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Episode 2108 Transcript: (coming soon)

00;00;01;01 - 00;00;09;11

Announcer

Ladies and gentlemen, this is America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting coast to coast across the USA.

00;00;09;18 - 00;00;17;08

Caller

Cary, it's a pleasure to be with you. And I do have to say, you are the most knowledgeable about health policy, just superlative.

00;00;17;10 - 00;00;21;10

Announcer

And now America's Healthcare Advocate , Cary Hall.

00;00;21;15 - 00;00;40;18

Cary Hall

Hello, America. Welcome to America's Healthcare Advocate show broadcasting coast to coast across the USA. Here on the HIA Radio Network. You can find out more about us by going to the website AmericasHealthcareAdvocate.com. All the shows are posted up there. If you want to send me an email, if you have a question, comment, something I can help you with, feel free to do that.

00;00;40;18 - 00;01;00;12

Cary Hall

I get those emails and I answer and I'm happy to help you if I can. Behind the camera is my producer, Mr. Dave Thiessen. Behind the microphones, Garner Cowdrey. We are here in the beautiful Cumulus Studios in Overland Park, Kansas, bringing you this show today. I want to give a shout out to 95.5 FM 14:40 a.m.. The big Talker in Topeka, Kansas CM J.

00;01;00;18 - 00;01;17;24

Cary Hall

We are now part of that broadcast up there. Happy to be there on Saturday mornings. We want to thank them for putting us on the air and welcome them to the America's Healthcare Advocate family. Mr. Matt Thomas is joining me in studio. Thank you, Matt, for being here today. He is the executive director in the founder of Firm Foundations.

00;01;17;25 - 00;01;43;05

Cary Hall

Let me tell you a little bit about these folks and how I got involved. So my men's Christian group, Bible Study group is at Legacy Christian Church here in Overland Park, Kansas. They meet every Saturday morning at 7 a.m. in the morning, and we got involved with Firm Foundations in the prison system in Kansas. And Matt Thomas has worked with us extensively and we are in very involved in helping their organization do what they do.

00;01;43;07 - 00;02;07;25

Cary Hall

The amazing thing about these people is how they take these inmates, these people that are incarcerated, give them an opportunity to change their lives and go back into society and not be recidivists not be people that are back out on the street doing the same things that put them in jail in the first place. Okay, you all know listing is show that I was a police officer in Washington DC, Orange County, California.

00;02;08;03 - 00;02;27;01

Cary Hall

I was a police officer in the military. I was an MP, so I've been on the other side of the fence. But I also know a lot of these people are in situations that cause them to wind up doing things they shouldn't do, okay? And they get in prison, and then they get into the prison system and they go and it becomes a constant.

00;02;27;01 - 00;02;42;11

Cary Hall

They get out, they're back in, they get out, they're back in. Some of these folks don't even know how to function on the outside. And that's and and they purposely create crimes to go back in again. So what I was so impressed with what Matt has done. And he started this from scratch. He's he was in jail.

00;02;42;11 - 00;02;50;25

Cary Hall

He was he was incarcerated. He's going to talk about that. But they are turning people's lives around. Which is why I'm doing this show today. So Matt, welcome.

00;02;50;28 - 00;02;51;13

Matt Thomas

Thank you, Cary.

00;02;51;15 - 00;03;12;22

Cary Hall

Start with your journey. I read all of this this morning. I was doing show prep around five. And I was reading, you know, your story. You were in Arizona, you were incarcerated, and you came to Christ. Yeah. Okay. And it made a difference. And then you started turning your life around. And today, here you are running this fabulous organization that literally is changing people's lives.

00;03;12;22 - 00;03;13;26

Cary Hall

So let's just start with you.

00;03;14;01 - 00;03;34;01

Matt Thomas

Yeah. So so for me, I grew up, I grew up in a pretty rough environment. My my house was pretty rough. My mom, bless her heart, you know, was an alcoholic and and my dad wasn't around. And so, you know, back in the 80s, you know, if you were seven, eight years old, you pretty much ran your own program and did what you wanted because, you know, we were all latchkey kids.

00;03;34;01 - 00;03;52;00

Matt Thomas

And I think through that, coupled with not such a great environment, I started getting in trouble at a really young age. And the outcome of that was I had spent some time in juvenile hall on and off, and then I'd spent all my teenage years and, you know, in a home for wayward boys, a gothic boarding school.

00;03;52;00 - 00;04;17;12

Matt Thomas

And, and so it was just the pattern. And so eventually, being I was a highly addicted to methamphetamines, I ended up catching a couple charges for burglary, a stolen car and some drugs. And I did three years in the state of Arizona. And in that process is where God really got Ahold of me. And and, you know, people I know, people will say, I came to Christ, but I got to tell you, he he pursued me.

00;04;17;12 - 00;04;36;07

Matt Thomas

And when it was when I was transferring from jail to the prison, it was a conversation of of, hey, are you done? And I was and I was done. I didn't want to I didn't want to do drugs anymore. I didn't want to be part of that. And so in prison, we dug in as a, as an honestly as a prison camp.

00;04;36;07 - 00;05;01;26

Matt Thomas

And we planted a church inside of prison and it changed the prison yard. And I've never experienced that because I never grew up in church. And and the outcome of that really helped me change my life after prison to where I was able to start with a good group of people, Firm Foundations, and and start planting churches inside, but also providing housing for guys that come out of prison to make sure that they have a safe place to start.

00;05;01;28 - 00;05;24;13

Cary Hall

Yeah. So to my point earlier, you know, if you grow up in an environment where there's not a look, if you're in a single mom household, the chances for getting into this kind of trouble are significantly higher than if you've got a mom and dad at home, you know, and, and and it's very, very different. And these kids start out and I saw this when I was a police officer.

00;05;24;20 - 00;05;45;29

Cary Hall

These kids start out, you know, making small, petty burglary. Now, now typically now they're runners doing the selling drugs, helping the drug dealers sell their drugs on the street. They get involved in this. They see the money, they see the return. They don't have a they don't have a home or there. There is a Firm Foundations, okay, if you will.

00;05;46;02 - 00;05;49;22

Cary Hall

And the next thing you know, they go to the next level. And who are their peers?

00;05;49;24 - 00;05;52;21

Matt Thomas

Oh, the same people doing the same thing. And so when.

00;05;52;24 - 00;06;17;24

Cary Hall

Right. And so becomes it's a natural progression and it becomes part of their daily lives. And the problem is there's no way to break the cycle to school. Certainly no handle nothing can't handle it. And in most urban environments, you know, these kids pretty much do what they want to do. And so what you're talking about here is something that is life changing.

00;06;17;24 - 00;06;22;11

Cary Hall

And for you, obviously, you've been doing this for how many years now?

00;06;22;13 - 00;06;25;18

Matt Thomas

It has been the 13 years now. We've been around.

00;06;25;20 - 00;06;47;06

Cary Hall

Okay. So yeah, that's a pretty, pretty significant I've been significant part of time, you know, to put this organ in play, organization play. But you know, John Stockton, who is a very good writer, the one who got me into legacy, Christian was the one that brought this to me. And he was telling me this story about a young immigrant here from El Salvador, I think.

00;06;47;06 - 00;07;03;27

Cary Hall

I can't remember his name, but anyway, he's here. He grew up in a very, difficult home, an abusive father, the whole nine yards. And he he committed murder right at a very young age and has been in the prison ever since. And he's going to be paroled. He's going to get out. He's done his time.

00;07;03;27 - 00;07;20;28

Cary Hall

He's paid his price for what he did. But the the his concern is what is he going to do when he gets out? Okay. Now he's in Firm Foundations, so he's building a foundation. But this is a guy that if he had had a different opportunity in life, who would he be? So and I'm not saying there aren't people out there.

00;07;20;28 - 00;07;37;16

Cary Hall

Don't misunderstand this. There are bad people that deserve to be in prison and should be there for a very long time. What I am saying is they're a host of these people that if given the opportunity, they will change their lives and they will turn their lives around and come back into society and be productive members of society.

00;07;37;16 - 00;07;41;05

Cary Hall

And really, isn't that what we want? Yes. And that really is what we're trying to do.

00;07;41;06 - 00;07;54;12

Matt Thomas

Yes. And that's that's why it's important. While we are inside of the prison to work with these men and women. But we work with mostly men, because if you can help the ones that are going to be there for a long time, change, then that change the dynamic of the prison.

00;07;54;19 - 00;08;10;02

Cary Hall

Yeah, it changed the dynamic of the prison. And when they come out, they're not just on the street with here, here's a brown paper bag with your your personal items. They didn't get a bus ticket and go, you're going to go, all right. We're going to come back from the break. We're going to continue this interesting conversation with Matt Thomas.

00;08;10;10 - 00;08;36;24

Cary Hall

He is the founder and executive director of Firm Foundations. Their website FirmFoundationsMinistries.org. We're going to talk about some of their needs here as we go through the broadcast today. But you can call Matt at 913-257-7300. We'll be right back after the break. Stay tuned. We've got more here on America's Healthcare Advocate .

00;08;36;26 - 00;08;54;10

Cary Hall

Welcome back to America's Healthcare Advocate s Show broadcasting coast to coast here on the HIA Radio Network. You know, all these shows are posted on our 16 podcast platforms. They're also up on the YouTube platform America's Healthcare Advocate . So if you want to go up to the YouTube platform, see the show, maybe you'd like to talk to this here.

00;08;54;11 - 00;09;13;03

Cary Hall

Maybe you've got a men's group or a women's group, or your church, or your civic group, or who knows? Okay. And you hear about this, you know, it's this might be interesting. Well, they can go up and listen to the podcast or they can or you can actually look at, the, the YouTube page and the shows are posted up there by day piece and every week.

00;09;13;03 - 00;09;33;14

Cary Hall

So the broadcast are there and you can, suggest somebody if they want to listen to them. Matt Thomas in studio with me. He is the founder and executive director of Firm Foundations Firm Foundations Ministries. Dot org. And their phone number 913257 7300. If you want to find out how you can get involved, they can certainly, help you with that.

00;09;33;14 - 00;09;55;22

Cary Hall

So 913257 7300. So, you know I can just hear people out there, you know, spinning ahead. Yeah, yeah, yeah. These guys say they're going to get religion, that they're going to come out. It's just a foil etc., etc.. Talk about the responsibility of the inmate. Yeah. To to to to come to you and to prove themselves that they are in fact making a commitment to change their lives.

00;09;55;27 - 00;10;04;14

Cary Hall

With your help. We're going to talk about that in the third segment. What you the how you do all that. Okay. But talk about the responsibility you make because this is not a free ride.

00;10;04;15 - 00;10;35;26

Matt Thomas

No, no. So so we have we have processes and procedures in place where these men have to become a accountable for not only their actions but their behaviors. And so not everybody can just sit there and decide they want to be a leader just because they want to be a leader. Like we have a whole process. We have a group of men that are actually the leadership of the church and the organization inside of the prison that these men are accountable to.

00;10;36;01 - 00;10;44;08

Matt Thomas

And so they live with them. They are actively around them 24 hours a day, but they're not allowed to be. They're not allowed to be getting high. They're not allowed to be active.

00;10;44;08 - 00;10;50;01

Cary Hall

They are you saying they're drugs in prison? There's I talk to you people leave me.

00;10;50;01 - 00;11;18;04

Matt Thomas

I will I will say this, that drugs are absolutely saturated in prisons all across the country. And and to be honest, the sad thing is, it's not just the men or the women that are bringing it in. There are staff members who are down on their luck and and also drone drops. Honestly, as crazy as it sounds, oh, no, drones are dropping drugs like massive amounts of drugs in prison, and it is a killer of anything good.

00;11;18;07 - 00;11;40;24

Matt Thomas

But but yeah, so so we we hold these men accountable. They have to be clean and sober. They have to be actively engaged in the whatever call outs, which are church services and other things that are going on. They have to be actively being discipled. And through that we're able to to visit with them about the things that got them incarcerated in the first place.

00;11;41;01 - 00;12;03;06

Matt Thomas

And even before that, like your behaviors are symptoms of a bigger problem. So what's the bigger problem? Where's the trauma that you've suffered that is causing you to feel this way? And that's where we start attacking the direction that we're going to go. We don't ever just say, hey, you're awesome, you're tall, you're good looking, you speak well, let's put you in place like, like all that's secondary to.

00;12;03;09 - 00;12;15;21

Matt Thomas

Are you healing? Are you growing? Are you being honest about who you are and what you've done? Are you are you working through the problems that are going to get you put back in the prison when you get out? If you leave this well.

00;12;15;27 - 00;12;37;25

Cary Hall

Are you going to be the guys because, well, you know, I yeah, I'm the victim. I grew up in a rough I had a rough childhood. I grew up in a rough home. You know, I didn't have kind of home that that, you know, I had a single mom or. And maybe she was an addict or an alcoholic, like you said, whatever the case may be, maybe the father was abusive or whatever the case for you is, you still have choices.

00;12;37;25 - 00;12;56;13

Matt Thomas

You know, you have accountability. I think that even in my life, by the time I was 12 or maybe even 11, I had already made the decision that I was going a different direction because I want because that was enticing to me. And so so that's the time where where the damage of my childhood maybe impacted the decision.

00;12;56;13 - 00;12;59;19

Matt Thomas

But then it became my responsibility when I started causing problems.

00;12;59;19 - 00;13;07;18

Cary Hall

You didn't recognize that? No. Absolutely not. You were caught up in the wind. Yeah. What you were doing? Yeah. These are the cool kids. And this is. And this is.

00;13;07;18 - 00;13;11;28

Matt Thomas

The only place I feel that I belong. Because I don't belong any place else. That's why they join.

00;13;11;28 - 00;13;21;08

Cary Hall

These giving 90% of the time, it's because it's replacing something in the home they don't have. Yep. And and then. And then it goes from bad to worse. Yep.

00;13;21;10 - 00;13;22;20

Matt Thomas

Like it never just gets better.

00;13;22;22 - 00;13;23;19

Cary Hall

Oh, no. You will end.

00;13;23;19 - 00;13;27;07

Matt Thomas

Up with worse charges and worse situations. And that's just the snowball of that.

00;13;27;07 - 00;13;51;17

Cary Hall

And then and then you know unfortunately along with that comes the addiction to drugs. Yes. Net. Yes. You know, the heroin, the other problems that are out there that these people. So the idea here that what Firm Foundations is doing is they're creating a path, yes, for these inmates to go down this path. And I would guess that it probably isn't always stumble free.

00;13;51;17 - 00;14;01;21

Cary Hall

I mean, I would imagine that there going to be problems, you know, it doesn't just happen magically. No. People are human. They make mistakes, are going to go back. No. You know, I talk about that a little.

00;14;01;21 - 00;14;21;03

Matt Thomas

So so I, I always tell people and people always ask, you know, they want the magic. What's the what's the statistic, what's your what's your, you know, recidivism rate. And the truth is I always tell people it's always 50%. Like, I don't like I could doctor the numbers to say as long as they finish the program and do this, you know, we only have a 10% recidivism.

00;14;21;10 - 00;14;48;09

Matt Thomas

But the truth is, when dealing with people and problems, 50% make it because 50% deal with the situations that they have, and are accountable and are teachable. There's there's a behavior that you learn through time that if you don't take care of, will always cause you to go back to that lowest point in your life. And even if you're not really cognitively thinking about it, you will find yourself in the same situation.

00;14;48;09 - 00;15;05;25

Matt Thomas

So it's it's if we can address that, none of them go back, like as long as they can get to that point where they understand that this is where I made the decision to turn my life, and then I'm going to change. Nobody goes back because nobody wants to be like, for me, I don't I don't want to go get high anymore.

00;15;05;25 - 00;15;25;22

Matt Thomas

I don't have a desire in my body. Now, I'm not going to go hang around the areas because I know that without fail, you know, the temptation is temptation. But I don't sit wanting to do these things. I don't drink anymore. So I don't sit wanting to drink. But that's because there's a spot of me through work and therapy has healed in that.

00;15;25;22 - 00;15;36;07

Cary Hall

And that's what makes the difference. Yes, it's not magic. It doesn't happen overnight. I have to be willing to go through the process. If they're willing to go through the process, then they're going to find a way to.

00;15;36;07 - 00;15;37;07

Matt Thomas

Get up and they won't go.

00;15;37;07 - 00;15;53;29

Cary Hall

Back. So we're going to go to the break and we come back to the break for I want to talk about the practical things they do. So you've heard the philosophy. Now you've got an overview of what they're trying to do. Guess what? It doesn't work for everybody, he said. 50% of the people, it works for the other 50%.

00;15;53;29 - 00;16;12;15

Cary Hall

It does it because they're not ready to do it. They're not ready to accept it. But even when you look at if they can earn 50% of these people's lives around, that's quite remarkable. So we come back to the break. I want to talk about how the prison system relates to this and what kind of cooperation are they getting, and that they want to talk about what they do and how they do it.

00;16;12;22 - 00;16;35;16

Cary Hall

From a practical side, when they get out, what is Firm Foundations do okay to help these guys and gals get back on their feet and start to lead a productive life. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting here on the HIA Radio Network. Coast to coast across the USA. If you want information that's Firm Foundations ministries.org. 913257 7300.

00;16;35;22 - 00;16;47;17

Cary Hall

Stay tuned. We've got more right after the break.

00;16;47;19 - 00;17;16;15

Cary Hall

Welcome back to America's Healthcare Advocate Show broadcasting coast to coast across the USA. You know, all these shows are up on our 16 podcast platform Spotify, SoundCloud, iHeartRadio, Odyssey, Cumulus, you name it, we're on it. Okay, so you can always go back and listen to one of these broadcasts once the show is done. Also, up on the YouTube platform, if you want to watch the show in studio with our guests, you can certainly do that as well.

00;17;16;17 - 00;17;38;26

Cary Hall

This is a great opportunity if you want to tell somebody in your civic club or maybe, maybe you know your church organization looking for a group that you could interact with and do some real good with. This would be a great group to do. It is Firm Foundations in studio with me founder executive director Matt Thomas. Their website Firm Foundations ministries.org the phone number 913257 7300.

00;17;38;26 - 00;17;52;15

Cary Hall

If you just want to get to know these folks a little bit about what they do. Our group at legacy is very involved with them. And if you guys want to get involved, this is a great way to do it. All right. So now you've all seen it at the movies. The guy gets out of prison, the big gate opens.

00;17;52;22 - 00;18;18;08

Cary Hall

He steps out onto the street and he's got a paper bag in his hands. And what where do I go from here? Okay, so talk about what happens, you guys. He's your guy? Yep. He's in the program. He's doing well. But here comes the hardest part. Now they've got to go back and adjust to life in as as a law abiding citizen versus being in the gang culture, whatever the case may be.

00;18;18;10 - 00;18;32;26

Matt Thomas

So so it's really weird. And honestly, it's kind of funny. You always see in the movies the big gates, but like in reality, it's like a it's like a double swinging door, you know what I mean? And the guy's coming out with a cardboard box and a bag and he's just like. But no, what we do is is ahead of time.

00;18;32;26 - 00;18;46;06

Matt Thomas

We we place them in a bed and we save a bed for them when we get about to the three month range. Sometimes they have family pick them up. Sometimes we pick them up. It really depends on the situation. But when they get what they do is when they get to the house, we show them.

00;18;46;08 - 00;18;47;20

Cary Hall

One of your five houses.

00;18;47;20 - 00;19;09;01

Matt Thomas

Yes. One of our five houses we have we have houses in three different cities Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas. And, and so we we will get them to the house, get them to meet the House leader in the city lead. Our structure is is is you have house leads, city leads, a regional director. And then it's me and my operations director, Adria, who's really the backbone of the operation.

00;19;09;01 - 00;19;27;07

Matt Thomas

I just have a better mouthpiece. So, so. But what we do is we get people in, we want them to get settled. Hey, what do you need? How are you doing? Okay. We have to talk to parole. We have to do these other things. But but right now, let's just get your stuff put in place, and let's make sure you call your parole officer.

00;19;27;10 - 00;19;46;00

Matt Thomas

The cool thing about parole is, is I have been working in the Kansas Department of Corrections system, on and off in different prisons since 2012, and so I've built a really good relationship with, a lot of people through the system. So like Lansing, the facility, I've been for our.

00;19;46;00 - 00;19;47;26

Cary Hall

Big prison here, and this is.

00;19;47;26 - 00;20;12;10

Matt Thomas

Lansing. And so Lansing has a, a medium and a minimum and a max area. But I have been working in the prison with a couple other non-profits, Brothers in Blue and Freedom Initiative, the church planting stuff to where we have really built rapport because the guys that I work with, I'm able to relate to them on a different level than just an outsider coming in because of my past.

00;20;12;13 - 00;20;32;21

Matt Thomas

And so I'm able to like, really walk and help these men walk in integrity and be accountable to something bigger than the prison code and the mess. And so it helps doing that. So when they get out, they're ready to take on the things they need to. Most people will tell you housing, employment and transportation, those are your big three huge problems.

00;20;32;21 - 00;21;03;07

Matt Thomas

But the bigger problem is, is accountability. Who are they hanging out with and are they dealing with their mental health? Because I've seen men all over and over again that have great jobs, transportation and a place to live completely wreck themselves out of loneliness and hurt and pain. And so what we try to do is we try to match them with a good church group, a good men's group, and a good outside people group that they can help walk in accountability with and just just live life with two that will love them and and accept them and will care about them.

00;21;03;10 - 00;21;22;27

Matt Thomas

And so through that, we're able to see more success than because we tried just housing and then we I mean, like it's been a it's been a formulaic, you know, mess going trying to figure out how can we be most effective. And what we found is, is the housing coupled with the church coupled with, good accountability, it leads to success.

00;21;22;27 - 00;21;41;09

Matt Thomas

And then they get a good job and then they, you know what I mean? Then they get their own car and they're ready to move out. And so we have guys that stay for three months. We have guys that have stayed for over two years that have walked out. Yeah, they walk down our leadership process and growth and become successful so that when they leave, they're definitely not coming back.

00;21;41;09 - 00;21;42;19

Matt Thomas

And so that's kind of how we do it.

00;21;42;23 - 00;21;44;29

Cary Hall

And that's that's the cool part. Yeah. They're not coming.

00;21;44;29 - 00;21;46;02

Matt Thomas

Back. Yeah yeah.

00;21;46;05 - 00;21;57;02

Cary Hall

So they get out. They come to the house. They don't have a job yet okay. And they then they, they don't have any money. So you guys are feeding clothing, housing them. Yes.

00;21;57;05 - 00;22;19;04

Matt Thomas

So we so what we do is, is we built a structure to help all people come out. So we don't charge a first week rent. We don't charge a down payment. We don't what we say is, hey, we give you your first two weeks free, like you come, you get settled in you, you, you. It gives you time to go to parole, get a job.

00;22;19;06 - 00;22;24;06

Matt Thomas

You know, maybe help get some assistance with food and some just just whatever. You can get going.

00;22;24;06 - 00;22;30;22

Cary Hall

So just parole, help them get a job. So I, you know, I can only imagine. Am I going to hire a guy who's been in prison?

00;22;30;22 - 00;22;52;09

Matt Thomas

Yeah. So parole here and is is really amazing. So there's two regions. There's northern and southern regional parole Andy Allen's up here and Katie Hershberger is down in the southern region. And both of these offices are so good at being able to they have job hunting places. They have they have job building skills. They have organs. They have I'm trying to remember what it's called.

00;22;52;12 - 00;23;16;12

Matt Thomas

Work ready. Okay. Yep. And so they they do a lot now. So, so in parole, what they've done is they have created a housing section and a and a and a job readiness session to be able to help build the man or woman up, to be ready to find a job. And then through an organization called mentoring for success, which is a kadok thing, they're able to help these guys get a mentor that also helps them find a job.

00;23;16;12 - 00;23;20;12

Matt Thomas

And so we just collaborate through the process to help them be successful.

00;23;20;14 - 00;23;43;23

Cary Hall

You know, it's funny because I've heard obviously second hand, but I've heard through John and other folks that employers that, you know, take a chance on these guys in different positions, different jobs, wind up being pretty happy with them because they're very grateful to have the opportunity. If they're really making an effort, if in the program, they're trying that job means it's a lifeline to them.

00;23;43;23 - 00;24;03;25

Matt Thomas

So. So I want you to think about average Joe or Jill that doesn't care can walk out and get a job, you know. Yeah a and shows up late and it you know and then you have and I can just use myself because and there was me the the first day out of prison was a whirlwind. But the second day it was 7:00 in the morning walking through town, knocking on doors.

00;24;03;25 - 00;24;30;03

Matt Thomas

Hey, my name is Matt Thomas. I just got out of prison yesterday. I'm looking for a job, you know, and. And I got a job cooking in a restaurant. That way. My, my first day out, and then I got. And so I was working three jobs at one point, and I was super thankful for the opportunity just to do something better than wasting my life away and in drugs and, and that mess and and I and it makes you work harder when you are appreciated and you appreciate the situation.

00;24;30;04 - 00;24;45;24

Cary Hall

Yeah. And so I guess the message I'm trying to get across here is if you run a car wash, you run a restaurant, maybe you're a bricklayer, a, you know, a your construction contract. Really. You may have an opportunity here to get some really good people that would be more than happy to have a job and ever grateful to have it.

00;24;46;00 - 00;24;59;02

Cary Hall

Whatever, you know, business you have or line of work you're in. If you're looking for people, this may be an opportunity. It's something it may make sense. So you're looking for employers that are looking for people to come to?

00;24;59;02 - 00;25;00;15

Matt Thomas

Yes. For them. Absolutely.

00;25;00;15 - 00;25;17;24

Cary Hall

Okay. And the way to do that is to reach out to Matt at 913257 7300 or at their website firm, Foundation Ministries for org and that then they can connect with you. You help them matched up. Yeah people that that would be appropriate for them.

00;25;17;24 - 00;25;40;09

Matt Thomas

So it's kind of neat what we've tried to do is change how we do it. So we don't do a lot of top down. What we do is we do peer empowerment, and so we empower these guys so that they empower each other. And then it's long lasting and change. And so rather than it being from us, we empower them to be successful, give them the resources and then by proxy they do this with each other.

00;25;40;09 - 00;26;00;21

Matt Thomas

And so you have you have this ongoing thing. It's kind of like healthy discipleship where it just keeps going. And so when the when a guy gets to the house, he meets the guys, they know he needs a job. Well, hey, over here at American this or hey, I'm over here at this. They're hiring right now. I can take you down and we can get you an application filled out, and they do it naturally with each other.

00;26;00;21 - 00;26;03;21

Matt Thomas

And it's the most beautiful thing in the world. That's fantastic.

00;26;03;21 - 00;26;24;03

Cary Hall

Yeah, yeah. And as you said, you know, you've got people that are grateful for that opportunity because it means a lot more to them than the average Joe on the street, who, if he doesn't like it or just, you know, whatever the case may be, I'll walk out tomorrow. These guys are accountable. They want the opportunity, and it may be an opportunity for you to get some folks in your business that would make a big difference for you.

00;26;24;03 - 00;26;46;26

Cary Hall

So once again, if you want to reach out to them, at Firm Foundations, Matt will be happy to talk with you. 91325772 300 (913) 257-7300 or Firm Foundations Ministry storage Firm Foundations ministries. Lord, give it a little thought. You might be surprised. It might be something very worthwhile if you're, you know, maybe you've got a company and you need labor.

00;26;46;29 - 00;27;05;18

Cary Hall

You know, that kind of work. And you're going through a lot of turnover. This may well be worth your time and trouble. So in other words, give it a thought. Firm Foundations start Firm Foundations ministries.org is the website I'll be right back after the break. We'll wrap it up in the last segment. Stay tuned. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate here on the HIA Radio Network.

00;27;05;25 - 00;27;14;14

Cary Hall

Coast to coast across the USA.

00;27;14;16 - 00;27;37;20

Cary Hall

Welcome back. You're listening to America's Health Care. Have a good show. Broadcasting coast to coast across the USA here on the HIA Radio Network. My guests in studio today from Firm Foundations, the executive director and founder Matt Thomas. And we are talking about their Prison Ministries program and how they take these men and women and help them get back on their feet and become productive members of society.

00;27;37;20 - 00;27;55;19

Cary Hall

You know, obviously, this has nothing to do with health care, right? But in you know what, I try to do on this show is do things that I think are going to be impactful to the community and can benefit the community. And I know about these folks. You know, as I said, my men's group at Legacy Christian is heavily involved with them.

00;27;55;19 - 00;28;18;28

Cary Hall

So what do you need? I know I've worked with enough non-profits that I've worked with Sheffield Place, which is a, a shelter here in Kansas City that, takes care of women and children, women who are addicted. And I was on the board of directors there for some time. I know what that walk is like. I've worked with another group called Benfield Hall that took in, veterans and homeless men who were addicts.

00;28;19;00 - 00;28;35;10

Cary Hall

All of them. And I know what that's like. And there's a need. You know, we talked off air. I remember going to one of the produce companies here in Kansas City and said, you know what, Benilde Hall, we we can't we can't buy enough fresh produce because they don't have the money. Is there any way you could donate?

00;28;35;11 - 00;28;54;05

Cary Hall

Well, they they were amazing and generous and gave us, you know, all the all the fresh produce, fruits, vegetables that we could handle and then some. So, you know, if you're in a business, I want to I want to talk about what do you need? Think about how you might make a difference. In your with your company to help them.

00;28;54;08 - 00;29;12;19

Matt Thomas

Yeah. So I so there's a few things. We the classes we teach. So we have a year and a half long leadership class that our guys take, and we pay for all the books because most of these guys don't have money. And so, you know, it runs about $6,000 per 15 people to run through the year and a half class.

00;29;12;19 - 00;29;40;23

Matt Thomas

And so that's always a need. And then I mean, we have houses and so, you know, houses break and heating and air system and, and so really finances and people that can do skilled trades stuff would be absolutely wonderful. But, but I think even with the financial piece, it helps us to be able to find stability because we have guys that get out of prison all through the year at different times.

00;29;40;23 - 00;30;02;28

Matt Thomas

And unfortunately, sometimes it lines up to where four people out of a six person house just got out of prison at the same time. And so there's there's no money coming in from the house. And so, I mean, of course, we cover the cost of running the house. And, you know, there are older houses and I mean, so, so, so it's it's the it's the getting the stability and regularity of finances coming in.

00;30;03;05 - 00;30;12;19

Matt Thomas

That would be a huge help. And then having somebody that can maybe do an addition or like we have a roof that needs replaced in Wichita or you know what I mean. Stuff like that would be a huge help for us.

00;30;12;24 - 00;30;36;04

Cary Hall

So and that's interesting because I was also the chairman of the board of Don Bosco and, one of the one of the companies that was very involved and one of the founders of the of the board of directors, there was a man named Joe Privateer. And their company, Mark was an electric. And the amount of, of time and effort that his people put in keeping that facility operational.

00;30;36;04 - 00;30;56;07

Cary Hall

I know he does work at Little Sisters of the poor. I mean, so if you're, you know, if you are a contractor, you're somebody that has has that ability. You can help maybe your roofing company, whatever the case may be. That they, they need this kind of help. You know, maybe something simple, maybe just putting in a water heater or maybe, you know, whatever it is.

00;30;56;07 - 00;31;12;02

Cary Hall

And also, you know, if you are that contractor, maybe you get involved with these folks and help them out, and they turn around and help you out by giving you reliable people that want to become, journeymen or whatever the case may be, and learn how to do that particular trade. So there could be some real synergy here.

00;31;12;02 - 00;31;20;12

Cary Hall

So that's one of the areas they they definitely obviously they need donations. So yes, people are more than yes able to make donations. Yeah.

00;31;20;15 - 00;31;24;19

Matt Thomas

And we are fully, you know, nonprofit 501 C so we can give tax receipts.

00;31;24;23 - 00;31;38;20

Cary Hall

Okay. So there are 501 C3 okay. So you can donate to them. It's tax deductible. The website is Firm Foundations ministries.org. If you want to get involved your church wants to get involved. And what about things like donating clothing and.

00;31;38;20 - 00;31;56;29

Matt Thomas

That kind of thing. So so not so much clothing because we don't really have a clothing bank per se. Okay. And so so what happens is people give clothes, which is awesome, but then you end up with like three bedrooms full of clothes. And so, so it's like, what do you do? You know, what do you do. But but sheets like, like newer sheets.

00;31;57;02 - 00;32;22;01

Matt Thomas

We have, we have an Amazon list that if you go to the website, I think it's on and, and it's so we have what we call bed in a bag. And so our new members that come out, this is what we give them. We give them brand new sheets, a new pillow, a little bit of clothing or maybe a certificate for some clothing and a couple bucks to get some food from the store so that they have something to sleep on and live in when they get out.

00;32;22;01 - 00;32;37;29

Matt Thomas

So everybody gets a brand new set of stuff that they can take with them when they leave. And so that's the goal is so when they take the next step, they have a blanket and a full and like, like the dorm style bed in the bag type stuff. And so, you know, being able to help with those would be amazing also.

00;32;37;29 - 00;32;54;26

Cary Hall

So those are just practical things. I mean, think about that bed, the bag okay. You know, if you've got sheets, you know, whatever. You know, maybe you, you want to donate or whatever the case may be or go to their website. They've got an Amazon list up there. What a great way. Go to their website. There's the Amazon Homeless.

00;32;54;26 - 00;33;14;04

Cary Hall

Click it and buy it and send it to them. They'll be more than grateful to have it. And, and, you know, this is the kind of thing made, by the way they are also looking for. And I know this because I'm helping them find one. They're looking for a grant writer. So if you're a grant writer out there listening to this broadcast, they're looking for you.

00;33;14;10 - 00;33;29;09

Cary Hall

You give me a call, at 91325772 300. We've only got about a minute and a half left. But how? I talk just very quickly about your interaction with the prison system. And how are they for partners? See, I would imagine they're pretty happy to have you. Yes.

00;33;29;09 - 00;33;56;14

Matt Thomas

So. So I will talk about my buddy Nick. He is a he's one of the deputy wardens at Lansing. And him and I have such a great relationship that we can call and talk to each other. And when I've had guys that are getting in trouble that are known gang members, he has opened up a door for me to go while they are still in segregation to to have a conversation about how to better their life so that they stop doing what they do.

00;33;56;17 - 00;34;10;16

Matt Thomas

And at the same time, if I've ever needed anything, the prison has always been available to help me. And so we have this, like, like you said, a synergistic relationship to where I work with the guys that are the troublemakers because I love.

00;34;10;16 - 00;34;11;24

Cary Hall

The guys to the guys.

00;34;11;24 - 00;34;21;12

Matt Thomas

And on the flip side, it helps them because there's somebody that cares enough about these guys to say, hey, you're worth more. And let me show you how to do that.

00;34;21;14 - 00;34;22;26

Cary Hall

I really appreciate your coming in here.

00;34;22;26 - 00;34;24;04

Matt Thomas

Thank you, I appreciate you. Yeah.

00;34;24;04 - 00;34;46;17

Cary Hall

And and I hope I do these kind of shows where I think you can make a difference. You know, I've done lots of different shows like this for charities and foundations. This particular one really. It was something I felt I needed to do. And I wanted you all to hear this. And once again, you know, if you want to get involved, if you're a church, a civic group, maybe, maybe you're like I said, maybe you're contract, maybe you own a restaurant.

00;34;46;23 - 00;35;08;23

Cary Hall

You need people to wash dishes. You need people to, you know, to cook. Whatever the case may be, they may they would make you a great partner. And it it's an opportunity for you to make a difference and an opportunity to help these people get their lives turned around. The website, firm, Foundation ministries.org Firm Foundations Ministries talk the phone number 913257 7300.

00;35;08;26 - 00;35;36;21

Cary Hall

And now I leave you with this thought from Martin Luther King, America's must learn to live together as brothers and sisters. We will surely perish together as fools. Truer words for never spoken. Thank you for listening to America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting here on the HIA Radio Network. Coast to coast across the USA. Goodbye, America.

00;35;36;23 - 00;35;38;07

Cary Hall

You.