Episode 2132 notes

John Massey and a couple of his friends came together and created a program called Zuzu's Petals. Born out of a great love of Christmas and how each of them were impacted by Chrfistmas when they were young, this non-profit takes care of families that cannot afford to have a Christmas, and they do it in a very unique way.

John, Mak and Dan love Christmas so much, they created a way to share it and help local families. John joins us this year in a heartwarming show that you really need to hear.

To help them visit: https://zuzus-petals.org/ Or, call John at 816-977-1955

And if you need help or have something to share, contact me Cary Hall, America's Healthcare Advocate at https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

And let me know what's on your mind, issues you are dealing with, or other health, healthcare, and health insurance questions and concerns.

00;00;13;00 - 00;00;33;16

John Massey

Kind of awkwardly trying to pull away because, I mean, I don't know what to do with myself, and he just would not let go of my hand and eventually did. And we left. And I mean, man, the scene in that car afterwards was. I don't think people really realize, you know, what these things do for people that have nothing.

00;00;33;18 - 00;00;47;00

John Massey

And I mean, those kids probably in the foster care system now, but they they had one day, you know, just one day where they didn't have to worry about anything. And, oh.

00;00;47;02 - 00;00;51;28

Announcer

And now America's Healthcare Advocate, Cary Hall.

00;00;52;00 - 00;01;13;12

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 our website, AmericasHealthcareAdvocate.com and all of our podcast platforms. There are 16 of them. Our YouTube channel, all of the all of our shows are posted up there for everybody to listen to.

00;01;13;12 - 00;01;35;20

Cary Hall

After we do them, they are posted up on those sites. Here's some news. We're at 605,000 views thanks to Mr. Dave Thiessen, our producer behind the cameras, and Mr. Garner Cowdrey who records all these shows here in the studio at Cumulus. And I couldn't believe it and didn't he told me, we're at 605,000. That's a tribute to all of you who listen to this show.

00;01;35;20 - 00;02;00;29

Cary Hall

Go to the website, go to the podcast, go to YouTube. Thank you. We appreciate all of you out there and really appreciate the opportunity to bring this show to you. Or we think we hope, we educate and inform. And that's the purpose of these shows. If you are chronologically challenged or looking for an ACA Obamacare plan, you need to give Carolee Steele over at RPS Benefits by Design, a call (877) 385-2224. (877) 385-2224.

00;02;01;04 - 00;02;21;27

Cary Hall

Anywhere in the country, she can help you. She is happy to do so. Also, if you are an employer facing one of these big premium increases coming through on your group plan need talk to Maria Ahlers at RPS Benefits by Design. She's got some pretty amazing plans she can offer you. And here's the thing about her she was a human resource director for 15 years, so she knows both sides of the equation.

00;02;22;00 - 00;02;40;19

Cary Hall

The side of the equation from the employer and employee standpoint as well as the broker. And she's got access someplace. Other people don't have her urge you to call her at (877) 385-2224. If you're getting one of those renewals. So in studio today with me, John Massey is the president and one of the founders of Zuzu's Petals.

00;02;40;25 - 00;02;58;25

Cary Hall

This is a charity, and we've been doing this show every year for, what, five years? Just about. Yeah, I think I think so. Fifth one now these are this is a group of young men that I just think are a tribute to what young men in this country should be kind of like Charlie Kirk, if you will, from the standpoint of who they are, what they do.

00;02;58;28 - 00;03;23;15

Cary Hall

You know, they're Christian men in the Catholic faith, and they created this whole thing by themselves because they saw a need out there for families at Christmas who didn't have the money or the wherewithal to provide Christmas for their children. So let's just go right to this. This is the fifth year we've been doing this. I always enjoy hearing how many kids got served last year and how this year.

00;03;23;15 - 00;03;28;23

Cary Hall

Let's just do that first, because I love hearing this every year because it just keeps growing exponentially.

00;03;28;23 - 00;03;31;22

John Massey

Yes, sir. Well, that was a heck of an introduction. I'm very grateful.

00;03;31;22 - 00;03;32;17

Cary Hall

It’s fact.

00;03;32;19 - 00;03;50;14

John Massey

Yeah. So last year we were able to help 208 kids, which came to 71 whole families service. So we try to approach our services as we're providing this to a family rather than an individual child, because we believe that family is the foundation of society.

00;03;50;15 - 00;04;13;03

John Massey

Right. And that's what we're trying to bring, bring joy and happiness to at that very important time of year, when want I think is most, most keenly felt. So that was a record for us. And then we're out there to break it again this year. We've already got, I believe it's 230 kids in the hopper at the moment, and it's October, so that number is just going to keep on climbing and climbing.

00;04;13;05 - 00;04;14;29

Cary Hall

Especially after this show airs.

00;04;15;02 - 00;04;30;07

John Massey

Yeah. Well yeah, absolutely. So well I mean we're excited. We're beyond grateful. We've been very blessed with how the community has gotten behind it so far, and we can't wait to see where it goes every year. Just gets a little more serious. And yeah, I mean, we're along for the ride for sure.

00;04;30;14 - 00;04;44;25

Cary Hall

So tell the audience what you do, because this is the part that I think is really quite amazing. What they do is very, very different. It's like turnkey Christmas. It's really quite remarkable. So describe what do you do for these families.

00;04;44;27 - 00;05;11;28

John Massey

Absolutely. So our broad goal is to enable families to create core memories that they get to take with them for the rest of their life. And for me, Christmas was always the happiest time of year for me. I mean, all of my happiest memories I have as a kid. I'm one of seven kids where all on Christmas Day, and what we want to do is use Christmas as a vehicle to help these families that are really struggling, really struggling.

00;05;11;28 - 00;05;36;08

John Massey

It's some, some really tough times of being in this experience out there. Use Christmas as a vehicle to create some memories that they can hold on to. And how we do that is through four major services. And every family receives all four. So the first service is almost like a Make-A-Wish for Christmas gifts. So what we do is when families approach us, they say, you know, I'm in need.

00;05;36;08 - 00;05;54;25

John Massey

I'm in such and such a financial situation. We will we'll ask them in the interviews that we have with all the families, you know, if this was your one opportunity to get your kids whatever you wanted to get them, what would that be? And then we'll step in, you know, within the realms of what's reasonable. And we'll we'll.

00;05;54;28 - 00;05;56;02

Cary Hall

They’re not going to get a new car. Right, right.

00;05;56;02 - 00;05;57;28

John Massey

Right, right. As much as we'd love to get the car.

00;05;57;29 - 00;05;59;09

Cary Hall

Yeah, yeah.

00;05;59;12 - 00;06;19;29

John Massey

But we’ll fulfill those requests. Next, because once again, we're about family. We we're trying to think of ways to bring the family together, you know, later on on Christmas Day. And so we're like, well, all of my memories with my family were all around Christmas dinner. And so we step in and we provide them a dinner that they can come, come together as a family and enjoy.

00;06;19;29 - 00;06;43;14

John Massey

So that is courtesy of Brancato’s. Brancato’s Catering here in Kansas City and wonderful, amazing company. Yeah, we couldn't be more grateful for their support. And so every family gets, you know, Christmas dinner with all the fixin's I get turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato pie, cranberry sauce. Like everything you ever had on Christmas Day as a family, these families are going to get.

00;06;43;14 - 00;07;06;24

Cary Hall

And that's brought to their door ready to eat. And by the way, Brancato’s are the folks that own the Brass Onion restaurant over on 135th. And I urge you, if you want to have a great meal, go in there. But these people do so much in this community nobody hears about. And they do this for Zuzu’s Petals and you know, having, beeing able to provide the entire meal and walk into the door is pretty special.

00;07;06;26 - 00;07;07;08

Cary Hall

Yeah.

00;07;07;08 - 00;07;33;13

John Massey

And so in addition to that, what we also do is provide decorations for the family. So I mean just little things that you don't you I mean I'm sure we all take for granted here. A lot of these families don't have a Christmas tree you know. And so we get an a Christmas tree, we get them decorations for the tree so that they can, you know, the mom and the kids and dad, you know, can hang around the tree decorated, you know, listen to some Christmas music while they're doing it.

00;07;33;15 - 00;07;59;02

John Massey

And then the fourth part of the service, which is personally my favorite, is Santa's Workshop. So we rent out a house every year and we decorate it to the nth degree. We hire well, we don't hire a Santa Claus, Santa actually comes down from the North Pole with us for a day. And then all of the families get to bring in their kids to spend 30 minutes with Santa Claus.

00;07;59;02 - 00;08;17;15

John Massey

And I mean, Mrs. Santa Claus is there as well, so she's the one that actually greets them. We have all sorts of activities for the families, like roasting marshmallows. They have hot chocolate. They have one on one meetings with Santa where Santa is like, now, you know, I know that you were sticking gum and Jane's hair last week.

00;08;17;15 - 00;08;35;08

John Massey

Like, why are we doing that? Come on, we got to get beyond this. If you want anything for Christmas and they just get to have one magical like experience where Santa is talking to them and he knows who they are and he knows, you know, if they’ve been good or bad this year and, it's just so much fun.

00;08;35;11 - 00;08;55;23

John Massey

It it is so much fun. And so that that's what we try to bring families is just one, one experience, you know, through these services where no matter how hard life gets for them, and a lot of the time it's heartbreaking what these families are going through that they just get to hold onto and say, there is good in the world that we got to experience.

00;08;55;23 - 00;09;20;09

Cary Hall

Yeah, it is. And you know, I the first time I heard about these guys, I was like, this is really quite remarkable. And every year I've done this show, they've added things, they've improved it. They've served more families. You know, they'll they'll they'll blow past 250 kids this year. I can almost guarantee it. For people would have, would have no Christmas if they didn't do what they're doing.

00;09;20;12 - 00;09;31;18

Cary Hall

So let's give out the website so that if folks want to get involved and they want to donate, they can donate money. There are other things they can donate. So let's give out the website and then the phone number.

00;09;31;18 - 00;09;58;23

John Massey

Absolutely. So our website is zuzus-petals.org. That's zuzus-petals.org. Some of the ways you can support us is one I mean donations are the obvious one. You know these services cost money. They're expensive, but you know that we're trying to create very unique experiences for these families. So please donate. We also take hard donations like gifts, decorations.

00;09;58;23 - 00;10;13;04

John Massey

So please send those to us. You can attend our annual gala and then also support us by buying some of our merch. Our Christmas sweater has officially been released for the year and any of our additional merch’s

00;10;13;04 - 00;10;15;02

John Massey

So is their hat.

00;10;15;04 - 00;10;42;22

Cary Hall

So these are all things you can do. I will going to be right back after break with you. We'll talk about this gala. What's involved. Why you might want to go and get involved. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting here on the HIA Radio Network coast to coast across the USA. Stay there. We're going to be right back with more.

00;10;42;24 - 00;11;05;13

Cary Hall

Welcome back. You're listening to America's Health Care Big show Broadcasting coast to coast across the USA here on the HIA Radio Network. I want to give a little shout out today to KGOZ 101.7, in Trenton and Gallatin, Missouri. I think it's our oldest affiliate in the system. They have been with us since we started this show, Dave tells me 20 years ago.

00;11;05;13 - 00;11;23;28

Cary Hall

So I've kind of lost track, but we want to thank those folks up there. They do a wonderful job for having us on the air. All the years that were up there. We were on the air Saturday. I think it's around 8 or 9:00 there on KGOZ 101.7. All right. So let's let's talk a little bit about this Gala story.

00;11;24;00 - 00;11;30;29

Cary Hall

Because this happens every year. Country club Christian, it's on December 12th this year. Talk about the time and what's going to happen.

00;11;31;07 - 00;11;55;07

John Massey

Absolutely. So this is by far with all of the calendar events that I have every year. This is my favorite. So Country Club Christian church, you know that beautiful gothic gorgeous home church on Ward Parkway. We rent that out. And then starting at 5:30pm we have a Christmas party. There's a silent auction with all of this awesome Chiefs memorabilia.

00;11;55;07 - 00;11;57;25

John Massey

You graciously donated some last year, which.

00;11;57;29 - 00;11;59;14

Cary Hall

We’ll donate more this year.

00;11;59;16 - 00;12;14;21

John Massey

And thank you. Thank you raised us some really great money. There's live music during the party, and it's just a really wonderful sort of festive environment where a bunch of people that don't know each other are hanging out, you know, which I think is something that we probably need nowadays, you know, and, and.

00;12;14;22 - 00;12;19;23

Cary Hall

Doing something that everybody can enjoy and get their arms around and it's something good.

00;12;19;27 - 00;12;46;08

John Massey

Absolutely, absolutely. So people that have never met before are talking, making connections. And then at 7:00pm everyone adjourns into the main hall where you will I mean, if you are even remotely into Christmas music at all, it is the best thing you will ever experience. We have a choir of almost 50 members. There's a a full orchestra and we just we play music.

00;12;46;08 - 00;12;54;28

John Massey

We tell stories. Christmas stories that you would have heard growing up that we, you know, dramatize a little bit. But to some music it is everything you could want to do.

00;12;55;03 - 00;12;56;13

Cary Hall

It’s a theater production is what it really is.

00;12;56;20 - 00;13;09;19

John Massey

Yeah. Yeah. Basically. Yeah. So I mean, bring your family. It's a, it's a wonderful family event and you know, as, as to give the expression but as warm and fuzzy as you could ever hope a Christmas event to be.

00;13;09;21 - 00;13;12;12

Cary Hall

How do they sign up for that. How do they find out about that.

00;13;12;14 - 00;13;33;05

John Massey

So you can go to our website at zeus-pedals.org like we said before, and you can purchase tickets through our website. There are family packages because I know when you try and bring your whole family to something, things can get a little expensive. But please, you know, come and just help us get the word out there for what we're trying to do.

00;13;33;07 - 00;13;34;12

John Massey

In the Kansas City community.

00;13;34;14 - 00;13;58;11

Cary Hall

Yeah, it's they really make a difference. It's really quite remarkable what they do. And so let's talk a little bit about if you would like to donate at Christmas time to help these young men put these packages together that include, you know, the gifts the kids get to pick, the food, the trees, all of the decorations, and then the different events they put on for the kids and the family.

00;13;58;11 - 00;14;02;25

Cary Hall

So let's just talk about that. Donate. Well, how do they do that when they go to the website.

00;14;02;28 - 00;14;14;07

John Massey

So there is a donate page on the website. We are a 501C3. So we are completely tax deductible. And then what I'll also say is we don't have any paid employees.

00;14;14;09 - 00;14;17;05

Cary Hall

So all of the all volunteers correct.

00;14;17;11 - 00;14;43;24

John Massey

Correct. There may be a time in the future when we get so big that we have to hire paid employees, but for right now, all of the money that you donate will go directly to the families. And we can guarantee that. And then as far as like hard donations. So if you've got a Christmas tree that you don't use anymore, or you've got some gifts that you'd like to donate, we have a contact us page on our website as well where you can shoot us an email, you know, give me a text.

00;14;43;27 - 00;15;06;15

John Massey

We'll be giving out my phone number here, so please. I mean, I know that sounds a little bit crazy, but my my cell phone number out there. But that's how passionate we are about this reach out to us and we would be grateful for anything that you're able to donate. I mean, I was working a pop up event just the other week, and this lady writes children's books, and she asked if we'd like to take some of their children's books that she's written.

00;15;06;17 - 00;15;11;23

John Massey

And we said, heck yes, you know, send them on over. So anything that anyone's able to give.

00;15;11;26 - 00;15;30;29

Cary Hall

Maybe you'd be thinking, well, I've got this or I've got that, or I got access to this or that, but they're probably not going to want that. Don't do that. Okay. Go up on the on the website if you want to do it that way. zeus-pedals.org. Or you can call John. Very simply he's going to give his phone out here.

00;15;31;06 - 00;15;58;23

Cary Hall

(816) 977-1955. (816) 977-1955. If you've got something that you want to donate, I'm sure they'd love to have it. Give them a call or go online. If you want to donate, you can certainly do that. And you know that this gala is is for the family. And if you want, obviously, if you're an empty nester or whatever, and you just want to enjoy the memories or Christmas or what it's all about.

00;15;58;25 - 00;16;15;16

Cary Hall

Country Club Christian is an absolutely gorgeous church. It's a big church, holds a lot of people. So that's December 12th. What a great way to start the Christmas holiday. You know, maybe you go to this church or that church and they have a Christmas concert. Whatever. It's not going to be quite like this is going to be, hey, yeah, this.

00;16;15;16 - 00;16;44;29

Cary Hall

They've got a full symphony, a huge choir. It's like it's a theater production. It really is what it is. And it's well worth, you know, taking your family to and just enjoying and really kind of set the tone for the season. So I absolutely urge you if, if you have an opportunity to go to that gala, enjoy it and really get in the spirit of Christmas once again, that website is zeus-pedals.org, zeus-pedals.org or (816) 977-1955.

00;16;45;01 - 00;17;03;26

Cary Hall

You know, when we come back to the break, I'm going to ask John. We do this every year. To tell a couple of stories about because you you listen to this and you, you know, you're yeah, you know people when you actually hear what happens to people in this situation, you know what it means to them, what it's like when they open the door.

00;17;04;03 - 00;17;23;12

Cary Hall

And there's John and his people standing there with the meal. You know how they get the how they get the gifts. We'll talk about that in a minute. How they do the gifts. So the kids don't know that they're getting the gifts from Zuzu’s Petals. They think they're coming from the parents. This thing is so well done and so well organized, it’s just very, very different in the way they do.

00;17;23;12 - 00;17;39;01

Cary Hall

It's all, as John, to tell some of those stories when we come back and we can personalize this a little bit and let you actually understand, you know what they do. They definitely need donations. They're going to do, they think 70 families this year. I have a funny feeling they're going to do over 90 this year the way things are looking.

00;17;39;01 - 00;18;02;24

Cary Hall

So they're gonna need money, they're going to need money and they're going to need gifts and all of that. So if you want to get involved once again, 816 is if you want to call John (816) 977-1955 or zeus-pedals.org. Go up on the website. There's a contact them page they'll be happy to reach out to you. If you've got something you want to talk about, maybe you've got something you want to donate and you don't know whether they're going to want or not.

00;18;02;24 - 00;18;22;14

Cary Hall

What column okay. Or go up on the website and send them a quick email. They'll get right back to you. They're very good about this. They know exactly what they're doing and be happy to do it. So when we come back from the break, we're going to get into some of these personal stories. I think you're going to enjoy this, and it'll give you some insight into what you know, what they do and what a difference they can make and why.

00;18;22;14 - 00;18;39;20

Cary Hall

This is really in my mind, a tribute to these young men and what they've created out of whole cloth, because literally they created this thing. I remember the first year I did this, I think they did, what, 20 or 30 families first year? okay, there you go. 21 families, first year. And now we are at 70 last year.

00;18;39;20 - 00;18;57;00

Cary Hall

And as I said, I'm sure they're going to break 90 this year. So once again the website zuzus-petals.org if you want to learn more. And by the way, you know you want to tell somebody about this show or have them listen to, hey, maybe we should get involved. Maybe your company should get involved. Maybe our church should get involved up to the website Americas HealthcareAdvocate.com.

00;18;57;03 - 00;19;27;04

Cary Hall

Or to our YouTube page. Same thing. America's Healthcare Advocate, the show's up there. Listen to it. Or one of the 16 podcast platforms. We'll be right back after the break. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting here on the HD radio network Coast to Coast Cross, USA. We'll be right back after the break.

00;19;27;06 - 00;19;50;08

Cary Hall

Welcome back. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate show, broadcasting coast to coast across the USA here on the HIA radio network. Do you want to find out more about us? Go to the website AmericasHealthcareAdvocate.com in studio with me today. John Massey. He's the president and one of the founders of Zuzu's Petals. This group of amazing young men who is the oldest, the oldest guy in your group, 35.

00;19;50;10 - 00;19;53;24

John Massey

31 actually.. He’s about to marry my sister, FYI.

00;19;53;24 - 00;20;16;04

Cary Hall

Lord. Okay, but 31 years old. Okay. And they started this thing from scratch on their own. It's grown every year. It's remarkable what they've done. And every year we do this show for them, because it's the least we can do for the people that they help. And there are a lot of people out there need help, and the family's fortunate enough to be able to get help from Zuzu’s Petals and make the full Christmas.

00;20;16;04 - 00;20;36;21

Cary Hall

They don't have to do anything. It's all done. From food to gifts to a Christmas tree to ornaments. It's all there. Okay? Along with, you know, a Santa's house for them go and meet Santa. I mean, this thing is remarkable, what they've done and how they've put it together. And I urge you to get involved if you really want to do something, you know, you see these large charities and that's great.

00;20;36;21 - 00;20;59;28

Cary Hall

But if you want to reach out, and as they say, touch someone. Here's a chance, okay, to reach out and touch someone instead of 70 families this year it will probably be like 90. And I'm predicting they're going to have 250, 260 kids by the time they get done with this thing. So the website, zuzus-petals.org. You can get Ahold of John if you want to get involved.

00;20;59;28 - 00;21;28;23

Cary Hall

Maybe your church, your civic organization, maybe you personally, I don't know. Maybe you're maybe your workplace. Maybe. Maybe you guys would like to do something for Christmas Day think, What could we do? Well, this is something you could do that would make a big difference. Give John a call (816) 977-1955. (816) 977-1955. So every year I ask you to do this, there's one particular one that I want you to do this year where you showed up at this woman's house.

00;21;28;26 - 00;21;40;06

Cary Hall

She didn't have anything. She was the single mom had nothing for these kids. And you showed up at the house for Christmas. You just tell that story because that story from start to finish is one of my favorite stories.

00;21;40;07 - 00;22;02;21

John Massey

Yeah, I think it's interesting because when we started, I don't think we quite realized, you know, the depth of need and just how how rough it is out there for some families. I mean, the story that you're talking about. It was actually it was one of our first deliveries. It was on our first day of deliveries.

00;22;02;22 - 00;22;23;12

John Massey

Yeah. And I'd been in communication with this lady for a few weeks. You know, we like ran the interview with her in very, very nice and very up beat. Very, very grateful for what we were going to do for her. And we, called her when we were on our way to her house, letting her know that we'll be there in ten, 15 minutes, whatever it was.

00;22;23;14 - 00;22;39;13

John Massey

And she said, awesome. I just knock on the door when you get here and we'll let you in. So we pull up in what's, you know, obviously a pretty rough neighborhood. Most of these places that we go, you know, more difficult neighborhood.

00;22;39;15 - 00;22;43;06

Cary Hall

Yeah. They're they're not living in the suburbs and in million dollar homes.

00;22;43;06 - 00;22;58;29

John Massey

No, no, exactly. And so we go up, we knock on the door, we make sure the address is correct, we knock on the door, and I know we're probably waiting 20 or 30 seconds or so, and a young guy comes up to, the door, and it's one of her kids.

00;22;59;01 - 00;23;03;15

John Massey

And right off the bat, what kind of thinking will this defeats a lot of the purpose.

00;23;03;17 - 00;23;29;28

John Massey

You're not supposed to be here. Yeah, but then, what we found out shortly after is we walked in, and the lady that I'd been communicating with was actually lying in a bed in the living room, and she was in hospice, so she did not. Unfortunately, she's no longer with us, and she didn't have very long to live at that point.

00;23;30;00 - 00;23;49;23

John Massey

And it was like all she wanted was to just give her boys, her two boys that were there just one Christmas before she left. And that, I mean, that was a lot to take in when we this was my first day. We had no idea what to expect when we're going into these houses and we go in, you know, we try and bring some cheer in there as well.

00;23;49;23 - 00;24;11;24

John Massey

So, you know, we're all, yeah, we're really happy. Give her a hug and her two boys sitting over on the couch, which once again is not ideal, but in this scenario, it is what it is. And so we we make the delivery, we say Merry Christmas, give her a hug. And I go over and I say, wish her boys Merry Christmas as well.

00;24;11;29 - 00;24;24;23

John Massey

From memory their ages were 14 and nine. Okay. And I shake the hand of the 14 year old and he was very gracious. And then I go and I shake the hand of the 19 year old and I say, hey bud, Merry Christmas.

00;24;24;23 - 00;24;26;29

Cary Hall

9 or 19?

00;24;26;29 - 00;24;58;00

John Massey

Nine, I'm sorry. Yeah. Nine. And I go shake his hand. I say, hey, like Merry Christmas. Hope you guys, I hope we're able to step in there for you and he he's staring right into my eyes and he will not let go of my hand. And there was this very kind of awkward, uncomfortable 10 to 15 seconds there where I'm kind of awkwardly trying to pull away because, I mean, I don't know what to do with myself, and he just would not let go of my hand and eventually did.

00;24;58;00 - 00;25;23;03

John Massey

And we left. And I mean, man, the scene in that car afterwards was, is I don't think people really realize, you know, what these things do for people that have nothing. And I mean, those kids probably in the foster care system now, but they they had one day, you know, just one day where they didn't have to worry about anything.

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

John Massey

And, you know, that.

00;25;23;24 - 00;25;42;23

Cary Hall

Was the memory with their mom that you created that they'll never lose. Yeah. And that that's what I mean by illustrating what they do and why it's so very, very different. You so but that particular you provided food, the tree. Yes. And the whole thing. The whole thing.

00;25;42;25 - 00;26;01;10

John Massey

The whole thing. The whole thing. And it was. Yeah. I mean that anyway, I think it was kind of fitting and obviously like divine intervention that that was the first one that we did or one of the first ones, because then you when you when you realize, I think the wants, that's out there, I mean, it makes everything else easy.

00;26;01;11 - 00;26;13;07

John Massey

You know, there was another one last year where the, the parents came to Santas workshop with the kids with the kids so the kids were with Santa. And we were.

00;26;13;07 - 00;26;20;24

Cary Hall

Like, that's where you get the. So when the parents, you separate kids from the parents and then you give the gift, right? Right. So they got put them in the car. The kids never see them.

00;26;20;26 - 00;26;41;21

John Massey

Correct. Which is for the audience that doesn't know it. That's part of the point is to let the parents be the heroes in this. Right now, we're not riding in on a on a white horse saying like, you know, yeah. Exactly. Right. Well, I mean, metaphorically not, yeah. But yeah, we want the parents to participate in this, like we want them to share in the joy.

00;26;41;21 - 00;26;46;00

John Massey

We want them to be the ones that wake up on Christmas morning and see the joy in their their kids eyes.

00;26;46;04 - 00;26;47;12

Cary Hall

So what happened?

00;26;47;14 - 00;27;13;23

John Massey

So where, we’re were working with the parents, the kids are with Santa, we’re, taking the gifts to the car. And this dad, really, really nice guy. He's telling me how, you know, he lost his job, and, you know, he's he's never had to use a service like this before. And after we, you know, we take him through, we show him all of the items, make sure that that is what that he wanted.

00;27;13;25 - 00;27;39;21

John Massey

He starts crying. You know, this is a grown man, you know? Then it just starts getting very emotional. And where there are more like, hey, like, no worries. You know, we’re, we all get down on our luck sometimes. I mean, that's one of the reasons I wanted to do this is my family went through tough times when when I was a kid and he just said, I promise you, he looked at me and he said, I promise you, you know, when things improve for me, I'm going to do this for somebody else.

00;27;39;23 - 00;27;48;27

John Massey

And I was like, well then, man, I mean, God bless you. You know, like what? What else do you say to that? But, you know, you tip your cap to him wish him a merry Christmas.

00;27;48;29 - 00;28;09;25

Cary Hall

You know, that's the thing. It's I think a lot of people don't realize a lot of folks out there living paycheck to paycheck. They miss a couple of paychecks. They're on the street. Okay. I mean, it's rough and that for folks in that particular situation. So now you multiply that by Christmas. Well, if they've got enough money for rent wherever they're living, okay.

00;28;09;25 - 00;28;31;07

Cary Hall

And groceries, they probably don't have the money for gifts. And, and, and a really nice Christmas dinner and all the things that come with it. But that's what these folks do. That's why I asked John every year to tell a couple of these stories, because, again, there's lots of Christmas charities out there in this town, you know, all over the place.

00;28;31;10 - 00;28;49;12

Cary Hall

But if you really want to just reach out is, you know, there was an old commercial, I forget who it was and touch someone. This is a way to do it, okay? This is a way where you can walk in, make a donation, get involved. Go to the gala on December 12th. The Country Club Christian, great opportunity.

00;28;49;15 - 00;29;13;12

Cary Hall

Have a great time. You bring your whole family, bring your, if your a grandparent, bring grandkids. Have a great time and get in the mood for Christmas. But at the same time realize what you're doing here. You're really helping some people that need help. The website, zuzus-petals.org. zuzus-petals.org. The phone number (816) 977-1955. (816) 977-1955.

00;29;13;20 - 00;29;37;29

Cary Hall

Stay tuned. We'll be right back after the break. You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate Broadcasting here on the HIA Radio Network. Once again, that website is zuzus-pedals.org. You want to call John directly and get involved? (816) 977-1955. We'll be right back. Stay there.

00;29;38;01 - 00;29;56;29

Cary Hall

Welcome back. You're listening 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, go on to the website or up on the podcast channels, or 16 of them, or once again on the YouTube channel. So this particular show. We're here talking to the folks and Zuzu's Petals.

00;29;56;29 - 00;30;18;27

Cary Hall

John Massey, president and founder of Zuzu’s Petals, along with the other gentleman that work with him. If your company wants to do something this year, it will make a difference where you literally are going to make a difference to a family. This might be the place to do it. It's zuzus-petals.org, zuzus-petals.org or (816) 977-1955.

00;30;19;00 - 00;30;29;20

Cary Hall

If you want to call John, he’ll come out and talk to you. Maybe you want to have come and talk to the HR director, the CEO, whatever the case may be, he’d be happy to have a chat with you, so feel free to get Ahold of him.

00;30;29;20 - 00;30;49;25

Cary Hall

They've got a huge gala coming up on December 12th at Country Club Christian. It’s a theater Production is what it really is. Okay, you've got a full orchestra, a 50 member choir. It's just a wonderful time, food, a great time for people to get together. And that church is beautiful up on Ward Parkway. So that's December 12th. What time is that?

00;30;49;27 - 00;30;53;19

John Massey

Party starts at 530PM and then the concert starts at 730PM.

00;30;53;19 - 00;31;09;24

Cary Hall

Okay, so 530PM it starts and then and the concert is at 730PM. So it's going to be a great time. All right. So what is it. So this is Dave's idea and we've done this before. How did all this just start. You know were there are five of you when you originally started or four?

00;31;09;26 - 00;31;11;23

John Massey

It was actually just three of us.

00;31;11;28 - 00;31;23;23

Cary Hall

One of the three of you. And you belong to Saint Vincent's Catholic Church. That's how you all know each other? Yep. Okay. And then one day. What? This just like you sit around drinking beer and trying to figure. Yeah, it does.

00;31;23;25 - 00;31;30;13

John Massey

It started a long time ago, actually. So Christmas has always been. I've just had.

00;31;30;13 - 00;31;31;16

Cary Hall

Your favorite holiday.

00;31;31;16 - 00;31;58;00

John Massey

Well or it my parents always put such an intense amount of effort into making that day just the most magical experience any of my, my siblings could ever wish for. And as I got older, you know, I think I saw that not everyone had that. And I also saw that you know, like I mentioned earlier in the show that my family went through some tough times.

00;31;58;00 - 00;32;23;13

John Massey

Yeah. And I remember very specifically my parents being so stressed out about bringing Christmas. Right? Because times were tough, finances were tight. And at the time I'm kind of thinking, you know, like what? Like I I'm I'm fine, you know, like, I don't need a bike or I don't need that, but I think as I got older, what I realized was, is whether or not I needed it.

00;32;23;16 - 00;32;42;20

John Massey

It's kind of irrelevant. The point was, is that my parents wanted me to have something that they were worried they weren't going to be able to give to me. So anyway, later on, I'm obviously from Australia. I'm not I'm not from Kansas City, but my mom's from Kansas City, which is how I ended up here. And she's got she's got a massive, massive family.

00;32;42;20 - 00;32;58;14

John Massey

I've got a lot of cousins in the Kansas City area. I got very close with my cousin Danny from out here who you've met. He's been on the show on previous year, and we were both kind of at a point in our careers where we were trying to figure out, you know, what it was we wanted to do long term.

00;32;58;16 - 00;33;18;19

John Massey

And I'd bounced around, tried a couple of different things. And I remember being in a career interview with, with a mentor of mine who asked me very specifically, you know, like what? Yeah. What are you passionate about? Which I always hated that question, if I'm being honest, because I'm like, well, I don't know. I mean, football like.

00;33;18;22 - 00;33;19;29

Cary Hall

I'm drinking beer.

00;33;19;29 - 00;33;22;03

John Massey

Yeah, exactly. I'm very passionate about drinking beer.

00;33;22;09 - 00;33;27;15

Cary Hall

What's that you're drinking? So, I'm really good at drinking beer. Yeah.

00;33;27;17 - 00;34;00;11

John Massey

Exactly, exactly. And what my answer at the time, and this was, like, supposed to be a serious interview so I couldn't say this, but my answer was Christmas. I mean, it's the one thing that I could think about work on 365 days a year and never, ever get sick of it. I didn't say that in the interview that later that night I was over Danny's house and we were just having a glass of scotch, and I was telling him about this, and we had a good laugh over, you know, what I wanted to say, but I couldn't stay.

00;34;00;14 - 00;34;28;02

John Massey

And that was followed by probably a 30 second silence. And then there was this what if, you know, like we both he grew up very similar to me. So he's one of 11 kids. And Christmas was always like a huge part of his life as well. And so we were like, well, if you were to take the concept of, say, Santa Claus and you were going to try and make that real, how would you do that?

00;34;28;05 - 00;34;48;25

John Massey

And this is what we came up with. So that's where that's why we started. That is how it all started. And I remember I had started working on this website on Wix.com, which I am the furthest thing from a developer that you will ever meet. I know nothing about it, but I built something that I was kind of proud of.

00;34;48;25 - 00;35;10;05

John Massey

Honestly. I worked on it for about six months and I was in my office at my day job. And then Mak who you've also met. That's the guy that's marrying my little sister in a couple of months. He was walking past my office and I didn't really know him at the time. I just knew he built websites for the company that I worked for, and I pull him in and I was like, so we're about to launch this, you know, could you take a look at it?

00;35;10;05 - 00;35;27;25

John Massey

And he's like, oh, yeah, sure. And I show it to him and he's just kind of looking at it. And within seconds he goes, I mean, what if I just built you one, which Mak’s this super nice guy? I later found out that that's Mak’s way of saying this stinks, and you should not do this ever again. Just let me do it for you.

00;35;27;25 - 00;35;54;05

John Massey

And I was like, hey, okay. And that's how he then became involved. And so he built us a website. And then it was Chiefs preseason football. This is five years ago now. 4 or 5 years ago we were watching a really crappy game and we launched it. And then that year we ended up servicing 21 families, 52 kids.

00;35;54;05 - 00;36;16;23

John Massey

I remember then the next year it was 127 kids or 45 families. Then last year it was 208 kids, 72 families. And then this year, I mean, we've already got 80 families in the hopper, you know, and it's October, so like, that number is going to grow and grow and grow. And, you know, that's why we're here, trying to let people know what we're trying to do.

00;36;16;29 - 00;36;36;18

Cary Hall

And, you know, I do this show every year for a reason. Obviously, I've helped these guys every year. I've made donations to them to help them get this thing off the ground and do what it needs to do. Their remarkable in what they do, they're passionate about it. I think you can tell that if, again, as I said, if you want to help somebody a specific.

00;36;36;20 - 00;37;01;16

Cary Hall

So this is an opportunity where you can get involved with these folks and know that there is a single family out there going to benefit from what you're doing, from the way you're helping them. People that wouldn't have a Christmas without what they're doing. Okay. Their remarkable young men. The website is zuzus-petals.org. If you want to call John once again, if your company wants to do something or your church or your civic group, you want to do something.

00;37;01;20 - 00;37;32;12

Cary Hall

(816) 977 1955 the big gala is December 12th at Country Club Christian. Starts at 5 or 530, but at 530 okay, at Country Club Christian goes music in the theater start at seven. Bring the whole family. Kick your Christmas off with real music and people that really are going to enjoy Christmas. This is your opportunity, so I urge you to take the time to look into this to see if you can help these folks and make a difference out there for people that really need a difference.

00;37;32;15 - 00;37;34;28

Cary Hall

John Massey. Thank you once again for coming in here.

00;37;34;29 - 00;37;35;12

John Massey

Thank you, Cary.

00;37;35;18 - 00;37;39;08

Cary Hall

You can tell me other guys playing hooky, they better be here next year

00;37;39;11 - 00;37;40;27

John Massey

I will I'll give them a good ribbing.

00;37;40;29 - 00;37;49;05

Cary Hall

Yeah. You should okay. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I leave you with this thought from Albert Einstein. The one who follows the crowd they usually get no further than the crowd.

00;37;49;12 - 00;38;11;03

Cary Hall

The one who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been. Remember, friends is a funny thing about life. If you refuse to accept anything but the very best, you most often get it. Thank you for listening to America's Healthcare Advocate Show, broadcasting coast to coast across the USA. Goodbye, America.

00;38;11;05 - 00;38;17;22

Cary Hall

You. You.