Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Stieglitz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Erin with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic definitely comes from my parents! I have so many childhood memories of my parents working really hard to achieve goals. My dad did this in every way from succeeding in business, to fixing things around our house. My mom always found ways to contribute her effort to organizations from our religious home, schools, sports and dance teams, neighborhood, and other community opportunities. I remember my parents never hiring someone to do the work they could do for themselves, and recognizing the pride they felt when their hard work paid off.
To this day, my parents work very hard, even in retirement. They both spend time volunteering for organizations that are important to them. They host family and friends with such thoughtfulness and love. And they are always willing and ready to lend a hand when our family unit needs them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Learning that work ethic from my parents, I put my best into what I choose to do. That’s certainly true of my passion non-profit, Bagel Rescue.
Bagel Rescue is a food rescue specifically for bagels and other baked goods. We rescue unsold bagels from bakeries and donate them to feeding programs including shelters, food pantries, youth programs, HUD subsidized senior apartments, street outreach efforts, and more. Our goal is to reduce food waste and support hunger relief, one bagel at a time.
A bagel seems small but we are doing big things with them. We have rescued more than 1.4 million bagels – we are capturing 14,000-16,000 bagels weekly! All of this food is helping neighbors in need. While bagels aren’t the entire solution to hunger in Atlanta, it is part of a solution. When combined with other food and social services, each of us can make a difference.
We are excited to grow in 2024! There’s so much food “left on the table.” We hope to capture it, repurpose it, and fill happy bellies.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Learn your space, find your place. I did not know that much about food rescue and hunger relief when bagel waste fell into my lap. However I recognized a problem and realized I needed to do something about it. Once I figured out I was onto something, that the model of rescue and delivery worked, I started learning about and collaborating with the other organizations in Atlanta who also do this work. We all have our niche and we can gain insight by understanding each other’s models. We can also help each other to help others by knowing who does what and how it fits into the bigger picture of hunger relief. I now feel immersed in this community and it’s such a high!
Don’t try to be the entire solution
So many problems in the world are so big that they change feels unattainable. When we look at problems on the macro, they can be overwhelming to the point of inaction. Hunger is one such problem. We are not solving Atlanta’s hunger problem with bagels but we are doing something to help those who need a bite of dignity. Just taking a meal off the shoulders of a family or supporting breakfast at a shelter once a week does make a difference. Nothing changes if we do nothing so even taking small steps towards a greater goal is effective.
Surround yourself with uplifting people who have similar goals
Bagel Rescue is a “we” project. We the volunteers rescuers. We the bagel donors. We the partner agencies. We the community. None of this is possible without people willing to roll up their sleeves and be part of this epic web of goodness. Bagel shops have to make the responsible decision to donate their bagels and put them to good use. Volunteers have to take time out of their day to rescue and deliver. Our partner agencies work directly with neighbors in need, helping get food into the right hands. It takes everyone encouraging one another and working together to make good things happen.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I feel overwhelmed often! Life is overwhelming when you are a doer. (And when I’m not overwhelmed, I question if I’m doing enough!)
When we have jobs and passion projects that take up a lot of our time, energy, and brain space, it’s hard to maintain other aspects of life and find balance. I have struggled with that many times. Sometimes that has led to me reprioritizing to ensure I make decisions aligned with my values and goals. The feeling of being overwhelmed can be very eye opening in that respect.
I also use being overwhelmed to re-evaluate systems, find more help, and channel energy into doing other great things. I find myself looking back at overwhelming times and being grateful that I didn’t accidentally or intentionally let a ball drop. It can be easy to want to put things down when we feel busy and consumed. I find that not plowing forward can lead to missed opportunities.
Of course in overwhelming moments I find it helpful to vent, drink more coffee, have some personal freak-out time, and then get to work. I also talk through everything in my head as if I were my own therapist. I try to remember that we solve problems in steps and the most important thing to do is keep stepping.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bagelrescue.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bagel.rescue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BagelRescue/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bagel-rescue
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BagelRescue
