Humanitarian Kristen Bell is out to make a difference in the world.
“My family was always into community outreach and helping others. I learned to value that at a very young age,” the actress told E! News. “I learned to find joy in lending a hand and lending support to those who need it. And I was taught to view all humans as a part of my family.”
Bell, 35, works with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), an organization which assists struggling individuals as they move from the streets to houses. The “Frozen” star is keen on teaching daughters Lincoln, 3, and Delta, 1, to help others.
“I am trying to teach my kids not to be stunted by country lines, language barriers, or religious boundaries. And that all human beings, and everyone in the world is part of someone’s family and they should be treated as such,” Bell said.
“It’s so simple to get caught up in lines that divide us. Why are you different? I think it’s important to remind ourselves that we are all the same and everyone is doing the best they can with what they have,” she added.
Though Bell and husband Dax Shepard have been happily married for three years, she feels a personal obligation to aid those in need.
“I have a particular affinity towards helping people who feel outcast whether they’ve made mistakes, like having past felony convictions or recovering addicts. My husband is in recovery and is almost 13 years sober,” Bell noted.
Shepard, 41, opened up about his substance abuse in Playboy, telling the mag he “loved to get f–ked up,” and that his combination of choice was Jack Daniel’s and cocaine. His struggles have allowed Bell to gain a new perspective.
“Seeing the world through his eyes has really opened mine to knowing that it is a disease and nobody is choosing to drink more than others, they are doing it because of a variety of reasons and they deserve the attention of a mental health professional, and not the county jail or however else we’re choosing to pretend we’re fixing the problem,” she said.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post's Page Six.