Emily Swallow Instagram – Debbie Hays makes me wanna jump. Look- It takes a remarkable person to take on the chaotic energy of organizing a fan convention. I’ve met a lot of them. But last weekend, I met Debbie, and she has built up @bigrivercomiccon in a beautiful example of walking The Way. Debbie started BRCC in 2019 to give folks in the community affordable access to the ComicCon experience- for many of them, it cost too much to take the family to St. Louis or Kansas City.
She dealt with a huge personal loss and the frustration of the pandemic in 2020, but she had seen how much joy the convention could bring and how much it could help local businesses, so she tirelessly worked to get it up and running again. And the community took note of her efforts- this year, she won the Community Betterment Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
Debbie pours her time and her heart into BRCC (she personally drove the 90 minutes to and from STL to pick me up and drop me off!), and the volunteers around her rally to her side because of her phenomenal self-sacrifice and leadership. I witnessed a ton of joy packed into that rec center, and I am so grateful for the welcome I received from Debbie and the community.
Who do you know who is serving your community in ways that go above and beyond? Why don’t you tell them that you see them and appreciate them?
#thisistheway #bigrivercomiccon #thisisthewaywednesday #jump #jumpshot #comiccon #convention #thearmorer | Posted on 24/Apr/2024 22:23:34