Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Nate Walls to chat about his endeavors, Secondhand Smoke and Second Helping NWA. Nate has been serving the community since 2020, when he started sharing meals with families impacted by the pandemic. Throughout the episode, Nate shares his entrepreneurial journey starting Secondhand Smoke and his mission to better the community with Second Helping NWA.
Show Notes:
(0:59) Introduction to Nate
(1:38) Nate’s Backstory
(8:11) About Secondhand Smoke and Second Helping NWA
(12:25) Current Business
(16:24) Running a Nonprofit and Business
(18:45) The Importance of Community
(22:20) Taking the Winding Path
(25:17) A Willingness to Learn
(28:46) What’s Next for Nate
(31:46) Advice to Younger Self
(33:27) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“People say all the time that it’s the people, but it really is the people. If you don’t have a good rapport with the community, I don’t know that you can make it.” – Nate Walls, (18:45)
“Just love people and whatever your trade is or business you’re trying to start, just make sure that love is apparent in what you do.” – Nate Walls, (23:13)
“I think when we start, we have this I know it all attitude, but you have to say, ‘I don’t know everything.’ You have to be humble and say, ‘I don’t know everything, but I can learn.’ If you’re not able to do that, it’s going to be slow moving.” – Nate Walls, (25:17)
The Importance of BBQ and Community with Nate Walls
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Nate Walls to chat about his endeavors, Secondhand Smoke and Second Helping NWA. Nate has been serving the community since 2020, when he started sharing meals with families impacted by the pandemic. Throughout the episode, Nate shares his entrepreneurial journey starting Secondhand Smoke and his mission to better the community with Second Helping NWA.
Making an Impact
During the pandemic, Second Helping NWA made it its mission to visit under-served areas and make sure food was provided in an attempt to combat food insecurity. In Arkansas alone, 521,490 individuals are struggling with hunger, and people facing hunger in Arkansas are estimated to report needing over two hundred million more dollars per year to meet their food needs. To date, Second Helping NWA has served around eight thousand meals, has two hundred donors, and has begun working with Wood Stone Craft Pizza on an annual toy drive.
Second Helping NWA would not be what it is today without the strong love of the community surrounding it, which is why it partners with organizations such as Natural State Pest Control and the Boys & Girls Club to make food more accessible to kids. Nate is out serving food on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at varying locations. The best way to help his cause is to donate or drop off any extra non-perishable food or to-go items like plastic plates, cups, utensils, and napkins.
“Just love people and whatever your trade is or business you’re trying to start, just make sure that love is apparent in what you do.” – Nate Walls, (23:13)
Engaging the Community
When starting a local business, program, nonprofit, etc. one of the first and most important things to do is get in touch with the surrounding community. This helps people see that you’re genuine, and it helps you learn about the individuals your organization has the potential to help. If you don’t connect with people and learn what pain points they have, how will you know how your product or service can benefit them?
“People say all the time that it’s the people, but it really is the people. If you don’t have a good rapport with the community, I don’t know that you can make it.” – Nate Walls, (18:45)
Furthermore, connecting with the community will not only further your relationships, but it has the capability to help your organization grow. This is because the more you outreach, the more the word about you spreads. And as a result, maybe people start contacting you for work, to volunteer, or to ask if they can help you with fundraising or a local event. Plus, when organizations and members of the community work together, the outcome is a place where people experience safety and enjoyment.
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