An Interview With 9 Nanas Who Make A Difference

If you have never heard of the 9 Nanas from Tennessee who make happiness happen you aren’t alone. I live in Kentucky but had never heard of them until I read the following article about 9 Women Who Kept a Secret For More Than 30 Years.  I know people who can’t keep a secret for a week, let alone 30 some years, but that isn’t what makes these nanas so amazing. These ladies are sort of like modern day Robin Hoods in that they give to the poor, but they don’t rob from the rich. They save and then make their own money to help others. What they have done for over 30 years is truly amazing.

From the 9 Nanas website- “There are nine of us (4 sisters, 1 sister-in-love and 4 friends-by-love).  And each week we randomly select total strangers for the sole purpose of delivering a little happiness.”

After I read the above article and visited their website I asked them if I could share their story and they had their children ask them questions. Here are their answers!

9 Nanas Speak

1. Can you tell me a bit about your background and what it was like growing up? Only four of us are biological sisters and our mother died when we were very young. Because our daddy was such a charming-abuser, our maternal grandparents stepped in. Not only did they provide a loving home, but they kept our mother’s memory alive.

2. Did anyone encourage you to pursue your charitable goals and, if so, please tell us a bit about them? It would have to be our maternal grandparents. They never just said we want you children to be charitable, but we watched them and mirrored their actions.

3. What was your first job and what did you learn from it? Remember there are nine of us. And our first jobs include: office manager, librarian, secretary, nurse and housewives and motherhood, if they’re applicable. We’re all retired now, but it was more than work, we saw it as serving.

4. Tell us about your first attempt at charity. Oh, that’s easy. It all started almost thirty-seven years ago. After reading the death notices in the local paper, we decided to prepare food and take it to the families. That went on for a few years. And of course, it was done surreptitiously.

5. What have you done in order to perfect your skills and what are you doing now? There’s no powered butt syndrome here! We started listening to the children. And the first piece of advice was to not just use our own money, but to make our scratch-baked, award winning cakes available to the public. Doing it this way will allow folks to experience our desserts for themselves. And all the proceeds, after expenses, (the pretty baskets, jars, labels, and ingredients) benefit those needing a lift.

6. As one who finds joy in giving, what is the best piece of advice you ever received or found (such as in a quote or poem)? Because our giving is done surreptitiously, it really catches people off guard. And we’ve learned they’re rather suspicious. However, the following quote by Og Mandino helps us to remain focused. “My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.”

7. How much time per day do you spend working on preparing the goods and how do you choose who it is you are going to help? From start to finish, it takes approximately five hours to bake the cakes, make curd and package them for shipping. We find recipients by watching the news, reading several newspapers (print and online). And when we’re out and about, we do a lot of listening. With so many people using their outdoor voice to talk on cell phones, we hear a lot.

8. Endeavoring to follow your bliss takes courage and determination. As one who is dedicated to helping others, what motivates you to keep pursuing your dream? It’s really ironic, but the ills of society. As long as there are hurting people, there’s a need for us to make happiness-happen.

9. What do you like to do when you are not “working” and why? Our interests are practicing yoga; working in our gardens; horses; cheering on our teams (college and professional); loving on the children and grandchildren; and being loved by our husbands.

10. Is there a reason your donation is set at $5. Yes. That was intentional because we wanted to set it where anybody could join in. We’ve seen where organizations will start with a minimum of $20. Well, that may not seem like much, but you run the risk of isolating or even turning folks away who’d really like to help.

11. Why is everything done surreptitiously? It’s always nice to receive something, especially unexpected. And when it’s from a stranger, that makes it all the more special. Furthermore, it builds trust because they know we won’t disclose their information and it keeps the focus away from us.

12. If you could share a bit of wisdom with people who want to be like you, what would it be and why? We have three wisdom nuggets. A) It is our belief each person has been given an assignment to complete. B) Stay in your own lane and run your own race. C) And run (your race) like a thoroughbred trains—only looking ahead.

Visit these awesome ladies at Happiness-Happens

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