For those of you who do not know me, my name is Jessi Rae, I am the mama of these 3 kids, Ky, Anslee, and Adilynne. I am the founder of this organization.
Tuffmission, or Team Unbreakable Family Fun Mission!
My life is an example of what it looks like when people in the community bridge the gap for under-priviledged families,
And how it can impact someone’s life far into the future.
It has inspired every current and future project of Tuffmission.
So please allow me a few minutes to share what has stirred this Passion Project.
You may hear my story and remember someone in your life that inspired you, or supported you in creative ways, and you may be filled with gratitude.
You may realize you are the person inspiring others and be encouraged to keep pressing on.
I grew up with my 2 siblings in TN (mostly) and was raised by a single mom. My mom struggled with poor coping skills, anxiety, addiction, inadequacy, and a serious lack of a positive role model. She couldn’t see a better future for herself, or her children. We had some dysfunctional stuff going on in our home, and the Child Protective Services were often involved in our life.
However, there were a few people bridging the gaping holes left from absent parents, abuse, and poverty. I know our story could’ve been completely different without their support
For example, a 2nd grade teacher at our elementary school, Mrs. Elrod. She reached out to my family and would help us in a variety of ways. She would let us stay after school with her, and I’d pretend to be her as a teacher, “grading” papers with the red checkmark and prepping activities. She’d let me have access to ALL the art supplies, which we didn’t have at home.
I was like a pig in mud.
Mrs. Elrod got us school clothes and supplies every year and gave us snack money. She may have connected us to community resources, but I don’t remember that. I remember her taking us shopping and letting me pick out the cool folders with the designs, the mechanical pencils, and I’ll never forget my first pair of brand new NAME-BRAND shoes in 5th grade: blue and white Aasics.
Mrs. Elrod and I when we reunited in 2017. I was in TN to be treated at Vanderbilt for stroke rehab. This is at the church where my former youth pastors now lead their own congregation. Mrs. Elrod also impacted the pastor’s life when she was a child, (she’s actually pictured in the back here, ministering to another former youth from the youth group.)
Day after day she would tell me I’ll make a great teacher someday, that I was funny, so smart, creative, had many talents, and that God had a wonderful plan for my life.
That was a much different narrative than I was hearing at home every day.
In my opinion, the way that Mrs. Elrod made the most impact was how dedicated she was to bring my siblings and me to church. We loved the youth group and all of the church activities, but my mom did not have the desire to bring us–and we weren’t the only ones in that situation!
She would fill her car with kids, drop off with a person at church, then go pick up another car full. Our youth group was filled with hurting teens from broken homes all over town, and there we were able to connect, learn, and play together in an environment much safer than our homes. We explored acting, poetry, singing, and all kinds of dancing. I don’t think I am only speaking for myself when I say that our creative outlets were helping us see a possible new future for ourselves. We were taught Biblical principles, and making friends and cultivating coping skills in the process.
Mrs. Elrod was always-that I can remember- reflecting Jesus’ Light. Her and all the people she bridged the gap for, they all were so full of Joy, and had Peace in their lives.
They did not have a perfect life, and they did not hide that from me. However, they modeled what it looked like to persevere, lean on Him, to give God thanks in all you do, and to be the Salt of the earth. (Matt 5:13)
I wanted to be like her and her family when I grew up.
Mrs. Elrod wasn’t the only person sparking the thought that my life could be different than it had been so far. Her friends and family, and countless people from the church she brought my siblings and I to would work together to be the family we didn’t have. They’d bring us gifts on our birthdays, holidays, babysit us and show us what Love felt like.
I also had an aunt in Florida who would help us feel like family. Aunt Dale wasn’t a Christian, but she understood how to give love, and that children need to feel connected and accepted. She sent us birthday and Christmas cards every year, and she’d always add creative touches– Like writing on the back of the card, “What are you looking back here for? Of course, it’s a hallmark!”
She also would come to TN during Christmas Time; we’d make crafts, like these we are doing tonight, and she’d bring home-made treats, like those served tonight, that would instantly teleport me into the memories of the comfort of her Florida condo.
Left to Right: Uncle Lonnie, Ky, Me, Grandpa, and Aunt Dale holding Anslee. This was taken in 2007. I’m thankful I knew who my family was, and was able to get a ride to Florida that year so that the kids could meet their extended family. We moved to FL the next year. Below are some examples of Aunt Dale’s artwork, and ornaments made from lightbulbs that I still use every year!
She made an intentional effort to keep our family connected to our father despite my mom’s hostility toward him. She gathered her nieces and nephews together from different states, at least 2 summers that I remember, and it was the only way that all of us from different broken homes even knew each other.
She was the arts & crafts QUEEN. She didn’t have television, and we didn’t care.
We all pursued our creative interests and were taught to think outside the box.
We were encouraged to be more than we thought about ourselves and learned valuable life lessons. She was a positive role model for us, and kept me connected to family, and cultivating my creativity.
When I followed my special interests, I was kinda disconnected from the stuff of the world that was trying to hurt me, and just felt content–with Peace & Joy.
What do you do to connect with Peace & Joy?
My story didn’t read out exactly as I had planned quite so perfectly,
but my creativity sure did help me cope into adulthood, and into single parenthood as well.
We called ourselves Team Unbreakable, because we had different last names.
We played board games when we didn’t have the internet; we even rented VHS from the library!
We did art together as a family, sang, shared music, and created a meal, because it was cheaper than any of the community events.
It was our way of working through feelings, staying connected, and of course, lifting our spirits.
I encouraged my kids to also find their “thing” and I tried to help them follow their interests.
However,life is HARD… and I couldn’t create enough to create a different reality for my family.
The reality was, I was managing a divorce battle, my child’s serious medical issues, my own serious medical issues that also took the career I planned, and my finances were in the dumps.I didn’t know how to cultivate friendships, and my personal relationships were a wreck, leaving me a single mom for way longer than I ever thought possible,
I had SO MUCH ANXIETY, and I was stressing out on my kids in ways they didn’t deserve.
I didn’t have the true support I needed & and I had no idea how to get it.
I wondered if that’s how MY mom felt…
Life got too dark for me to see any of those Peaceful and Joyful moments anymore. I felt blind to any other reality other than darkness. I felt hopeless and trapped in misery. I became deeply depressed and hid behind a happy facade.
The pressures and darkness of the world made it so that I couldn’t see my own creative abilities to cope with or create a way to rise out of the grave the enemy was digging for me.
But there was an ember that burned even on my darkest days…
I thought about those people who had that Light within them, and I wanted that in me. I wanted Jesus Christ because they acted like Him.
I’d pray to God, but I didn’t even know if He heard me–
I was praying for help, and He was sending a multitude of people with generous hearts to be His Loving Arms bridging the gap until I knew how to fully accept His invitation. (Rev 3:20), which I did on Dec 5, 2015.
My circumstances didn’t change that day, but my perception of them did…
I learned that:
God is a Creator; it’s the very first verse of Scripture, and He created us in His image.
So that makes us creators!
We create cities, relationships, homes, music, art, and inventions of all sorts.
It requires creative thinking to see beyond what’s right in front of you, to hope for something different than what you see.
You have to think outside the box in order to not fall into it.
God Himself bridged the gap by sending His Son, Jesus in human form– which we celebrate at this Christmas season.
and I chose to live for Him because He died for me!
It became my goal to help bridge the gap for more families, the way so many did for me and mine, and bring them to the ultimate Source of Peace & Joy.
I wanted to bring Him to more people through-out ALL the seasons, and help other kids find their own ways to create and connect with their Creator.
I’ve been in research for 7 years, had some on-the-job-training, and have been trying to get out of His way, navigating this roller-coaster life!
Like I said, my circumstances didn’t change.
I was still a single parent who was managing with disability limitations.
I still had old habits that were dying hard.
I was still regularly wondering if I was cut out for ANYTHING I was doing…
but just as Light does,
It chases away dark thoughts,
and has continued to light a NEW path for me to follow.
He brought me a new village of support when I moved to Altamonte in 2021, and we established Tuffmission as an official nonprofit organization in August this year.
I’m so excited to share what we’ve created so far:
BOGO Birthday Project, Tuff Totes, and Connect & Create Events. (Projects tab on home page)
We have an amazing team and are connected with awesome organizations already serving the community, but we are new and looking to learn and improve to make the most impact. If you feel led to join the Team, please get in touch!
If you wish to support financially, you can do so in a few ways:
From our home screen, click on the Donate tab to be directed to our secure donor portal
or,
You can purchase a Community Bag, a reusable shopping bag from any Winn Dixie and follow the directions on the tag for Winn-Dixie to donate $1 to our organization
or,
If you work for United Health Group, your donations and volunteer time make double the impact,
And of course, cash or checks made out to Tuffmission Inc can be mailed to Lifepoint Christian Church in Longwood.
Thank y’all for allowing me to share a small part of the story that helped form this mission.
