Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jael Salas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jael , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

Ever since I was a child I always saw my parents helping silently when they could and where they could. If they found out about a family who couldn’t afford school clothes at the church I grew up in, they were they to help. An ear to listen, a warm meal or just a hug. I never heard them talk bad about these people or ask for a thing back in return because it was what we should do as a village.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I created Puff Puff Pass the Love in the mist of unknown. We were barely trying to get our window screen business off the ground with 3 young children at home. I had read an article about an area called “The Pit” by an old shelter and the food they served to them. I got about $40 worth of groceries at the time and made about 40 burritos to hand out. I was hooked after that. It reminded me of the kindness I was shown when I was going through addiction and a lady asked me if I wanted breakfast. We really took off in April of 2020 when the whole world basically shut down. My biggest worry was people who were unhoused. How would they eat? Would they still serve them food? So my husband, a few good friends and myself got to work. We made over 100 burritos the first meal under the bridge. Then 200 then 300. We started serving outside thr main shelter in Reno, NV amd we wouls serve upwards of 400 meals a day once a week..Then we were invited to serve dinner once a week at a local women’s shelter as well. We have thus relocated to Tucson, AZ where the need for filling meals is even greater. 1, 2, 3. 30,800 meals later; I never expected to serve that many meals to that many people, I just didn’t want people to starve so if you’re thinking of started a small meal distribution keep in mind even 1 or 2 meals make a huge difference in many people’s lives. Keep Passing on the Love.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Small Town Big Problem: Solution for Homelessness by Phil Johncock

It changed my views a lot on how most “traditional housing places” don’t work at all. It gave me a lot of insight on how thr majority never works but no one cares to listen to the little guys even when they prove it works.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being open and honest. You see a lot of pictures of the food we serve, you rarely see the people we help, hell you rarely see pictures or videos of even us as volunteers doing the work. We are kind of stealthy in a way we dip in, we help and we dip out.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/puffpuffpassthelove
• Facebook: Facebook.com/puffpuffpassthelove
• Other: Tiktok.com/puffpuffpassthelove Cashapp: $puffpuffpassthelove Vemmo: @puffpuffpassthelove

Image Credits
Jael Salas William Barton