Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Monbleau. Him and his team share his story with us below.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Train 1 Feed 1 is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit dedicated to bringing awareness to two serious issues plaguing our nation: poor health and the severe homeless epidemic.
Our mission is to promote fitness while simultaneously providing food, supplies and kindness to the impoverished all around us. Train 1 Feed 1 turns one donated personal training session into a care package for someone who needs it. One person trained, one person fed. Two needs with one deed. Training never felt so good.
We are a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3), ensuring that any and all contributions go exclusively into the hands of those who need it most.
Train 1 Feed 1 & it’s fitness freaks and feet soldiers hit the streets of major US cities promoting a healthy lifestyle and care for the neediest among us.
Based out of Los Angeles, fitness expert Joseph Monbleau started the movement in 2015, determined to bring about an immediate change in the world around him, and empower others to do the same.
In the years that followed, Monbleau’s passion and persistence caught the heart of Andy Sziraki, his former NYC roommate and fellow fitness model. Together, they have been shaping bodies and feeding mouths ever since.
Since it’s founding, Train 1 Feed 1 have held countless “packing parties” in Los Angeles for their personal training and fitness class clients, giving volunteers the unique opportunity to fill T1F1’s signature care-packages for the homeless.
These T1F1 packing parties are ongoing in Los Angeles, but now Train 1 Feed 1 is hitting the road!! Our first stop is San Francisco on October 12th and 13th, with sponsors that include David Ellis Events and HINT water. And this righteously ripped roadshow will be heading to New York City in November and Miami in December. When you see them, you will be trained and entertained for every donation you make! Trust us, it’s worth it!
Can’t make it to one of our events? You can still help! Ready-to-eat, packaged food items, clothes and socks are essential for the signature T1F1 care-packages. Are you a personal trainer? Or own a gym? We’re always looking for fitness studios to hold charity workouts/food packing parties!
The packing parties are a wonderful concept and definitely something the world needs more of. In terms of getting to where you are today. has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth sea never made for a skilled sailor. The road has been what it should be. Its been up and its been down. We are dealing with people who feel that we are enabling the homeless to stay on the streets. That we are not helping but hurting the situation. I say to them, “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered”. We cannot turn and look the other way. We need to take a stand and make a change now. Be the change.
That’s a great quote – it’s always important not to turn a blind eye. We’d love to hear more about your organization. What else should we know?
We build better bodies and we feed the homeless. One person trained one person feed. We take care of two needs with one deed. We accomplish this by hosting community classes and having packing parties.
A community class is a fitness class we host at local gyms, yoga studios, crossfit boxes, cycle house, local business, park, etc. The class is sometimes free or at a discounted rate for community with all proceeds going to feed the homeless. You show up that day for yourself and your community. Usually, one ticket will create three kindness packs which in turn helps three people on the street.
We then host packing parties either same day as event or later date. Packing parties are where we get people together to help pack up the kindness packs to be passed out on street to donate to local shelters and missions.
Kindness packs consist of things most needed by a homeless person. We put socks which is #1 than water, hygiene products and about five or six different packed food items. a little kindness goes a long way.
Proud that we are the only company taking care of two needs with one deed. Fighting the health and homeless epidemics right at the source. To date, we have created over 850 kindness packs and raised over $3000 to put back into communities.
Our vision is a world physically fit and spiritually sound.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory is kinda weird but it has stuck with me to this day and is why I do what I do. When I was 10 years old my mother said that this year we are not getting Christmas presents that instead, we are going to go pass them out to other families. Not knowing at the time that the families we were going to where in most need of all.
That day struck a chord going into the slums to give gifts and food to one family as 40 looked on. It broke my heart as a child to witness this and not be able to do anything or to have an answer for when the kids asked me where their gifts were at. I new on this day that I was changed and made it a goal to help those in need and never turn away. Even at ten years old I knew the magnitude of what I saw and what needed to happen.
Pricing:
- For every $5 donation creates 1 kindness pack
- Community classes start from $15-$35
Contact Info:
- Address: 1049 Havenhurst Drive #333
West Hollywood CA 90046 - Website: train1feed1.com
- Phone: 310-743-9741
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Train1Feed1
- Facebook: Train 1 Feed 1
Image Credit:
Willie petersen For the headshot
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