Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Comeaux.
Camille, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My Name is Camille Comeaux, CEO of Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes. During the pandemic, I lost my job of 12 years, both of my grandmothers one to covid and the other to breast cancer, along with a neighbor in which my family and I were taking care of at the time. During this period, I had many emotions and feelings of extreme sadness and defeat. I was unsure of what was going on IN the world at the time and which direction my future was headed.
After all funeral arrangements were made for everyone and things began to settle down, I was informed that the neighbor in which my family and I were taking care of left us her home in her will and asked that we take care of it. In a note left for us she stated, “Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes,” and thanked us for everything we did for her. Instantly, I knew I had to do something in return to always give back to people in my community. My family and I could have been greedy with the property and sold it or turned it into a lucrative asset. We chose not to do any of those things because that wasn’t what we were asked to do. Instead of renting it out to one family and only being to help one family my little brother Carson Comeaux and I decided to start a non-profit that specializes in transitional housing for the homeless. In my mind, the idea was perfect. Not only can I help one family, I can now help multiple families. We vowed to turn the house into a resource tool for everyone in my community.
The whole process of creating a nonprofit and acquiring a 501(c)(3) was very extreme. There were many trying times where I had to stop, pray, call my mother, and re-evaluate myself and the direction I was headed in. With my confidence and my strong ambition, I knew that I was going to do whatever it took to get my nonprofit organization going. Altogether, I can say it took about two years to get things going. I do not want to say that to discourage people however, many have to remember that I started my non-profit during a very hectic time. In the pandemic, there were so many new rules and regulations that were constantly changing that this made it very difficult for things to take off. I hit many walls before I learned how to either break through them or simply climb over it. I have put my all into this and I am so thankful for this opportunity. From remodeling the house with DIY projects alongside my father and brother to purposely save money, to throwing donation parties, and selling my mother’s cooking to raise funds so that I can go out on skid row and hand out meals, I have done it all, and I will continue to.
Food, shelter, clean clothing, and love, every family deserves these things. However, there are so many families in Los Angeles County that go without these basic needs for many days of the month. I am empathetic towards that subject, that is why I make it my goal to provide these needed services and resources. My goal is to create a judgment-free zone that provides rehabilitation services that help empower individuals to live productive lives in our communities. We here at Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes provide clothing, food, job training and placement, referral of legal services, access to safe and clean housing, counseling services, mentoring, and whatever else it takes to positively impact the lives of the people my organization serves. Always remember that Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes, even you.
Our goal at this time is $20,000 in kind contributions that would be greatly appreciated. The purpose of the $20,000 would be used as sustainability money to help us with our bills, and monthly expenses that help maintain our housing program along with acquiring equipment such as laptops, tablets, printers and fax machines in efforts of helping individuals obtain and keep a job as well as teaching them financial literacy. We also accept donations of food, water, clothing, socks, blankets, whatever one can spare. Feel free to contact us via email with your donations!!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I knew exactly what I wanted to do but was clueless on how to even start. I ran around the city and spent many hours on the phone and got many doors slammed in my face. All of this left me even more confused on what to do. I got my big break from one of my father’s clients. My father has his own car chauffeur business, and one of his clients was an individual that had own a magnitude of non-profit organizations. My father explained to his client what my situation was and in return, the client gave my father a number of a lawyer and told him to call. Immediately my father texted me the number and it has been history since.
After acquiring a lawyer to help me with my non-profit, some of the hiccups we came across were having to wait for specific dates or times to submit applications. It took about six months to acquire my 501(c)(3) and another six to eight months to get the house remodeled and up to code to pass certain audits.
Funds definitely became an issue, from paying for the lawyer, application, and processing fees, and materials to repair then house money became real tight during the first year. To overcome my financial struggles, I became clever. I started to use empty space that I had to throw fundraising parties, I had my mother cook food so that I could sell plates, along with creating different logos and designs to put on t-shirts to sell. I even went as far as selling some of my most valuable comic books for funds, and I DO NOT REGRET IT!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My business is providing resources, What I specialize in is motivating and helping people. I am best known for my personality and my sense of humor. I am also known for my ambition; I mean what I say. I am a very giving person. I can not receive anything with my hands closed so I keep them open at all times. I am most proud of being granted with this opportunity. I am most proud of being able to do this with my little brother; this makes our bond even stronger. I am most proud of actually doing what I say. I am most proud of putting smiles on other people’s faces.
What sets me apart from others is the ability to manifest my visions. I think positive; therefore, I am positive. My power is in my thoughts. I am very organized, and I have the ability to see the bright side even through conflict. I have a strong work ethic therefore I am a WOMAN of my word.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is remembering waking up watching Barney and baby bop every morning. I do not what it was about the purple and green dinosaur, but he made me very happy. The I love You song is something that lives in my head “rent-free.”
Being around family around the holidays is all one of my favorite childhood memories. We did not always get along, but at the end of every family get-together or occasion we had no matter what the issue or beef was, we all went home smiling and loving. We put all differences aside and always departed on a positive note.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ everybdyneedssmbdysmtms/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ EverybodyNeedsSomebodySometime s - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UCHicWe798X4Jw64g8YK84CQ
Image Credits
Mike G
