We were lucky to catch up with Polly Camery recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Polly, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

When I was young I was blessed to have a Grandma that watched over me, this continued into my adulthood. I was married young with 2 babies (11 months apart). My husband worked two jobs, but it still wasn’t enough to keep food on the table or pay for the oil tank to be refilled for heat.

My grandma lived on a very small budget, but had a big heart and resourceful mind. She brought groceries for us without us ever asking and always at the right time. She would encourage me to reach out for services such as H.E.A.P that would help pay for utilities or W.I.C. that would help with important food items. Because of shame, I wouldn’t.

There is a huge stigma in small rural towns for those who seek help of any kind. Most of the time we suffer in silence. Sometimes it is fear of judgment, or our pride. Sometimes it can be because of our humbleness thinking others deserve help more than me.

I can still remember walking through the grocery isles at IGA in New Richmond, Ohio… hopeless. I had $21 to buy groceries for my family for the week. I wanted to remember that moment forever so that one day I could help someone else in my position.

My grandma wasn’t having any of that. So one day she showed up at my house and said “Get in the car I scheduled you an appointment at W.I.C.”. I listened. We packed the babies up went to the office and I was able to get coupons until our family was in a better position. We didn’t have to worry about food again.

My grandma continued to help get me connected to utility assistance and more. Making sure I always had what I needed to live a hopeful life.

She passed away in December 2020. The following year was very difficult for me. To move on past the grief I wanted to start a non-profit in her name that would allow her legacy to live forever. Turning a bus into a free cafe that went to the same small towns she once lived in to give free resources away like she did, while drinking a warm beverage such as coffee or a hot tea like her brought me great joy.

My grandma loved birds, she fed them regularly. Her favorite bird was the Bluebird. The Bluebird means happiness and new life. I wanted to be able to give that to everyone feeling hopeless, just like my grandma did for me.

So in December 2021 the idea of Bluebird Bus Of Hope came to live in remembrance berance of my grandma Patricia Paulette Dickens

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I come from a line of entrepreneurs. I am visionary. I have been blessed with amazing people in my life including my husband of 17 years, my best friend since 10 years old, and so many other amazing people who have helped make my visions a reality.

I have had photography businesses, ran my private daycare, children’s organic materials business, helped my husband start a maintenance business, helped my sister-in-law start a non-profit for wild-life, started a non-profit women’s ministry, and a few other failed attempt businesses in between.

I look back on my challenging high school years and there were only a few leaders who could see potential in me, who encouraged me and seen past the mess of a teen I was. I am deeply grateful for them.

After high school as a young adult I wanted to be the best at whatever new idea I had and wanted to impress others, all the while not doing well at following through with my goals.

As a young mom and wife I felt if I worked my hardest one day and completed my goals I would be successful and be proud of who I was, in return making my parents, grandparents, and friends proud.

Although those may be true, I don’t regret the many different career paths and businesses I started that led to closed doors or dead ends.

Every single opportunity I have had led me to where I am today. If I had a dollar for everytime I can now say “Oh I know how to do that, I used to do that”, when speaking of something totally random like singing telegrams,
creating architect drawings, cooking pancakes for 800 people, speaking in sign language, or being interviewed by the news.

We strive in our entire lives for success, without knowing what the really is. After volunteering and waiting 10 years for what I thought was my dream job, getting it, and then being paid well for it… I wasn’t satisfied. That wasn’t where my journey was supposed to end. The idea of staying there forever in that office depressed me.

The thing is success doesn’t end. We must continue to evolve because the world is evolving. I have learned to be still, but realizing I am moving at the same time.

One of my greatest accomplishments, is learning how to keep learning. Keep listening to amazing leaders around me who freely build into everyday. I don’t ever want to stop growing and thriving at being a better leader. The better leader I am the more I am able to serve my community, the more I am able to serve and to me that is sucess.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Each team member has a unique experiences and gift they bring to the team. It is important for a team to share those gifts and experiences. When we get to share with one another we find that we feel we belong! Making a team feel like they belong and they are important makes them want to show up. I want them to have ownership of the team’s accomplishments. Celebrating together our accomplishments is what makes us keep going forward!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I have worked in ministry and non profit for over 15 years. I have had the opportunity to meet amazing organizations, leaders, and services that serve our community. This has given me knowledge that makes me resourceful. I have had experiences not only in non-profit and ministry, but in profit business as well. Aside from my education, training, and leadership experience I like to think my reputation also comes from my personal story. I am transparent about my struggles and how I overcame them, but also how I am continuing to grow. The client’s we serve value that and I belive the leaders in our community do as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bluebirdhope.org
• Instagram: bluebirdbusofhope
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/polly-camery-6393b4239
• Other: https://linktr.ee/bluebirdhope https://linktr.ee/pollycamery