Every weekday morning, I turn on the Today show. It’s my background noise while I sip coffee, squish in-between Cash and Shelby on the couch, and try to convince myself that leggings still count as pants. But in between all that, I catch up on the world—what’s happening, what matters, and sometimes, what we’ve forgotten matters.
This morning, they featured something that hit me square in the heart: Head Start, with Jennifer Garner as the voice behind it. Now y’all know I love her anyway—America’s sweetheart with just the right amount of grit—but today she was spotlighting something bigger than herself: helping kids.
And before we go any further—this is NOT a political post. I don’t care what side of the fence you sit on. I’m not talking to your political beliefs. I’m talking to your humanity. I’m on the side of the kids. Period.
Because here’s the thing: this is America. Why are children still going hungry? Why are we still debating whether a child deserves a decent breakfast?
When I was at Valdosta State, I worked at an elementary school for six weeks—paid internship, helped cover tuition, and changed my whole outlook. That school had free breakfast and lunch. For every single student. It didn’t matter where they came from or how much their parents made. What mattered was that they were children—and children need to eat. End of story.
The staff didn’t stop at breakfast and lunch either. They made sure food went home with kids on Fridays. They kept the programs going through summer. And how did they do it? Donations. Volunteers. Pure heart. A community that cared enough to say: not on our watch.
And yes, the government plays a part. But so do we. Each of us. Every time we look the other way or assume it’s someone else’s job—we’re letting kids fall through the cracks.
That’s why I want to shout out one of our own Jennifer’s: Jenny Petersen. If you live in Bartow County and don’t know Jenny, I’m convinced you’ve been buried under a rock. She’s the woman who shows up. Time after time. Volunteering, fundraising, organizing, and doing the work—real work—that keeps kids fed, families supported, and communities thriving. And she has been doing this while raising kids herself and working at a regular job!
For me, WWJD doesn’t just stand for “What Would Jesus Do?” It’s also “What Would Jenny Do?” Because Jenny? She gets it done. And honestly, we need a whole lot more Jennys in this world.
So here’s my ask: let’s keep pushing, Bartow County. Let’s do even more. Not just for the kids who make the honor roll or play sports. But for every child—because their future is our future. Let’s stop thinking “someone should do something” and start realizing we are someone.
Jennifer Garner reminded me of that this morning. Jenny Peterson lives it out every day.
And now I’m challenging myself—and maybe you—to do a little more.
XOXO, Jani ❤️
Journeys With Jani 