work together and develop unique products for our residents. One way Ami did this was by connecting a cookie business with a yard greeting business. Together, the two companies offered a fun, inspirational package to help kids celebrate their birthdays from their homes during lockdown when there were no other venues available for celebrations. Eventually, the other team members moved on to other ventures, but Ami had plans to grow the company. She started helping local businesses with their printing needs. As a publishing house, she already had all the tools. She started printing business cards, brochures, note cards, greeting cards, promotional postcards, and mailers. By being a local publisher, she was also able to offer bulk mail rates and save businesses on the cost of postage.
Up And Awwithay y Written by Ashle
For Ami, providing affordable marketing is the cornerstone to helping local businesses and the town succeed. When local businesses thrive, so does our community. Growing small businesses within Providence Village is a way for the town to generate tax revenue. The more tax revenue the town has, the more the town can do. It’s a wheel that keeps turning and benefiting everyone. With how entrepreneurial Providence Village is, the opportunities are endless. Ami shares, “When we started, one of my business partners told me that we need to think outside the box because we’d run out of businesses [to highlight]. We’ve never run out. I have such a long list! You have everything from an insurance agent who works at home all the way to balloon bouquets, hand-made soaps, pest control, carpet cleaning, meal prep, crafts and more... I feel like we have it all.” For Ami, starting MAC Publishing & Media Group ended up being more than just a way to spend more precious time with her kids. It’s a way for her to directly serve and build up our community. Ami’s always looking for ways to bring more visibility to local businesses so they can get more customers. Sometimes this means working non-traditional hours.
She goes on to share, “When you’re starting on a smaller budget or just starting up, people don’t realize how important a marketing budget is. You can have the best website or service, but if people don’t know about it, you won’t sell anything.” She also helps businesses find their niche in the marketplace so they can effectively market themselves. For those who are transitioning from employee to business owner, or are just “stuck,” Ami offers small business coaching.
You can often find Ami jetting around town to host a Facebook Live, meet with a new business, host a local network group, volunteer with Rotary or attend her daughters’ gymnastics and powerlifting competitions. For Ami, it’s not about the hours, it’s about the impact. As she says, “Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint, and we’re in it with our clients for the long haul.”
macpublish.com
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CARLOS URQUIDEZ 972.292.8160 CarlosURealtor@gmail.com www.CarlosURealtor.com Spring 2022 | 21
22 | Spring 2022
DOGGIE DAYCARE OR BOARDING FACILITY FOR YOUR DOG Spring break break and and summer summer will will soon soon be be upon upon us, us, and and that that Spring means it's vacation time! When you’re unable to care means it's vacation time! When you’re unable to care for for your furry furry friend, friend, it’s it’s important important to to choose choose a a dog dog boarding boarding your facility facility you’re you’re comfortable comfortable with with and and that that is is best best suited suited for for your dog’s needs and personality. Here are the your dog’s needs and personality. Here are the top top five five things to to look look for for when when choosing choosing a a dog dog boarding boarding facility. facility. things What is is the the facility facility set set up? up? What
Canine Canine Cowboy Cowboy is is a a kennel-free kennel-free facility, facility, and and all all dogs dogs are are free-roaming free-roaming throughout the building; they are not kept in kennels. throughout the building; they are not kept in kennels. We We also also have have a a large outdoor outdoor area area for for the the dogs dogs to to play play and and potty. potty. Our Our setup setup is is best best large suited suited for for dogs dogs who who enjoy enjoy the the company company of of other other dogs dogs and and love love attention attention from humans. Some facilities have individual kennel runs from humans. Some facilities have individual kennel runs with with outdoor outdoor spaces, while while other other facilities facilities have have indoor-only indoor-only rooms rooms with with no no outside outside spaces, access. access. It It is is important important to to choose choose a a facility facility that that best best fits fits your your dog’s dog’s needs needs and and temperament. temperament.
Does the the facility facility require require a a meet meet and and greet/behavior greet/behavior evaluation? evaluation? Does
If dogs dogs are are going going to to be be freely freely playing playing with with one one another, another, itit is is important important that that If each each dog dog coming coming through through the the doors doors has has its its temperament temperament tested. tested. Make Make sure the the facility facility has has strict strict guidelines guidelines of of appropriate appropriate vs vs inappropriate inappropriate sure behaviors. The The first first step step in in keeping keeping dogs dogs safe safe during during group group play play is is to to behaviors. make make sure sure all all dogs dogs play play and and behave behave appropriately appropriately in in a a group group setting. setting.
How is is the the staff staff trained trained in in dog dog behavior behavior and and health? health? How
Dogs talk talk with with their their body body language. language. Reading Reading that that body body language language requires requires Dogs a a keen keen eye eye as as dog dog body body language language can can be be quick quick and and subtle. subtle. It It is is important important that that staff staff is is thoroughly thoroughly trained trained to to read read dog dog body body language language to to ensure ensure that that all dogs dogs in in their their care care are are safe safe and and happy. happy. all It It is is also also equally equally important important that that staff staff is is trained trained in in first first aid aid and and to to look look for for common medical medical issues issues in in dogs. dogs. Should Should a a life-threatening life-threatening medical medical common condition, condition, such such as as bloat, bloat, occur occur during during your your dog’s dog’s stay, stay, itit is is important important staff staff knows the signs so the dog can get medical help as soon as knows the signs so the dog can get medical help as soon as possible. possible.
What safety safety procedures procedures are are in in place? place? What
Every Every facility facility should should have have a a disaster disaster management management plan plan in in place. place. These These are policies and procedures that should be followed in the are policies and procedures that should be followed in the event event of of a a disaster such such as as a a fire, fire, tornado, tornado, or or other other unforeseen unforeseen events. events. A A dog dog disaster boarding boarding facility facility should should also also have have a a plan plan in in place place to to account account for for every every dog in their care such as roll call, what to do in the event of an dog in their care such as roll call, what to do in the event of an injury injury or or illness, as as well well as as safety safety checks checks on on the the outdoor outdoor areas areas and and fencing. fencing. illness,
Is Is the the facility facility staffed staffed overnight? overnight?
Did Did you you know know most most dog dog boarding boarding facilities facilities are are not not staffed staffed overnight overnight and and dogs are are left left alone? alone? Natural Natural disasters disasters or or medical medical emergencies emergencies can can dogs happen happen at at any any time time of of the the day. day. Canine Canine Cowboy Cowboy has has overnight overnight staff staff to to ensure ensure the the safety safety of of each each dog dog in in our our care. care.
Spring 2022 | 23
Meet Katy Mora, Customer Service Manager
Katy has over nine years of experience with Farmers Insurance. She started out in the district office where she serviced area agencies for two years before becoming a sales producer for a Farmers Agency in Gainesville, and later joining the Kiesling Agency in 2019. 24 | Spring 2022
At the Kiesling Agency, we pride ourselves on exceeding our customers’ expectations. One of the ways we do this is by being as proactive as possible and treating our customers exactly the way they deserve to be treated, like family! We are so blessed to have dedicated and exceptional team members like Katy who always go the extra mile to ensure that our customers are properly taken care of.
team that is so compassionate about their community is uplifting. I love the hard work that our agency puts in to share love and support for others, especially considering the current times that we are in,” explains Katy.
Katy is currently working part time remotely due to the birth of her precious baby girl, Lizzie, last June. We certainly miss Katy’s sweet smile and cheerfulness around the office daily. Katy loves being part of the Kiesling Agency. “From the beginning there was always such a friendly and welcoming presence from everyone in the office. I love the support that we receive, as well as the friendships I have made. Everyone works as a team and genuinely wants each other to succeed, and we all work hard to do what is the best for our customers. Being part of a te
Baby Lizzie
We invite you to call or stop by to find out more about Katy and the Kiesling Agency.
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Plan Now to Be Ready to File Your 2021 Tax Return Linda C. Bullwinkle, EA, MBA
Tax planning is important for everyone. Planning can help you file an accurate return and avoid processing delays that will slow your tax refund. Often, we think the IRS or our tax preparer has done something wrong or held up our refund for some reason. Usually, it is a delay based on not reporting information such as a 1099, or in 2020 it was usually due to receiving a stimulus check and not remembering.
The following records should be received and gathered before you take your documents to a tax preparer: *W-2 Forms from employers *1099 Forms from banks, unemployment compensation, dividends, interest earned, and distributions from pension, annuity, or retirement plans.
Many of these items are new for the 2021 tax year, so watch for the documents and organize your tax information for a smooth and efficient preparation and filing. Taxes continue to become more complex and demand more information. Not having these documents will hold up your return, delay refunds, and will take time to recreate or find online. Watch for these in January and February. Wishing everyone the very best for 2022. Stay safe and healthy! Linda C. Bullwinkle, EA, MBA, is the owner of Financial Fitness, offering tax preparation and tax planning in Aubrey for individuals needing personal tax returns as well as partnerships, trusts, estates, corporations, sub-chapter S corporations and non-profit organizations.
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tax information
The key is being organized and having organized tax records. It helps avoid errors that lead to processing delays that slow your refund and helps find overlooked deductions or credits. If you work with a tax preparer, the number one problem they face is not having all the information needed to prepare the tax return. Having to wait for documents or not having documents provided cause the return to be delayed in filing. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to provide the documents, which usually come via mail or online in January and/or February.
*Form 1099 – MISC, 1099-K or other income statement if you worked independently. *Income documents such as brokerage documents and records of virtual currency transactions. *Form 1095-A Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. *Letter 6419, 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit Payments – new this year, should be received in January. You should know the amount you received monthly from July through December. *Letter 6495, 2021 Economic Impact Payment or Stimulus payment. The 2021 payment was made in March 2021 – August. Be sure you check the amount you received. The exact amount will need to be reported. It is not taxable. *Mortgage Interest Statements – even if you sold your home, bring the statement for the home you sold and the home you purchase if applicable. *If you sold your home – bring the settlement papers for the sale of your home, and be prepared to identify the purchase price of the home when you bought it and any improvements made to the property. *If you share child tax deductions from one year to another, be very clear as to whose year this is. With the new Child Tax Credit payments and credits to be determined, this will be critical.
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Fascinating Valentine’s Day Facts That Will Probably Surprise You The first valentine was sent in the 15th century. The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History. com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. One of the lines in the poem? “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.” Swoon! Valentine’s Day officially became a holiday associated with love in the 1300s. At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day.” It wasn’t until the Middle Ages, though, that the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.
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Not until the 1840s did we get the first mass-produced valentines. People started exchanging cards and handwritten letters to both lovers and friends during the 17th century, but it was in the 1840s that the first Valentine’s Day cards were mass-produced in the U.S., sold by Esther A. Howland. Known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” Howland is credited with commercializing Valentine’s Day cards in America, and she is remembered for her elaborate,
crafty cards made with lace and ribbons. The tradition of giving Valentine’s Day flowers dates to the 17th century. Giving red roses may be an obvious romantic gesture today, but it wasn’t until the late 17th century that giving flowers became a popular custom. In fact, the practice can be traced back to when King Charles II of Sweden learned the “language of flowers” — which pairs different flowers with specific meanings — on a trip to Persia, and subsequently introduced the tradition to Europe. The act of giving flowers then became a popular trend during the Victorian Era — including on Valentine’s Day — with red roses symbolizing deep love. Today, Americans spend a lot on love. According to the National Retail Foundation, Americans spent over $20 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts
in 2019 and were expected to spend a record-breaking $27.4 billion for 2020 — including $2.4 billion on candy alone! People also expected to spend an average of approximately $196 for Valentine’s Day, with men spending around $291 compared to women spending $106. Americans send 145 million Valentine’s Day cards each year. According to Hallmark, a whopping 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every February 14 (not including all those kids’ valentines exchanged in classrooms!). This makes Valentine’s Day the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas. And they also spend millions of dollars on gifts for their pets. Hey, furry friends need love, too! In fact, around 27.6 million American households gave Valentine’s Day presents to their pet dogs in 2020, and more than 17.1 million picked up gifts for their cats. All in all, American households spent an estimated $751.3 million on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day. The Valentine’s Day gift that people spend the most on is jewelry. Candy and flowers might be some of the most common gifts for Valentine’s Day, but according to the National Retail Federation, the category that we typically spend the most on for February 14 is jewelry, at a whopping $5.8 billion in 2020! The second mostpaid-for gift on Valentine’s Day 2020 was an evening out with $4.3 billion, followed by clothing, candy and then flowers. The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1861. It was created by Richard Cadbury, son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, who started packaging chocolates in fancy boxes to increase sales. He introduced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for V-Day in 1861, and today, more than 36 million heart-
shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate! Conversation hearts got their start as medical lozenges. Weirdly enough, the story of conversation hearts first began when a Boston pharmacist named Oliver Chase invented a machine that simplified the way medical lozenges — used for sore throats and other illnesses — could be made. The result was America’s first candy-making machine, because the pharmacist soon started shifting his focus from making lozenges to candy instead! It wasn’t until 1866 that we first got sweet printed messages on conversation hearts. It was Oliver’s brother, Daniel Chase, who started printing sentimental messages on the sweethearts, though these candies were bigger than the versions we have today — and featured much longer printed sayings and phrases. Some of the first messages? “Married in white you have chosen right” and “How long shall I have to wait? Please be considerate.” More than 8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year. They have to start making them just days after February 14 to have enough in time for the next Valentine’s Day. That’s almost 100,000 pounds per day! Each box has approximately 45 sayings — including “True Love,” “Hug Me” and “You Rock” — but you can personalize your own, too. But don’t worry if you still have last year’s box — they have a shelf life of five years. Nearly 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day. What better day is there for a marriage proposal than a day literally dedicated to love and romance? Valentine’s Day is one of the popular days to pop the question, with as many as 6 million couples getting engaged on February 14. And according to the results of this survey, Valentine’s Day was voted the best day of the year to propose than
any other day — and of those people who voted, 40% were men! Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently around the world. Many Latin American countries know the holiday as el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Though couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday’s focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends! “XOXO” didn’t always mean hugs and kisses. “XOXO” is a popular signature this time of year. The origins of the signature, however, stem from the Middle Ages. The Washington Post reported that during those times the “X” symbolized the Christian cross, and letters ended with the sign of the cross and a kiss to symbolize an oath. As the gesture became more popular in literature, letters and paperwork, it came to mean something had been “sealed with a kiss.” Lovebirds are actual birds. While the term “lovebirds” has become a popular figure of speech, it’s also the common name for the Agapornis bird. This bird is a type of parrot that is native to the continent of Africa and can be found throughout the eastern and southern regions. The animals typically travel in pairs, which is why many couples are referred to as lovebirds. There is an official Valentine’s Day alternative for singles. International Quirkyalone Day is the holiday for single people on the same date. The holiday isn’t an antiValentine’s Day event, but rather a moment to celebrate self-love and platonic relationships. International Quirkyalone Day has been celebrated globally since 2003.
Source: Good Housekeeping Written by Amanda Hawkins & Hannah Jeon
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No Shoes, No Shirt—No Problem! How the Providence Village Kids Community Closet is Keeping Our Area’s Children Clothed All Year Long When Mary-Kathryn Boyd decided to quit her corporate job and move to Texas, she had no idea what was in store. Originally from Hopatcong, New Jersey, MaryKathryn decided it was time for a change. She was working in procurement at the time and wanted something different—something new. Her best friend had just moved to Texas, and that seemed like the perfect place for new beginnings. So, Mary-Kathryn found a new job and headed south. Not too long after moving, Mary-Kathryn met Jordan, her now-husband. Together, they settled into the warm, tight-knit community of Providence Village, where they’ve lived for two years. Mary-Kathryn shares how she loves the warm hearts and caring spirits of her neighbors. In April 2021, Mary-Kathryn found herself facing another change. Her stepson was about to move from daycare to kindergarten. Wanting more time to help with his transition, Mary-Kathryn and her husband made a major life decision. Mary-Kathryn would resign from her job and become a stay-at-home mom. Like many stay-at-home moms, Mary-Kathryn wasn’t initially sure how she was going to fill her time. Up to this point, she had a successful corporate career. She wasn’t sure how she would handle the transition and find fulfillment. It was during the summer of 2021 that Mary-Kathryn noticed something. The start of school was approaching. She began seeing more requests in the neighborhood’s Facebook groups for kids’ clothing. She commented to her husband how there should be a central place in the neighborhood, like a closet, where 28 | Spring 2022
people could come and get what they needed. Her husband looked back at her and asked, “Well, why don’t you do that?” And that’s how the Providence Village Kids Community Closet began. In the early months, residents would drop off their donations at Mary-Kathryn’s home. She and her husband would store the clothes in their garage and organize them for people to come and pick up. Soon, the need far outgrew their two-car garage, so Mary-Kathryn raised the funds to rent a storage unit and receive even more donations to help families. Now, almost 300 patrons regularly donate and receive clothing. Donations are dropped off every day, except on Closet Day, which is the first Saturday of the month when the kids closet is open to the community. About a week leading up to Closet Day, Mary-Kathryn will pull clothing from their storage unit and set up the clothing racks. By the time parents and kids visit, everything is organized and ready for them to grab what they need. Mary-Kathryn has loved watching the kids closet evolve. It’s become more than a shopping experience—it’s a social experience, too. Mary-Kathryn shares how moms will gather around clothing racks and chit-chat
while their kids excitedly try on coats or shirts. When asked about her most memorable moments, Mary-Kathryn’s face lights up. She shares, “The parents who bring their kids and let [them] pick out their own clothes is the best feeling. So many say, ‘Can I have this? It’s so pretty!’ or ‘Ahh, superhero shirts!’” Little did Mary-Kathryn know that when she decided to become a stay-at-home mom, she would help so many of our community’s children. Through the Providence Village Kids Community Closet, our area’s children now have access to quality clothes and outfits. The kids closet is currently raising funds to become a 501(c)(3). They’re fundraising through two main ways: a GoFundMe page and a monthly sponsorship. Once a 501(c)(3), donors can officially receive tax deductions on their donations. Plus, the kids closet can formalize a volunteer program so that area high school students receive credit for their volunteer hours. The Providence Village Kids Community Closet has received well-deserved recognition. During this past winter, they were endorsed by Providence Village Mayor Linda Inman. Service organizations, like the 380 Rotary Club, have also helped sort and organize clothing donations. Mary-Kathryn didn’t just see a need in our community—she started meeting it. She knew that it would take a special kind of village—Providence Village— to care for our neighborhood children. It’s this heart of service that makes our community the special place that it is.
@PVKidsCloset PVKidsCloset.com
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