Callie and Brad Page strive to strengthen their community in Centralia, Mo., by reusing, rejuvenating and repurposing old building materials into new furniture and home goods at Reclaimed.

"We believe that everything and everybody is worth a second chance at life," Callie said. "Nothing should just be thrown out."

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Karen M. Church

Gretchen Spires runs In Full Bloom, the flower shop in Centralia, Mo.

She is driven by a tremendous sense of public service through Christian faith, a calling which she says is deeply fulfilling.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Caleb Cooper

Jake Hightower runs The Pit Haunted House-Presented by WH Entertainment, LLC, a family-operated haunted house in Chillicothe, Missouri.

When you walk through the entrance, "It's showtime," Mr. Hightower says.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Caleb Cooper
File photos courtesy of Jake Hightower

Joy French embodies the heart and soul of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., where she co-owns Sweet Things Sweet Shop, a candy store and gift shop in the historic downtown area.

"God has given me all these talents," Mrs. French said, "And I lay in bed and I thank god for giving me each day."

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Caleb Cooper

Meet Andy Berlan and Melinda Berlan, the "Chip and Joanna Gaines" of Hearne, Texas. In addition to their full-time jobs, they flip local properties to help revitalize their beloved town.

In 2018, the Berans completed restoration on the vacant and withering Hearne post office, transforming it into a vibrant gathering place, the Pony Express Bar & Grill, which offers "Great Food, Drinks and Good Vibes," as well as live music and an energetic night life for all residents and passersby.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
Some images courtesy of Pony Express Bar & Grill
Featuring the Patriot Road band

Kaylee Elizabeth Ayers is proprietor and general manager of Bucksnort Saloon in Marlin, Texas.

Originally from Portland, Maine, Ayers brought her love of music and singing to Marlin, Texas, to help rejuvenate the town as a creative mecca of Central Texas.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Carr Burgoyne

Melissa Mahoney owns and operates The Art & Soul Emporium, a paint-and-sip art studio and gallery in historic downtown Marlin, Texas.

Apart from running her art studio and being the go-to craftsperson in Marlin, Mahoney also volunteers around town, offering her creative abilities to help rejuvenate local businesses.

PRODUCED AND EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Kaylee Greenlee, Andi Risk, Katelin Simonson, Katie Christofferson

Ms. Colleen Henson is owner and director of Let's Dance McGregor, where she teaches children and young adults a wide array of dance styles at her studio in McGregor, Texas.

"They're all so important to me," Ms. Henson said, "because they are family."

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church

Nick Norrell, 17, is the starting running back for the Oglesby Tigers six-man football team in Oglesby, Texas. A high school senior now, Nick has aspirations to become a commercial cargo pilot after graduation to help support his family, but he also dreams about playing college basketball one day.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Karen M. Church
Special thanks to Oglesby Independent School District

Ronnell Trotter is the pastor at New Magnolia Baptist Church and Independent Missionary Baptist Church, as well as the principal for Calvert ISD in Calvert, Texas.

Mr. Trotter serves the residents of Calvert in many ways, occasionally feeling disappointed by a lack of community engagement in the spiritual and academic development of the town's children.

"In all of us, in every one of us, there's a leader," Mr. Trotter said. "God has gifted you and packaged you that you may be able to lead someone in something. Go and lead!"

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church

Faith Whited was attacked by a pit bull at a very early age. "It wasn't a problem with the pit bull though,” Ms. Whited said, "it was a problem with her owners."

Today, she finds joy as a pit bull advocate and kennel coordinator for Bosque Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) in Clifton, Texas.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Karen M Church
Photos of "Marshall" courtesy of Faith Whited

Brigitte Izzo and her husband Dominic Izzo grow pecans at Izzo Pecan Farms, which is just outside of Calvert, Texas.

It began more than a decade ago as a hobby with just a few "pencil stick" sized trees. Now, with more than 300 pecan trees, Ms. Izzo stays busy, but she reminds us that, "It takes a community to make it work."

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Karen Church

If you would have asked her ten years ago if she could make money with her cooking, Bridgett Wood — Lady Zorro to some — would have told you to "Shut the front door and get out, because that's not happening."

But now she runs Zorro's Hideaway Food Train in Calvert, Texas, where she creates classic American and Latin American feasts from scratch — with her own southwestern flare.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
PRODUCTION ASST. Karen Church

Nancy Vidrine was instrumental in the founding and flourishing of the History of West Museum in West, Texas. An energetic member of the museum's board of directors, Nancy continues to dedicate her life to the preservation of West's history for future generations.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church
Historical photos courtesy of History of West Museum

Becky Kandel is a hobbyist chicken farmer in West, Texas, where she sells eggs at discounted prices to local community members in need.

PRODUCED & EDITED by Andrew B Church