30. How You Can Help End Poverty: From Crickets to Crops and Feeding the 7,000

Episode #030

Sendy Mom Trixie Espinosa from Rise and Rebuild in the Philippines

Have you ever wondered if one person can really make a difference in the face of poverty? My guest on this episode of the Sendy Mom Podcast, Trixie Espinosa, is living proof that the answer is yes.

Trixie’s story begins in the mountains of the Philippines, where as a child she often went hungry and foraged for crickets, mushrooms, and anything else edible to survive. Today, she’s the Vice President of Farming and Nutrition at Rise and Rebuild, where she oversees three farms, 200 employees, and nutrition centers that provide one nourishing meal every single day to 7,000 children.

This episode is more than just a conversation—it’s an invitation. Trixie shares how her life of hardship gave her both compassion and grit, how she raised three successful children of her own, and how she’s now “mothering thousands more.” Her journey from poverty to leadership is filled with faith, resilience, and the belief that community can change everything.

Along the way, we talk about:

The role of faith and resilience in breaking cycles of poverty
Why feeding children is the first step toward education and opportunity
How Rise and Rebuild is building farms, homes, and sanitation centers to create sustainable change
What Trixie learned from her own childhood trauma and how she uses it to serve others
Practical wisdom for parents, missionaries, and anyone wanting to serve with love and courage

A Call to Action: Sendy Mom Clothing Drive
During our conversation, Trixie shared one heartfelt wish: that these children—many of whom own little more than the clothes on their backs—might receive clothing and shoes this Christmas. Together with Rise and Rebuild, Sendy Mom is organizing a clothing drive to make this possible.

We are collecting:
👕 Children’s clothing (ages 4–12), new or gently used
🧦 New socks and underwear
👟 Shoes (a huge need!)
💚 Monetary donations for purchasing items

Thanks to Rise and Rebuild, shipping costs will be covered. All we need now is your generosity. This is an opportunity not only to bless children across the world, but also to teach your own family compassion in action.

How You Can Help

Send or drop off items by Friday, October 31, 2025
Mail donations to:
Sendy Mom c/o Julie Hess
11140 SW Morgen Ct
Portland, OR 97223-3971
Drop off in Utah:
Becky Brouwer
10025 N 6300 W
Highland, UT 84003
Shop directly: [Amazon List: Sendy Mom 2025 Clothing Drive Philippines]
Donate financially: Venmo @Becky_Brouwer

With 7,000 children to care for, every single gift counts. Together, we can send love, dignity, and joy this Christmas.

Meet my Guest:

Trixie Espinosa is VP of Farming and Nutrition at Rise and Rebuild, an organization based in Tarlac City, Philippines. Their mission is to end hunger. They do this through nutrition centers throughout the Philippines, feeding 7000 malnourished and undernourished children one nutritious meal every day. Trixie began her journey as a malnourished and neglected child in poverty in the Philippines. For food, she would forage in the mountains for crickets, mushrooms and anything edible. Now, she uses her knowledge of farming and manages 3 farms in the Philippines, overseeing 200 employees. Because of her experiences and her ability to lift herself from circumstances, she is a Sendy Mom. Trained as an accountant, Trixie brings love and business savvy to her entrepreneurial endeavors and teaches it to the parents of the children she feeds.