Sharing Belly Hugs


Season Two - Episode 15


 


"When I think of my Dad’s lasagna, I get all the warm fuzzy feelings of being in my childhood home with my family.” – Hollie Mealy


 


In this episode, Holly & Kristin talk with Hollie about:


How Hollie went from full-time teacher to part-time teacher, to President and founder of a 501c3 (non-profit)
The challenges and victories in starting a not-for-profit organization
Setting a ten-year goal and achieving it far ahead of schedule
What’s next for Right Relief Inc. – listen in to hear the dream!

Key Takeaways


Don’t let your doubts get in the way of trying something you believe in
Don’t be afraid of being told no, things do not always go smoothly
Ask for help
Use your connections

Hollie Mealy is the President and founder of the Nonprofit The Right Relief Inc. based in Menomonee Falls and serving Caregivers in the Milwaukee area. 


Starting in September of 2019, Mealy and the #ReliefSquad (Right Relief volunteers) began making meals for local Caregivers who were caring for loved ones in their homes. Caregivers could be helping anyone from an elderly parent to a newborn baby. Group meals also began at both Kathy’s House and Ronald McDonald House prior to Covid.


Mealy set a goal of 5,475 meals (or belly hugs!) in total. This number is in honor of her late Father, Rob, and is the number of meals the family shared together during Mealy’s childhood growing up in Peshtigo, WI. Diane (her mother) and Kellie (her sister) were both caregivers for Rob for several years and Hollie witnessed the extreme love and support they both put into making sure his needs were met. This often led to their own needs going by the wayside.


Mealy and the Relief Squad intend to provide Relief in the form of home-cooked meals to area Caregivers so that they have the feeling that someone is caring for them too and they aren’t “going it alone.” Mealy and her family were the recipients of many such meals during her father’s illness and they always had the “pay it forward” attitude and loved to bake and cook for others.


Connect with Hollie:


Website:          www.therightreliefinc.org


Email:              [email protected] 


Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=therightreliefinc


 


To support The Right Relief Inc. organization, go to:  https://www.therightreliefinc.org/support


 


Guest Resource Links:


Kathy’s House:  Kathy’s House is the only hospital guest house in the area that serves patients of all ages and their caregivers who need to travel to Milwaukee for medical care.  


Website:          https://kathys-house.org/


LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/company/kathy's-house/


Ronald McDonald House of Southeastern Wisconsin:  Since opening its doors in 1984, the Ronald McDonald House® in Milwaukee has been keeping families together by providing more than 49,000 family stays.


These families come from 569 Wisconsin communities, 50 states, and many countries around the world whose children are receiving medical care at Children’s Wisconsin or other area hospitals. In 2020 we provided 12,301 night stays. We offer a place to call home at little or no cost, so families can stay together.


Website:          https://rmhc-easternwi.org/


LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/company/ronald-mcdonald-house-charities/


Marquette University Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic:  https://law.marquette.edu/community/marquette-law-and-entrepreneurship-clinic


 


 


UPLIFTING WOMEN HOSTS Kristin Strunk and Holly Teska


Your co-hosts of the UPLIFTING WOMEN PODCAST, Holly Teska & Kristin Strunk, are women who UPLIFT other women at work and in the world.  Every other week they bring uplifting women guests to share their personal stories of challenge and triumph to inform and inspire their listeners.  The podcast also features guests who have played a significant role in honoring women and their place in the world by serving as promoters, sponsors, and coaches to the many women in their personal and professional lives.


Join Holly and Kristin as they hear how their guests navigate the world of career aspirations, life, love, and family. Get advice from successful women who have figured out their own version of "secret sauce" to create the life they love.


Holly believes the world needs the best leaders it can build; those who demonstrate integrity, empathy, humility, vision, positivity, and confidence. This type of leader brings out the best in others and delivers outstanding results. Holly feels we need everyone to perform at 100% to make our world a better place. Holly's experience in leadership, executive coaching, and talent development is the foundation of her career.  She has helped bright and motivated leaders become the very best versions of themselves. Through direct feedback, reflection, experimentation, and honest conversation, she will push you to excel at what you were called to do. Holly is especially committed to helping women navigate the choppy waters of today's fast-paced workplace and evolving world conditions but works with many different individuals and situations.  She welcomes inquiries for leadership and executive coaching and speaking engagements.


Kristin's experiences have led her to the simple conclusion that leadership is simple - maybe not always easy, but simple.  Her work supporting leaders in finding their voices inspired her to find her own voice in the space of employee experience and leadership development.  She often hears the question that isn't being asked and is skilled at facilitating conversations and building relationships.  She has helped executives lead organizational transformations involving employee engagement, technology, and the new "Future of Work." 


Follow her hashtag #responsibleleadership on social media to learn more about simple things leaders can do to build relationships and have a lasting positive impact.


 


Website:         www.upliftingwomen.net


Connect with Holly:


LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyteska


Twitter:           https://twitter.com/HollyTeska


Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/holly.teska


Instagram:      https://instagram.com/HollyTeska


Personal


Website:         www.hollyteska.com


Email:             [email protected]


 


 


Connect with Kristin:


 


LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-strunk


Twitter:           https://twitter.com/leadadvisor


Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/kristin.t.strunk


Instagram:      https://instagram.com/ktuttlestrunk


Personal


Website:         https://regentleadershipgroup.com/


Email:              [email protected]

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