GREENVILLE — Tyeis Baker-Baumann is the owner of Rebsco, Inc., a material handling and custom fabrication company based in Greenville. But she’s also been teaching yoga on nights and weekends for many years. It was this experience that gave her the idea for the Good Stuff Foundation.
“This is something that’s been on my mind for a very long time,” Baumann said. “It came from my own experience as a yoga instructor, hearing people say ‘I’d love to do this, but I just can’t afford it.’”
The purpose of the Good Stuff Foundation, according to Baumann, is to provide health, wellness, education, and ancillary support services to underprivileged members of the community. This includes yoga classes, mindfulness training, and education on techniques for coping with stress and illness, as well as building healthier lifestyles.
The process of starting her own nonprofit was a lengthy one. First Baumann drafted a set of bylaws, as well as a set of prospective programs, to present to the State of Ohio in order to be recognized as a nonprofit organization. Then she had to present much of the same information to the IRS.
“It took about a year to get everything together,” Baumann said.
But now that the organization is up and running, Baumann is ready to start making a difference in the community.
“We just got our very first donation last week, and now we’re looking to reach out to the local community and find out what their needs might be,” Baumann said. “Our goal is to provide these sorts of programs to people who might not otherwise have access. We want to help people, regardless of income or location.”
And that includes having the ability to meet their prospective clients halfway.
“We want to take these services to where people are,” Baumann said. “To schools, churches, group homes, long-term care facilities. One of the things about living in a rural community is that often people don’t have access to transportation.”
Baumann believes the breathing and meditation techniques she teaches can benefit those suffering from hyperactivity disorder, high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses, and even veterans and domestic abuse survivors suffering from post-traumatic stress.
“We’re trying to give people tools in their own personal tool bag so that when they’re at home and, say, suffering from an anxiety attack, they’ll be able to pull those back out and use them to lead a more comfortable life,” Baumann said.
When a prospective client comes in, Baumann would talk with them about what they’re experiencing, how it’s affecting their daily life, and help come up with a personalized plan for dealing with their particular issues. She said she’s seen this approach work for clients in the past.
“I’m available now to meet with individuals who are interested in either creating a program or helping fund a program,” Baumann said.
Those interested in learning more about the Good Stuff Foundation can search for the organization on Facebook or contact Tyeis Baumann at 937-417-0516.
