LA based Kristin Carey is an actress and human extraordinaire. Her career has been on the rise since her debut in musical theatre and dancing on tables in nursery school. You can now see her in the new epic film “The Greatest Beer Run Ever”, which is about a lot more than some beer. In addition to her acting, Kristin is the co founder of The Giving Station LA, a non profit that helps the homeless, by supplying them with school and hygiene kits. The pandemic awoke this call for action in her and her best friend, which she feels is truly gratifying. Read through Kristin Carey’s interview as she talks to Jejune Magazine about all things Hollywood and philanthropy.

Where are you based?
I was an Air Force Brat, and we travelled around quite a bit before settling in Santa Rosa. I came down to LA when I was 17. I had been accepted into the BFA Theatre Program at USC, and have called beautiful Los Angeles my home ever since.

What inspired you to get into acting?
As I look back and think about it, I feel like I always knew. I loved movies and TV and Theatre so much when I was a kid. It was pure magic to me. I wanted to do what they were doing. My parents worked long hours so I was a latch key kid and alone quite a lot, and all of those characters on the TV became my friends. I was an only child, so I spent a lot of time creating stage shows with my dolls. It makes me giggle to look back on that, but I wouldn’t change one minute of it. Everyone would ask me where I learned to sing, and I would say “Barbra Streisand taught me.” That always got a look. My parents always told me it was the only thing I ever talked about, and when I got kicked out of Nursery School for singing and dancing on the tables and getting the other students involved, they knew, and were hoping it was a phase. It was not. Being in a small town in Northern California, did not lend itself to being in show business and or knowing the first thing about it. So I had a pretty normal life and continued to follow my passions by doing community theatre as well as school productions. My first role on stage was as a munchkin in “The Wizard of Oz”, I was taller than Dorothy. I studied Classical Piano and became a cheerleader, competitive swimmer and tennis player. I was lucky to be able to be a kid. Ride dirt bikes, make tree forts and grab pollywogs in our creek. My parents told me early on that education was first, and I am still grateful for that advice. The one movie that made a huge impact on me was ORDINARY PEOPLE. As a 10 year old I connected with the Mary Tyler Moore character. That still makes me laugh. I have always been told I am an old soul and I completely connected to her pain. She made me feel so deeply and I knew very clearly in that moment that I was going to be an actress.

You have acted in musical theatre as well as traditional film. Is there a certain aspect of each that makes you prefer one over the other?
I have had the great fortune of working in all mediums, and each one has it’s own special qualities. There is nothing like walking onto a stage and performing in front of an audience. It is exhilarating and scary, but it just makes my soul sing. You have one take and you get to be in this glorious dance with your fellow actors. I think I feel the closest to it, because it was my first love and it formed me as a person and an artist. I always felt safe on stage. It was like church to me. I could step inside a theatre and leave the world outside, because when you are on stage, anything is possible. I hope one day to be on Broadway. I think what they all have in common is the joy of collaborating. Creating with others. To this day I still get excited walking onto a set. I feel like a kid at summer camp.

You were recently in “The Greatest Beer Run Ever”. Can you tell us a bit about this film?
It was an honor to be a part of this film. It’s a true story about Chickie Donohue, who decides one night after drinking, that he is going to bring a beer to every boy from Inwood who is over in Vietnam. Absolutely crazy idea, but he does it. And it changes his life. He wants to make sure that the boys from his neighborhood know we are all behind them and are supporting them. A noble gesture, but most people will talk a big game and do nothing, Chickie followed through. I play Mrs. Minogue who is the mother of Tommy Minogue, Chickie’s best friend, who ends up MIA in Vietnam. I ask Chickie to bring something to Tommy over in Vietnam, because I do not accept he is missing. I won’t give anymore away. Go see the film or stream it on Apple.

How crazy is it that this is a true story??
It’s just incredible. I was floored when I read his book, which goes into a lot more detail about his time in Saigon, but we only have two hours, and Peter Farrelly, the Oscar winning writer/Director landed the plane perfectly. Peter has a gift of tackling very uncomfortable subject matter with humor, but with a very clear and poignant message. It’s a stunning film.

In a time when we are all very worried about the next WW3, what was it like releasing a war film?
I think it is good to look back on our history with a spotlight and to get to the truth and learn from the mistakes we made. Any war is terrible and it breaks my heart to see young men and women putting themselves on the front lines for wars that seem senseless. I know we do need to help other countries who are vulnerable and to protect civilians, but Like Bill Murray says in the film “War is messy and chaotic”. All of my family members have served, and I am in awe of our military and have the deepest respect for every person who has served and is currently serving. What Chickie comes to realize after spending time” in country” is that the American people were not being told the truth about what was going on in Vietnam and we lost too many soldiers because of it. Seeing it up close changed him and gave him a purpose for the rest of his life. I am so proud of this film and the message it sends.

You are the co-founder of The Giving Station LA. Can you tell us more about your non profit?
My best friend Kathrin Middleton and I were making bag lunches for the Hollywood Coalition during the pandemic, but we felt we could do more. We saw so much suffering and wanted to do something about it. The pandemic really shed a light on how many people in our community were suffering. So one night it just came to us and we started throwing out ideas and researching what was needed most, and The Giving Station LA was born in her living room. We are a grass roots non profit, we do everything. We shop, put the kits and backpacks together and deliver them. Every cent goes to the school kits and hygiene kits. We have been able to supply 4 Elementary Schools and have several more on the list. The big challenge is fundraising, but we know how important this is for our community and we just keep moving forward. We know those Angel donors are out there.

Why was it important for you to focus on hygiene kits and school care kits for the youth?
What we discovered was that the vast majority of people in shelters were women and children. So we thought we need to also make Backpacks full of school supplies as well as a hygiene kit. Another thing we did was have other elementary school children write encouraging notes for each backpack. We wanted the kids to know that they are loved and supported. We also do male and female adult hygiene kits, which we have paired with the School kits and are given out to families in need. I am not sure if Angelenos knows how many schools in the LAUSD are suffering and need our help. We have a serious issue with the unhoused as well as many families transitioning to temp housing from the streets, and the pandemic really increased this need. So many people got hit hard and there is just not enough resources for them.

What pushed you to start your non-profit? Where do you see it going in the future?
We are both so blessed in our lives and felt that we could do more and hopefully inspire others to join us. The Giving Station LA is growing daily and we are so excited to be working with some incredible administrators and teachers in the LAUSD at all these schools. They care so much for their students and are so appreciative for every drop off. It feels really good to see our idea come to fruition and that we are actually making a difference in someone’s life. Our Backpacks and Hygiene Kits foster a sense of hope, dignity and pride to our recipients and provide motivation and encouragement for their future. We have always thought this could be a global organization. This need is not unique to the United States. We are staying open to all possibilities.

Do you plan to expand your non profit to other cities as well?
We would love to have a Giving Station in every city. It is definitely in our long term plan, but right now we are dedicated to the people of Los Angeles County and making sure that every child has the tools to help them learn and to feel clean, and that every adult in need is provided with a Hygiene Kit and resources to get them back on their feet.

During covid we saw an increase in homelessness. How did covid impact The Giving Station LA?
We saw the need just skyrocket. We would make up Hygiene Kits and drive around and drop them off to anyone in need. We are working with SELAH and HEALTHCARE.GOV who are organizations that have people on the ground daily, helping our unhoused with medical issues as well as helping get into temporary housing and employment. It is a perfect partnership and we are so thrilled to be providing Hygiene kits to them.

How have you been staying positive during these past few years?
I will admit the pandemic was challenging, but I try to stay in gratitude every single day. I feel so grateful for my health and my family and friends, and to be able to get to do what I love as an actress. I am not sure if The Giving Station LA would have been created without the pandemic. The pandemic forced me to slow down and really take a look at myself and figure out what was my purpose on this earth? So happy we listened to that little voice inside that kept encouraging Kathrin and I. I love that I get to do this with my best friend. I have always felt that if you get outside of yourself and help another human, your life will be full.

What is your motto in life?
Never give up. Find what lights you up inside, and just do it. Be kind to one another. Follow your heart.

To learn more about Kristin Carey, please follow her via the Instagrams below:
@Kristinnicolecarey
@TheGivingStationLA

Photography by Dean Foreman.

Kristin Carey Is No Ordinary People