HEROESSurvivors

Who: Brynn Jensen-Voeltz

What: Suicide Prevention

Why: Hope and perseverance are two words that Brynn Jensen-Voeltz and her mom Lindsey know all too well. Brynn was only five years old when her father took his own life and the life of his girlfriend, leaving Brynn, her sister Sophie, and her special friend Macie all without a parent. As one could expect, Brynn’s father’s death made a huge impact on her life, but what Brynn decided to do from there was perhaps less expected. “In Kindergarten one day, the teacher asked the students to write their greatest wish. For Brynn, it was to ‘go on mission trips’ and that was only the beginning,” says Lindsey.

Every August, on the anniversary of her father’s passing, Brynn goes on a mission trip to both give something back and to do something brave. The first year, Brynn did a 5K suicide prevention walk, but each year she chooses something different. Sometimes it’s placing cards of hope and joy around a community, sometimes it’s giving away gift cards, but every year the mission is the same, to “spread hope and help people know their lives are worth living” as Lindsey put it.

This last year, Brynn gathered food, then traveled to Montana to distribute it to places where there is a need. “We put a box by a playground, and there was a lady who was walking her dog. She opened up the box, and then she walked up to us and went, ‘look there’s free food in this box!’ But we didn’t say anything about it, and then she just walked away,” recalls Brynn.

Brynn’s impulse at such a young age to turn tragedy into an opportunity for greater good shows an inspiring wisdom and kindness. She says she hopes to continue to do these mission trips, spreading hope and joy to countless other people.