The Mihaly boys — ages 7 and 10 — stood at a long table covered in toys: bright bikes, dolls, trucks, games, and puzzles. None of it was for them, but you wouldn’t know it from the joy in their eyes.
“They helped organize toys by age group and by price,” says their mother, Megan. “They loved meeting the other kids who were helping. And for them to learn — not everybody has what they have — that was big.”
The toy drive, hosted through Church of the Highlands, has become a highlight of the family’s Christmas season. But service isn’t something the Mihalys do just once a year. It’s an ongoing part of their lives that shapes their children and connects them more deeply to their community.
Greg, who is the owner of The Window Source, moved to Birmingham with Megan several years ago from Maryland. They quickly noticed something special about the city. “Birmingham has such a strong culture of people stepping up,” Greg says. “That makes it easy to get involved.”
For him, the heart of serving is being there in person. “A lot of people can just give money or donate a product,” Greg says. “But it feels so different when you actually get out there in the community and get your hands on it.”
That hands-on spirit shows up in every corner of their lives. Between Megan’s work as a dietitian, Greg’s business, and running the boys to baseball, football, and lacrosse, their calendar is full. Still, they make time to serve with Grace Klein Community, Church of the Highlands, First Light Shelter, and neighborhood projects close to home.
“Food is the one thing you have to have to live,” Megan says. “And food insecurity is a lot closer to home than people think. The Birmingham stats were shocking to me.” She’s seen it firsthand, especially in rural “food deserts” where fresh produce is scarce.
Greg says it doesn’t take tons of free time to make an impact. “These organizations just want people to help in any way they can,” he says. “It doesn’t require a special skill set — just someone willing to show up, manage a station, unload a truck, whatever’s needed. It’s not as hard as you might think.”
Whether it’s unloading 30,000 pounds of potatoes, cutting grass for a Serve Day, or dropping off dinner at a women’s shelter, the Mihalys fit serving into the margins of their busy lives. “It doesn’t have to be an all-day thing,” Greg says. “When the job’s done, it’s done.”
And as their boys have discovered, it can be surprisingly fun. “When we did the school landscaping project, they thought it was the best day ever,” Megan says, laughing. “Later, they asked, ‘When can we do that again?’”
As a business owner and a father, Greg sees volunteering as something that builds connection — not just with the community, but with the people standing beside you.
Birmingham is full of stories like theirs — families and neighbors showing up for one another. And in a season centered on giving, that spirit shines a little brighter.
“The more you serve, the easier it seems to become,” Greg says. “You meet other volunteers, form a connection, and before you know it — it’s just part of your life.”