Do Something More-Nonprofit Spotlights & Ways to Serve Your Community
Do Something More is a service-oriented podcast dedicated to sharing inspiring stories of people and organizations who are making a difference. Each week, host Melissa Draper highlights the helpers—volunteers, nonprofits, community leaders, and everyday individuals—who have found meaningful ways to give back and uplift their communities.
Through heartfelt interviews and practical solo episodes, this podcast explores real stories of service, acts of kindness, humanitarian work, and grassroots impact. Listeners will discover simple, actionable ways to serve, volunteer, give back, and create positive change in their own communities.
Whether you’re looking for ways to get involved, searching for volunteer ideas for your family, wanting to support charities you believe in, or simply needing uplifting stories about people doing good, this podcast will motivate you to help, lift, inspire and make a difference.
New episodes every week featuring interviews, nonprofit spotlights, and service-focused conversations.
📩 Contact: dosomethingmore.podcast@gmail.com
📸 Instagram: @dosomethingmore.podcast
Episodes
112 episodes
112. ‘Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra’ and The Story Behind Handel’s Messiah and Performing It for the Community to Benefit Charity (with Manager and President Connie Manwaring)
In this inspiring Christmas episode I sit down with Connie Manwaring, Manager and President of the Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra, to explore the remarkable story behind Handel’s Messiah and the powerful tradition of using musi...
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33:12
111. ‘Lifting Hands International’ and Providing Humanitarian Aid to Refugees at Home and Abroad (with Founder and CEO Hayley Smith)
In this powerful episode I sit down with Hayley Smith, founder and CEO of Lifting Hands International, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful, needs-based aid to refugees around the world.Hayley shares the eye-opening story...
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34:09
110. ‘100 Women Who Care’ and Combining Charitable Gifts to Make a Meaningful Impact (with Chapter Founder Jessica Farnsworth)
In this inspiring replay episode, I revisit one of the most impactful conversations I've had on the show — a deep dive into the giving-circle movement with '100 Women Who Care.' I personally joined my own local Utah Valley chapter after recordi...
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29:14
109. ‘Thanksgiving Heroes’ and Bringing Thanksgiving Dinner to Families Facing Food Insecurity (with Founder, Rob Adams)
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in meal prep and family plans—but this episode will inspire you to think about gratitude in action.I sit down with Rob Adams, Founder of 'Thanksgiving Heroes', a nonprofit that ralli...
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30:37
108. Why You Should Make Service Part of Your Family’s Holiday Traditions (and Ideas to Make It Happen)
The holiday season can be busy and full—but it can also be deeply meaningful. In this solo episode I'm sharing why the holidays are the ideal time to build service into your family traditions, and how simple acts of kindness can bring ...
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30:08
107. ‘Unified Sports’ and Promoting Social Inclusion Through Shared Sports Competition for Students With and Without Disabilities (with Teacher and Coach Haylee Whiteley)
What if one program could transform an entire school’s culture—helping students with and without disabilities build real friendships, learn teamwork, and create a spirit of belonging?That’s exactly what Unified Sports is doing. It’s a hi...
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29:09
106. 'Tabitha's Way Food Pantry' and Helping People Through Tough Times by Providing Temporary Food Assistance (with Founder and Executive Director Wendy Osborne)
Food pantries and food banks across the United States are seeing record levels of demand right now for so many reasons — if you’ve ever felt that tug to volunteer, donate, or somehow get involved, now truly is the time.That’s why I’m res...
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31:07
105. ‘Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep’ and Providing Remembrance Portraits to Parents Experiencing the Loss of a Baby (with Coordinator and Volunteer Melanie Rodger)
In this tender and moving episode, I revisit my conversation with Melanie Rodger from the nonprofit organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep—a group that provides the priceless gift of professional remembrance portraits to parents grieving the l...
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37:44
104. The Power of an Invitation: Why Being an Inviter Matters and How to Do It
Have you ever stopped to think about the power behind a simple invitation?In this episode I share why being an inviter—someone who reaches out, includes, and connects—matters more than ever in today’s lonely world.You’ll ...
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22:04
103. Spreading Encouragement and Inspiration Through Motivational Running (with @runnerguywithasign Ben Lyne)
Ben Lyne is a runner and for over 2 years he kept having the thought that he could use those regular runs to inspire and motivate others…by holding a sign while he ran that says ‘I Believe In You’. He finally got the courage to act on those tho...
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32:45
102. ‘The Wellness Farm’ and Providing a Unique Space to Support Individuals Walking Through Grief and Trauma (with Founder and Director, Camille Hawkins)
Camille Hawkins is the Founder and Director of ‘The Wellness Farm’, a place that aims to provide tangible ways to support individuals walking through grief and trauma. This is Camille’s second nonprofit she’s started from the ground up, so she ...
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38:16
101. Service 101: 3 Doable Ways You Can Add Service to Your Life Today, This Week, and This Month
When it comes to service, the most important part is the doing! We have to be able to take the steps that actually lead to action and start serving and helping in the ways we feel called to do in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. In th...
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27:00
100. Celebrating 100 Episodes (!!!) and Sharing Nuggets of Wisdom and Advice From Podcast Guests
On this episode I'm celebrating 100 Episodes of the 'Do Something More' podcast! At the end of each episode, I ask my guests to give general advice for how people can serve, volunteer, and give back to their communities. I took eight of those n...
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14:41
99. ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah’ and Creating and Supporting Mentoring Relationships to Empower Youth (with President and CEO, Jill Sundstrom)
'Big Brothers Big Sisters' began over 100 years ago as an alternative to the juvenile justice system when a group of adults realized they could help vulnerable kids by giving them connection and meaningful relationships. Now with over 230 chapt...
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27:28
98. ‘Royal Family Kids Camp’ and Hosting Fun and Uplifting Summer Camps for Children in Foster Care (with Camp Director, Kenra Keddington)
Kenra Keddington has been a Camp Director for Royal Family Kids Camp for 22 years. These are week-long summer camps for 7 to 11 year old foster kids. Kenra says their main goal every year is to pour love and connection into each participant and...
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29:33
97. ‘I Love You, Bro Project’ and Supporting Men Through Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs (with Founder and CEO, Joe Tuia'ana)
The story of Joe Tuia’ana’s nonprofit begins after he had the opportunity to help a man in a suicide crisis and literally love him off the ledge. After that experience, he learned that there weren’t any resources for men’s mental health and sui...
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37:50
96. ‘Utah County Search and Rescue’ and Answering the Call for Help (with volunteer, Deb Yokshas)
Deb Yokshas is a volunteer with Utah County Search and Rescue, who handle all outdoor search and rescue operations in the county. Not only is their team of rescuers 100% volunteer, but they also each pay thousands of dollars of their own money ...
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36:49
95. Support a Cause That Matters To You By Running a 5k
Training for and running a 5k can not only be a great goal to accomplish…but also a way to champion the causes you feel passionate about. Many nonprofits and other organizations use 5ks to create awareness and raise funds to support the work th...
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24:53
94. ‘Choose Kindness PG’ and Promoting a Culture of Kindness and Service within Their City (with Co-Chairs, Rebecca Cardon and Ruth Horsley)
‘Choose Kindness PG’ is a nonprofit located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It all started after some citizens felt there was division in their community. They went to the city council proposing a plan to promote a culture of kindness and service in t...
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29:29
93. ‘Fish for Garbage’ and Taking Care of Waterways through Organized Trash Cleanups and Education (with President, Jared Winkler)
'Fish for Garbage' is a nonprofit that was organized by a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts who noticed significant amounts of trash littering stream banks and lakeshores of popular fishing locations in Utah. They started by encouraging local angler...
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27:28
92. Rebroadcast: The Power of a Compliment
Looking for a very doable but also impactful way to serve someone around you today? Consider giving a genuine compliment, to a stranger or someone you know. It doesn’t need to feel forced either. Just take the good thoughts you’ve already had a...
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14:41
91. ‘Turtle Shelter Project’ and Bringing Warmth and Hope to Homeless Individuals with Handmade and High Tech Vests (with Founder and Executive Director, Jen Spencer)
Trigger warning: this episode mentions suicideJen Spencer had spent 20 years as a meth addict and was living on the streets of Ogden, Utah during a particularly cold and bitter winter. She remembers the feeling of cold completely overwhe...
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33:24
90. ‘The Crayon Initiative’ and Recycling Old Crayons into New Ones for Kids at Children’s Hospitals (with Founder and President, Bryan Ware)
Bryan Ware was out to dinner with his family one night when he wondered, could someone do something with all the restaurant crayons kids use and repurpose them? After pondering that question for a couple years and doing a little research, he fi...
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26:31
89. How to Make Donating a Regular Part of Your Life (Even When You Feel Like You Don’t Have Much to Give)
Giving of our time and volunteering is important and a great way to serve in our communities, but in this episode I’m switching my focus just a little bit and talking about how important it is to donate money and physical goods as well…especial...
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16:06
88. ‘Birthday Box Foundation’ and Making it Possible for Every Child to Celebrate Their Birthday (with Founder and Executive Director, Emily Buss)
While navigating her husband’s sudden job loss, Emily Buss wanted to still be able to provide a fun birthday for her daughters…but after looking around for community resources didn’t know how she could do it. A friend ended up anonymously shari...
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28:33