I first met Geffen in 2014 while volunteering at the LA Food Bank, both there with a group called Have a Hart Day. Right off the bat, I knew Geffen was a kind-hearted person.
Her charisma shone through as I found myself comfortable in her presence and quickly becoming friends with her even though I am an introverted person.
So when I found out that Geffen (@LAearpers) was going to be coordinating the volunteer events for Earp Your Community LA , I couldn’t think of anyone better to do the job than her. Being a volunteer coordinator can be hard work and daunting at times but Geffen is one of the most hardworking, humble, kind people I know. Always there to lend a hand. Always making sure people feel comfortable and cared for. You can always count on her being there for her people, not just a leader but as a friend.
Geffen, always the one taking the picture, never the one in it. I’m glad she’s getting this chance to be in the spotlight. She deserves it. ~ @TheLesleyEst
Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Geffen and I’m an Earper living in Los Angeles who loves building positive communities and giving back. Beyond local causes, I’m especially passionate about global access to clean drinking water.
Tell us about the Earp Your Community project/event you organized
The first Earp Your Community event I organized was with LA on Cloud 9’s Homeless Services Picnic. It involved raising money for donations (food, hygiene supplies, etc) and participating in the picnic. During the event, volunteers served food and gave out clothes and supplies to people in need. Because it was right before Halloween a craft station was also set up with face painting and pumpkin decorating.
The experience was great! It was such a welcome, festive environment with Halloween music playing and many people in costumes. Our Earper group spent the majority of the time at the clothes station organizing donations and helping people find what they needed.
What motivated you to plan an EarpYourCommunity Event?
Forming a volunteer group has actually been on my mind for years, but I never knew who to start one with. When I began getting invested in the Wynonna Earp fandom and found out about Earp It Forward/Earp Your Community, I knew I found the perfect fit! I couldn’t get the idea out of my head so even though I’m usually very private online I decided to start a group in LA.
Why did you choose this particular project, organization, cause, etc?
I chose the Homeless Services Picnic for the first event because Los Angeles has the second largest homeless population in the United States. It’s a HUGE problem here and I’m always looking for ways to give back. We also volunteered with the LA Food Bank in December 2018 and have been volunteering regularly with LA Animal Services since November.
What was the most challenging part? Do you have any advice for others that want to plan an event of their own?
The most challenging part of planning events is dealing with unexpected changes (for example, a date change for our food bank event) and then trying to communicate those changes. For anyone trying to plan an event of your own, just make sure to go with the flow :) Things come up so just be prepared to accommodate changes both related to the event and volunteers. My DMs are always open if anyone wants to bounce off EYC ideas.
What else would you tell someone who is thinking about organizing an EarpYourCommunity event?
DO IT! Seriously, you’ll meet great people and have an amazing time.
What was the most memorable part of either organizing the project or the project itself?
I was pretty nervous that the first event just wouldn’t work out at all, but then we all had such a fun day volunteering and eating lunch together, so that will always be memorable.
Was there anything about the experience that surprised you?
I was surprised when Kat called upon Earpers to attend the animal shelter orientation with her. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised given her big heart and dedication to this fandom. I was so excited to build off the momentum of that orientation and volunteer regularly with a group.
What did you find the most rewarding about this experience?
Creating an opportunity for Earpers to meet and connect based on a shared passion for serving their community :)
Tell us about some of the people you met while volunteering.
Well, Kat Barrell for starters! She helped me meet an awesome group of Earpers who I now get to see every few weeks at the shelter.
Everyone I met has been so great. Funnily enough, I also reconnected with my friend Lesley (@TheLesleyEst) who I met volunteering with a different fandom years back! So that was another cool surprise from this whole experience.
What does EarpYourCommunity mean to you?
Earp Your Community means taking the values of this fandom into “the real world” and pursuing causes you care about alongside like-minded people. It’s community, family, generosity, and all that good stuff we don’t see enough in the world.
Would you organize or take part in an EarpYourCommunity event again?
Definitely! I plan to do this regularly for the foreseeable future. I can’t wait to see how this initiative grows and evolves.
Is there anything we missed that you’d like us to know?
I just want to shout out my Twitter-less friend Declan (side note: GET TWITTER) who introduced me to Wynonna Earp in the first place and has been super supportive about this whole project. I wouldn’t have done this without their encouragement and involvement.
Also, thank you, Kristen and Sarah, for always being a great support!
#EarpYourCommunity is a core component of Earp It Forward and a call to action to give back to our communities and neighborhoods through service events. #EarpYourCommunity activities come in all shapes and sizes and can be done by groups of Earpers or as an individual. It is about celebrating what Earpers may already be doing and helping people connect to take action and make a difference in the lives and well being of those around us. To learn more about #EarpYourCommunity, check out the “Are You Ready to Earp Your Community?” introduction document which outlines the project and provides support and resources for all your passion to help and give back. You can also reach us directly using the contact information below:
Twitter: @earpitforward
Instagram (earpitforward)
Tumblr: earpitforward.tumblr.com
Email: [email protected]
Project organizers: Kristen (@kindnesskru) & Sarah (@HeresTheThing17)