Rebekah Black, founder of Jambos, discusses her faith journey and nonprofit work providing pajamas to children in foster care.
Key Takeaways
- Jambos started in 2018, providing new pajamas to kids in foster care as a way to share God's love
- Grew rapidly from serving 843 kids in year 1 to over 100,000 across 50 states and 18 countries
- Went viral on TikTok in 2022, serving 16,000 kids in 7 weeks but creating logistical challenges
- Now refocusing efforts on Georgia to build stronger systems before expanding again
Topics
Rebekah's Faith Journey
- Grew up in small-town Kentucky, accepted Christ in 5th grade
- High school mission trip to Jamaica sparked desire for ministry
- Reconnected with calling in late 20s/early 30s after period of distance from faith
- Felt clear direction from God to serve foster care community
Origins of Jambos
- Name comes from mom's term for pajamas + Swahili word for "welcome"
- Initial goal was to serve 843 kids in Gwinnett County, GA
- Served 5,500 kids in first year through grassroots efforts
- Operated out of Rebekah's living room for first two years
Rapid Growth and Challenges
- Went viral on TikTok in Dec 2022 after influencer post
- Served 16,000 kids in 7 weeks, received requests from 400 agencies globally
- Created $70,000 unexpected expenses for shipping, supplies, etc.
- Highlighted need for better systems and infrastructure
Current Operations and Future Plans
- 7,000 sq ft warehouse, 3 staff members, 2,800 annual volunteers
- Refocusing efforts on Georgia (12,000 kids in foster care) to build stronger foundation
- Aiming to serve all 12,000 GA kids in 2023
- Looking to expand to Southeast U.S. in future with replicable model
Next Steps
- Pray about getting involved with foster care ministry
- Volunteer at Jambos warehouse (all ages welcome)
- Host pajama donation drives (especially for upcoming holiday season)
- Join monthly "Comfy Club" donation program ($10/month serves 1 child)
- Consider sponsoring or playing in Aug 26 golf tournament fundraiser
- Follow Jambos on social media (@JambosDonates) for updates
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