Spreading Seeds in the Community

Donna is a single disabled lady who has been trying desperately to get social security disability.  She was finally approved, but checks were not scheduled to begin until recently.  She underwent back surgery and was finally able to walk with a walker, then a cane.  In talking with her, she indicated that she needed help with groceries, just enough to buy some staples until her first check came in.  She said 50-75 dollars would help to buy those things.  I gave her $40.00 and another lady who was talking with us gave her $40.00 also.  She was overwhelmed with the immediate generosity.  She said once she is back on her feet, she was going to do her part to help others and pay-it-forward.

A friend who plays softball with me was telling the team about a need for a family he knows whose husband/father was involved in a serious wreck.  The loss of income due to the inability to work has put the family in dire financial crisis.  The group took up a collection to help this family meet immediate financial needs.  I gave personally as well as giving $40.00 of the pay-it-forward money to assist with this need. 

 There is a retired couple, Ronnie and Sheila, who live on a fixed income.  They also take care of their 15-year-old grandson who has many medical problems.  They are the most loving and caring family I have seen in a while.  They give of themselves to the church and to the community as well as their family.  Ronnie is always the first one to offer to drive the church van to youth functions and anything else to help others.  Recently, their personal vehicle quit on them.  They were without transportation to take their grandson to the doctor or anything else requiring four wheels to get them there.  They were told their transmission was gone and it would require several hundred dollars to get the repairs made.  Their financial situation would not permit them to make the repairs.  I explained the pay-it-forward concept and that my company was sponsoring this program.  I then gave the family $200 toward the repairs.  Ronnie just broke down crying.  I was so moved by his humbleness.  After discussions with several others, we were able to raise money to help him further with the cost of repairs.  I gave him one of the fact sheets and explained that his only obligation was to pay-it-forward.

My church ladies ministry is having a mother /daughter banquet on 3 May.  All mothers and daughters in our church are invited to attend.  The cost was minimal ($2.50 per person).  A church friend asked Zambia’s 12-year-old daughter if she was coming to the banquet.  Her reply was, “no, we can not afford the gas and the cost.”  I went privately to the father, explained pay-it-forward, and gave him my last $20.00 to pay for gas to come to the event as well as pay the $7.50 for the food fee.    This father was very moved by the generosity of our company.  He hopes to one day soon be able to  Pay-It-Forward.

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