Creator of local Facebook group loves bringing people together for a common cause

REXBURG – Jess Goudy has been described by those who know her as a “collector of people,” with a gift for bringing people together to serve a common cause.

The 40-year-old Rexburg woman is the face behind I <3 Life in Rexburg, a Facebook group that launched in 2016 hours after a group of the same name had been deleted. The original page — managed by a friend of Goudy’s — had been a valuable resource for community updates, particularly for local schools. Relentless bullying and even death threats from users of the group led the previous administrator to take it down.

Learning from the experience of her friend, Goudy enlisted the help of six different moderators to serve as “admins” for the new group. Together, they put in about 180 hours per week — checking posts, reviewing comments and responding to questions from people in the community.

Eight years later, it’s the city’s largest Facebook presence. More than 28,000 users make posts over 50 times a day. Seventy new members have been added in the last week alone.

Goudy explains her intent behind the group in a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com.

“I want the group to be a positive place for the community to come and connect,” Goudy says. “If it’s connecting people on finding a runaway dog or (a place to get) a haircut, or (if it) helps a business or a photographer — I want to help make positive connections. That’s the angle that we’ve taken.”

Screenshot of the I <3 Life in Rexburg Facebook group

Roger Pollard, a local business owner and member of the group, appreciates Goudy’s approach. For him, it’s a valuable resource and he enjoys being a part of it.

It’s a place he regularly goes to find out what’s happening in the community.

“It’s just where people go to see what’s going on, whether it’s business related or not. If there’s a giant explosion or if the power goes out, that’s where I go for answers,” he says.

Originally called Life in Rexburg, Goudy changed the name in 2018 when several splinter groups formed. Goudy says some people were upset with the rules, such as “No Hate Speech or Bullying,” “Be Kind and Courteous,” and “Support Local (Businesses).”

“We try to clear negativity off and make it a place where people can find things, a place where people can connect with other people, a place where people can feel safe to express their opinions,” said Goudy.

Goudy says people often use social media as a way to seek attention for the sake of attention, whether positive or negative.

“(Those types of posts) are fine to a degree, but it gets troublesome if they only want feedback that they like or want, rather than engaging in genuine discussion,” says Goudy.

Tasha Larsen, a longtime admin for the group, was sitting in the same room as Goudy when the group launched. Growing the page took time, but according to Larsen, Goudy’s professional background helped them form a game plan for longterm engagement and growth.

Tasha Larsen, left, and Jess Goudy, work behind the scenes for the I <3 Life in Rexburg Facebook group. | Courtesy photo

Over time, it became a go-to platform for events, classes, and answering community questions. Users were successfully connecting with information and resources.

All six group admins have diverse perspectives on religion, politics, and life — something Larsen says helps them address issues with posts and comments effectively.

They communicate openly in a group chat to discuss concerns and find the best approach.

“Jess has always been (good at) communicating with all the other admins and taking our interests and our opinions to heart,” Larsen says. “It takes a really good leader to do that. (Goudy) is really good at collecting people … (who) want to serve other people.”

‘People coming together … for a common cause is powerful’

Goudy and Larsen also serve at the Rexburg Mobile Food Pantry, a monthly food box distribution effort made possible by a group of volunteers in Madison County. It’s an effort Goudy also organized and oversees.

The Rexburg Mobile Food Pantry operates one Tuesday a month at 4915 South Yellowstone Highway.

Goudy says the program really took off during COVID, when local families faced food shortages and struggled with social-distancing restrictions at traditional food banks.

Now in its 13th year, the food pantry is still going strong serving around 550 families a month.

Goudy says her greater sense of civic responsibility has driven her to help families and individuals in her home community any way she can.

“People coming together to serve for a common cause is powerful,” Goudy says. “I want to try to continue to create safe little networking groups, safe events, safe places for people who maybe don’t feel safe. I serve humanity. I give everybody the benefit of the doubt, and I just operate out of love.”

Jess Goudy, second from left, interacting with volunteers at the Rexburg Mobile Food Pantry. | David George, EastIdahoNews.com