An Army of Normal Folks - They Came For Food. They Left With Financial Freedom

Episode Date: May 22, 2026

What if many food pantries (and other types of nonprofits) are solving the wrong problem? This week on Shop Talk, Birch Community Services reveals a radically different model that helps families escape financial instability — and offers lessons that could reshape how you think about service, dignity, and what it actually takes to help people flourish.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, everybody. It's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. Shop number one oh five. Welcome to the shop, Alex. It's great to be at the shop, Bill. Good. Have you bought your merch? I bought like $150 worth of the stuff. Yeah. I'm as soon as we... It's like to be clear, it's many different items. Yeah. Not all the items are... Well, as soon as we finish this. I got a hat and a hoodie and a t-shirt and probably something else. Cool. I don't do hoodies, but I'm definitely getting a hat and a t-shirt. And, uh, And as soon as I get through doing this work with you, I'm going to go get my own merch. And I'm waiting for an email from Terry.

Yeah, because I got to buy some merch for Terry. So hopefully I'll be buying more merch. But I'm excited about it. You know, we're in the shop. That's what you do, buy merch. Yeah. What's going on with you? Anything new?

Well, so I rented out my house in Oxford this past weekend for graduation. Yeah. So I came up, I was with the kids here this weekend. Really? Where did y'all start? So we actually had kind of dinner with Peter on Friday night, Santonello. Yeah. We went to Memphis Rocks. Oh, that's cool.

We did that, which was cool. Yeah. Cross Town. So they actually met Todd Richardson. I actually ran into him there too. Cool. We featured on Shop Talk, the guy whose life was saved by Adrian Garcia. Yeah.

Which is insane. Hey, did Peter talk to you? Did he enjoy hanging around Memphis? Yeah, he loved it, yeah. Yeah. And we're just teasing this right now, but something really cool. about to drop in a couple weeks here. We'll tell you all about it when it goes down.

I have Payne's barbecue for the second time. Have you had Payne's barbecue? No. Oh, you need to go, man. Really? Yeah. It's as good or better than Cozy Corner. There's no such thing.

You've got to go try it. You're going to get struck by lightning. Yeah. You can't say things like that. Okay, everybody. Shop Talk number 105. They came for food. They left with financial freedom.

Sounds kind of interesting. We'll take that up right after these brief messages from our general sponsors. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to us. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-heartedly.

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by and allow any power, however great, take over another country. From My Heart Podcasts, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam?

I should stop talking so much. I like hearing you talk. One city, a divided country, and the war that toured. America apart. This is for Vietnam. I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. Do you rate me? They're pouring petrol all over him.

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The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the Eyeheart. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the shop. Number 105. Sitting here thinking about my new merch. And we're going to talk about they came for food. They left with financial freedom. This shop talk features an article from Stand Together that's titled

How Families Can Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle. No one is happy when the check engine symbol lights up on their cars dashboard. Boy, is that true? And I think that in and of itself is a, I don't believe in that. I don't think that check engine lie. I think, I think that's a, I think that's a ploy to get you to go in and spend money in the service department. I've had cars wrong with check engine lights on it for two years, never had a problem. That's just the way I feel about it. It's really not part of the script, but I just thought I'd say that. That old check engine light thing bothers me. Don't take Bill's advice on cars. Do what you think is. Don't, don't. Don't Your car's probably blowing up right now because of that light.

But for me, not so much. But it is true. No one's happy when that thing pops up on their dashboard. But for millions Americans, that symbol can create financial strain that makes it harder for them to stay on track. Despite holding one or more jobs, many folks are living paycheck to paycheck. That emergency car repair bill and an unexpected medical expense, a sick kid, or a few of lost wages can quickly unravel a family's budget, making it difficult to cover basic

expenses and leaving people stuck in a cycle of financial uncertainty. Traditional aid programs help with short-term needs, but empowering families to achieve lasting stability requires resources like financial education, coaching, and planning. So, how do we support families living in this gap. Birch Community Services in Portland, Oregon is providing one answer to that question. At first glance, BCS may look like a food bank, but it's a dignity-driven model that doesn't just tackle food insecurity. It addresses the underlying financial instability that keeps families trapped.

People come in thinking, I need food, said Susan Birch, BCS co-founder. an executive director, but food is just the tool. It's the first step toward building a margin in the budget. Then they can dig deeper into financial literacy, a personalized path to stability and opportunity. BCS is structured around a powerful premise. The ability to overcome financial challenges already exist within individuals and can be unlocked with access, big word, access to the right tools and support. Families who join BCS receive access to weekly shopping trips in the BCS warehouse where they can take home an average of $1,200 a month in food and household items. This frees up room in their budget to pay down debt and gross savings, critical steps on the journey toward financial stability.

While every participant begins with access to groceries, families leverage BCS's financial counseling as a key tool to shape their long-term plans. Instead of starting with, what does my budget tell me I can afford? Families ask themselves, what do my values tell me my budget needs to do? The simple shift changes everything. Dreams that might seem out of reach, like owning a home, or college for kids become motivators instead of stressors. It's a paradigm shift, Bert says. You move from deprivation to purpose.

Suddenly, spending becomes intentional and a tool in working towards your goals. But dignity through community. Building dignity through community. Families receive support while also contributing to a shared community where everyone plays a role. Members pay $80 a month, which covers $4,4,4,4,000. percent of BCS operational cost and volunteer two hours monthly in the warehouse or teaching garden. This structure builds mutual accountability and makes every family part of each other's progress. People might feel that because they can't give money that they don't have anything to offer,

Birch explained, but everyone has something to give. Remember, when we give away stuff and we don't allow someone, to give, that's when charity becomes toxic. And that's exactly what these guys are doing with the setup. So when they volunteer, they become part of the answer for the person standing next to them. And that makes a big difference as opposed to just picking up a food box and walking out. This reciprocal model builds community, accountability, and pride. We're not just serving them, Bersad. They're not just serving themselves. They're also serving each other and BCS. That changes the dynamic entirely. Are you ready for a change? This design supports long-term commitment and

growth. Some families aren't ready or willing to engage deeply, and the program makes space for honest accountability, even letting participants go when they're not committed. What we've learned over time is that we need to ask different questions to ensure better outcomes for our family's Burs said. Questions that speak to their self-accountability to make substantive change. Families commit to at least six months and most stay two to three years. At the six-month mark, real momentum begins. Credit cards get paid off. Emergency funds grow and goals fill within reach. And when families are ready, they graduate from the program. Many stay connected as donors and volunteers. Most people remove themselves when they feel sustainable, Burs said. It's not about

checking boxes. It's about building the confidence to say, I got this. For those who embrace the journey, the outcomes are powerful. I've been floored by the result, says Teresa Sontag, a program participant. When we started BCS, we had $10,000 in credit card debt. After 20 months, that's paid off, and we've grown our emergency savings fund. But it's not just about dollars and cents. Some results are intangible, like taking pride in a beautiful garden. I received flowers while shopping at the warehouse, Sontek said. I'd never spent money on flowers because I felt that I couldn't. Now my neighbors compliment me on my yard.

It's so exciting. Perhaps the most compelling impact of BCS's model is the generational ripple. Families learn together. They set goals together and celebrate together. children actively participate in money conversations and see their parents make thoughtful decisions and model for financial responsibility. BCS also equips families with tools to teach their kids about money from an early age and offers classes on going to college without taking on debt. Families use these tools to help their children start early, building habits that can last into adulthood. We've helped families set up 529 savings plans, Burtz said.

The Oregon Treasury, the state of Oregon, treasury partners with us to contribute money to get them started. It's about getting started on meeting those goals that speak to their values. Behind BCS's success is a team committed to continuous learning and operational excellence. There's an intentional culture that fosters shared leadership and, adaptability, all aimed at better serving the community. Our leadership team is collaborative, accountable, and always asking, how can we serve our families better? That willingness to evolve is part of what keeps BCS effective after more than three decades and Birch's quick to credit her team. I'm not the smartest person in the room, she said. It's our shared leadership that makes this work.

BCS demonstrates how community-based models can support sustainable change when dignity, accountability, and personal agency are prioritized. Once all the puzzle pieces are in place, families can reduce debt, build savings, and reach their goals, including homeownership. In 2024, 17 families in the program bought homes, many on modest income, after years of saving and planning. What matters most isn't how much you make, Bert said, is your willingness to change in the vision you have for your life. That's cool, and I want to repeat this part. BCS demonstrates how community-based models can support sustainable change when dignity, accountability, and personal agency are prior to us. That is the key to this thing as far as I'm concerned. you find this?

It's a stand-together's website. Why aren't we interviewing these people? Why don't we bring them in for an army and normal folks? We'll think about it. I think we should. That's pretty impressive. Yeah. I mean, it's basically using a food bank to bring people in.

Well, one, people have to participate in it as volunteers and everything else, but is using a food bank to bring people in and teach them how not to ever need a food bank again. I mean, it's great. Yeah, so I've never heard of a food bank having this kind of program where they have financial counseling as part of it and me neither volunteering there and i mean it's a sweet model that all them should be doing it is a sweet model like i've heard food banks i'm not going to name which one but like brag about how many people they serve each week yeah and then had me like honestly throw it off bill because it's like why are you bragging about that shouldn't be bragging about the number of people we get off this thing

right not how many we're serving we don't need to grow our marketplace we need to reduce it for sure all right so they came for food they left with financial freedom And I hope we actually could. I think that'd be a great interview for an Army normal folks. I might run to that thing. But, you know, whatever. But it's something that people can really think about for, I mean, it would be great to share this episode with your food bank and your town.

That's a great idea. Yeah, I mean, obviously it takes time to build up a program that's impressive. But if you can slowly add on more of these features. I can't imagine you couldn't call these folks. They'd tell you what they're doing. Yeah. It's not hard not to do. Okay, everybody.

That is Shop Talk 105. They came for food left with. financial freedom and it's all built around demonstrating how community-based models can support sustainable change when dignity, accountability, and personal agency or prioritized. If you enjoy this episode, please rate it review it, share it with friends and on social, go buy some merch and share it in person when people ask you what that hat or t-shirt means. Subscribe to the podcast. join the Army and Army and normal folks.

What else? All the things. Yeah, do all those things. Support us, for goodness sakes. All right. Not about us. Join us. Do yourselves in your community.

Good. Yeah, that's right. All right. Shop talk number 105. We'll see you next week. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called. Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest,

S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There are times when the mind becomes a difficult place to live. This is David Eagleman with the Inner Cosmos podcast, and for Mental Health Awareness Month, We'll talk with singer-songwriter Jewel about anxiety.

I started living in my car and then my car got stolen. I was having panic attacks. I was agoraphobic. This is a month of deeply personal and honest conversations about what happens when the brain goes off course. Listen to Inner Cosmos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sometimes a suspect is found guilty before a verdict is ever read in court.

On the Wicked Words podcast, I talk with the writer. who dig deep into the cases that changed history, including Marsha Clark, who went from prosecuting one of the most famous murder cases to writing crime fiction. It doesn't matter that you didn't take part in the murder. If you were at the scene at all, you're guilty of murder. Every week, the real story is revealed.

Join us every Monday for new episodes of Wicked Words. Listen to Wicked Words on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.