Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Pay it Forward- Jen T.

This is Jen's story.


Location: Olmstead, OH

"My name is Brittany and this is the short story of Jen, an employee of mine.

Jen is a 42 year old single mother of 5. 

3 of her children and 2 of their significant others live with her in her 2 bedroom apartment. She is a giver, a nurturer, and has the kindest heart. She doesn’t say no. She met a guy, fell in love and and quickly found herself supporting him as well. After she helped him financially and put herself out for her children and this man, he left her. 
High and dry. With nothing left but a broken heart. 
Her apartment wasn’t in good living conditions so she and her family moved to another 2 bedroom apartment in Lorain, Ohio, near Cleveland. 
It’s in a bad area and her safety is a huge concern of mine. 
She has hardly any furniture. 
It’s cold and doesn’t feel like a home. But it’s home to Jen.
She comes to work often with a grocery bag with a fork and some kind of canned noodles from the dollar store. I know she can’t afford much else so I’ll get take out for her and I, knowing she she isn’t able to splurge like that. 

She is always so happy and grateful.

She gets government assistance but it’s not enough because of the house hold size she’s taking care of. Often times she will work 8 hour days and doesn't eat. Not because she’s not hungry, but because she can’t afford to. 

Before I became her boss, she got moved to a permanent work location that is an additional 30 min to work one way with $1 raise. I’m trying to get that reversed as she’s losing money.
Her clothes are old and worn, as are her children’s. She wears makeup from family dollar that sometimes makes her face breakout but it’s all she can afford. 

I wish she knew, she’s beautiful without it and doesn’t need it at all. Her beauty shines so bright to others, even strangers.
She had an old vehicle and the transmission went out. She was able to scrap that and get a used truck, soon to find out that the alternator was bad. She was taking Lyfts to work (roughly $20 one way) and during a trip to work, she and the Lyft driver were talking about her truck. He offered to lend her a hand. 3 weeks later her truck is working due to the kindness of this strangers heart. 

He went to a local scrap yard called Pull a Part , found her an alternator and installed it for her.
Nov 27th was the first day she was able to have her own transportation to get to and from work. Shortly before her shift was over, she had to leave early because her daughter was in a minor car accident. 

We spoke about how God is so good and put that man in her path to help her get her vehicle up and running so she was able to run and aid to her daughter. 
Shortly after 11 PM, I received a text message from Jen stating that that same daughter being at the wrong place at the wrong time, was shot twice in the neck. 
In less than eight hours she has already had two surgeries trying to remove swelling from the brain. I am so worried for Jen and her daughter, I know she is worrying about work and I have instructed her to let me handle it. That’s just the type of person Jen is. Worrying about everything. Even when attention should be on her and her family.

I want to help her out.. I want to give back. I want others that know or have Jen’s in their life, to recognize the sacrifice of being a single mom struggling with so many children, that just want life to cut them a break."

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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Jen's Wish List for her and her children and items will be shipped to Brittany while Jen is in the hospital with her daughter.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

You can send monetary donations HERE.
This will go to basic necessities for Jen and her kids.

If you would like to send a letter of encouragement, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line JEN1219.

Thank you for paying it forward.


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Pay it Forward- Marissa's Smile

This is Marissa.


Location: Wichita Falls, TX

"I’m writing in regards to my sister, Marissa. 
She is a mother to 2 boys, ages are 11 and 5. 
She is such a funny person and always brings out the best in those around her. 
However, she made some bad choices in 2008 and began using drugs when she started hanging around with the wrong crowd. 
It wasn’t long before getting back on the right track but the effects of the drugs were long lasting. 
Her teeth were extremely damaged and still are. She has her joy but her smile is gone and it hurts my heart. 
She is so good about putting everyone before herself! I want her to put herself first but she needs some help.

She lost her top teeth to her addiction. 
She cleaned herself up and has remained clean for 5 years, Thank God! 
Even since her sobriety her joy has diminished due to her smile being taken. 
She works so hard as a single mom to support her two boys and always puts herself last. 
She is in desperate need of her remaining teeth to be pulled (6) that are broken and decayed and dentures. 
The total cost is around $1,200 at the local dental clinic. 
I would love to help but as a college senior and a family of my own, I don’t have the extra cash to give her. 
I am reaching out to you for help. 
Please help my sister regain her joy and SMILE."
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I know this story will touch many people who have dealt with, or have a family member who has dealt with addiction.
Let's remember it is not our place to judge others' journey's. 
Marissa has worked hard to provide for her boys and get her life back in order. That in and of itself is amazing and commendable. 

Let's help Marissa get her smile back!

WAYS TO HELP:

You can donate directly to Marissa's dental fund via her PayPal HERE.
These monetary donations will go directly toward the dental work Marissa needs done.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

If you are a dentist, or know of resources to help Marissa with her smile, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line MARISSA1218.

Thank you for paying it forward.


Monday, December 17, 2018

Pay it Forward- Brooklyn

This is Brooklyn's story.

Location: Midland, TX

"Imagine feeling like you have life figured out. 
You have a good life with three healthy kids. 
Then out of nowhere your life takes a complete turn and one of your kids gets diagnosed with a rare medical condition. This is the reality for little 7 year old Brooklyn and her family. 
A girl who once had so much life is now in intense therapy trying to piece her little life back together. 
Her and her family have been in the hospital since October and I can only imagine the financial toll it has taken on them. She was admitted into a Lubbock hospital and has since been moved to Cooks in Ft Worth. 
Neither of the hospitals are close to home where mom can run back and forth to tend to her other children while they attend school. 
I imagine dad is the one who travels back and forth when he can, as he is the sole provider for this family at the moment. Mom (Jeanette)says she is progressing little by little but I want to make sure this family gets a little help durning the holidays. 
Below is a post from Brooklyn's mom:


Brooklyn's mom says the main thing they are struggling with is getting their mortgage and light bill paid. she also just informed me that she just got off phone with Medicaid and they’re denying her benefits. 
She’s worried about not being able to afford medical equipment she will need when Brooklyn finally gets released. Brooklyn is considered disabled at this point.
In addition to their Wish Lists, they can benefit from gas cards because the dad drives back and forth from Midland to Ft Worth every weekend to see her, I’m sure grocery cards will come in handy as well."
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from their Wish Lists and it will be sent directly to them.

Brooklyn's Wish List

Kaiden's Wish List (Brooklyn's 10 year old brother)

Camille's Wish List (Brooklyn's 3 year old sister)

Jeanette's Wish List (Brooklyn's mom)

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

You can send monetary donations HERE.
This will go toward groceries, gas to get to and from the hospital and bills.

If you would like to send a letter of encouragement or other items, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line BROOKLYN1217.

Thank you for paying it forward.


Sunday, December 16, 2018

Pay it Forward- Rayven

This is Rayven & her boys.

Location: Hattiesburg, MS

"My sister-in-law, Rayven Coleman, is a single parent with two small boys, Mason, 3, and Major, 1. 
She is a great mother and often takes on other children who tend to cling to her. 
On December 7, 2018, Rayven graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and on December 10th she will begin her first job as an elementary school teacher. 
The last few years, Rayven has struggled to make good grades and provide for her boys. 
She had to quit her full time job, to student teach, and took a small part time job cleaning an office building in the evenings to make money for necessities. 
She has had a rough time in her marriage and recently split from her husband, which made it things even more difficult. Although it has been difficult, financially and mentally, she didn't give up and her sacrifices are beginning to manifest.   

As we all know, being a new teacher can be expensive. 
There are so many things that are needed to make a classroom come together and right now, Rayven will have to start with whatever is left behind from the last teacher. 
She hasn't had any new clothes in quite a while as all her money is put into making sure her boys are taken care of. 
She doesn't have much but she is willing to give her all to her children at home and at school. 
I hope that you will see fit to bless Rayven and her boys. 
They are truly deserving."
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Rayven's Wish List and items will ship directly to her.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

If you would like to send a gift card or letter of encouragement please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line RAVVEN1216

Thank you for paying it forward.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Pay it Forward- Corrie & Soleil

This is Corrie & Soleil

Location: Clackamas, OR 
"I'm a single mom of a 10 year old girl and it's been just the 2 of us since my daughter Soleil was 10 months old. Child support has been sporadic, and I earn just enough to make ends meet.
This year has been very rocky for my daughter and me. 

In March, I heard my cat knock something over in the middle of the night. It woke me a bit, but then I fell back to sleep. In the dreamy place between sleep and being awake, I heard someone breathing, and then I cracked my eyes and noticed a wadded up blanket I didn’t recall leaving next to my bed. I reached out to touch it. At that point, I woke all the way up because it wasn’t a blanket, it was a man, crouched next to my bed. My daughter was asleep next to me. I quietly asked him why he was in my bedroom, and all he said was ‘where’s your daughter at?’ She is tiny and likes to sleep with the blankets over her head and I realized he had not seen her. I lied and said she was gone. He told me that some men were looking for her for sex and had been watching us for a while. I stayed calm and spoke to him in a whisper to not wake my daughter. Eventually he left on his own and we were unharmed. My daughter slept through the entire event by the grace of God.

I used all the money I had saved to put 3% down on a home loan to move into a new apartment within 2 days of the break in between the cost of movers, deposits etc.

Things were going well until late July when I was laid off from the job I’d absolutely loved for the past three years. They were amazing and gave me 3 months to find a job and help train a coworker that would be absorbing some of my role. The next morning, I went to go to work and someone had stolen my car. I kept my game face on, reported it to the police and my insurance and called my boss to come and pick me up for work. As you know, being a single mom means that even when you want to just sit down a cry, you put on your big girl panties and keep on going. Fortunately, I had good insurance and in the grand scheme of things, it ended up being okay. The car was never found and I got a new one.

I found a job shortly before the end of my previous job and started working October 15th and I am so grateful to have found a job, however the pay is significantly less, and the commute is over an hour each way. It’s a small company, just myself and realtor and he failed to let his accountant know that I had been hired. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, but the accountant only works one day a month and we only get paid once a month. Due to the timing, I didn’t get a paycheck for almost 2 months. My daughters birthday also fell within that time. As soon as I did get paid I spent almost all of itineraries rent and trying to catch up, but I am unable to make ends meet. I’m having to decide which bills are critical and which can wait. I’m 2 months behind on my electric bill and every week I go to the grocery store and calculate my way through shopping. My budget for two of us is $30 a week which means we eat a LOT of pasta and rice. I never thought I’d stress about things like buying  meat or fresh fruits and vegetables.

Last week, after some hard thinking and a lot of tears in my car (I’m sure you know from your time as a single parent, the car and the shower are where you cry) I decided to let my daughter know that there is no Santa, and this year will be different from previous years. She was awesome about it and we had a good, positive  talk, but later that evening I found her in her room trying to be strong for me. She was quietly crying in her room because she was sad about Santa not being real. She already had an inkling that Santa wasn’t real, but it was definitely the end to part of her childhood, and she didn’t want me to see her upset. 
It was heartbreaking.

All I want is for her to have a happy Christmas. That’s it. I can try to patchwork together basics for day to day life, but I have nothing to spare. This year has been so exhausting, with all the crazy things that have happened and I know we can weather the storm, and hopefully I’ll be back on my feet soon."
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Let's help Corrie & Soliel have a great Christmas this year!

WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Corrie's Wish List and items will be sent directly to them.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

You can send monetary donations HERE.
This will go toward food, groceries, bills, etc.

If you'd like to send a card, gift card, or letter of encouragement, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line CORRIE1215

Thank you for paying it forward.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Pay it Forward- The Dozier Family

This is the Dozier Family.


Location: Omaha, NE

"My husband and I would like help a friend and bless a family truly in need this Christmas!! One of my husband's coworkers is Todd Dozier. He and his wife have been to our house several times for New Year’s Eve and July 4th etc...  They have a 17 year old boy and a 11 year old boy ....
 
His beautiful wife Crystine was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier in the year and had 5/6 treatments and right before the last one contracted West Nile and is currently on the ventilator and in a coma at Madonna in Lincoln.... we just found out the husband, Todd who works for my husband, and children are struggling .... emotionally and financially....
 They were a two income family and now down to one etc. As a newly single grieving dad he is at a loss on how to ask for help or apply for different programs ... I’m going to try and help with that but in the meantime we want to help make this a great Christmas for them and as it has been a horrible year for them...
 
He has had to go to the food bank, ask for assistance and decide on weather to pay his electric bill vs have money for food, gas to get to Lincoln to see their mom/wife etc .... 
We would love to bless them with food, gas cards, a gift for each kid etc 

Below is from Todd Dozier himself ... 
"She earned the vast majority of our income, and without it, I have not been able to maintain even basic utilities, rent, food, etc., and have been falling further and further behind since then, pretty much constantly in shut-off for the last 4-6 weeks.
 
On top of that, my insurance decided not to pay for her care any longer, and so all of her physical therapies now fall on me to keep her body and joints working, even though her hospital is an hour drive away. I have to be there at least 3 times a week to keep her going, and after only a few short weeks she has already started to lock up because of my inability to get down there due to weather, unsafe driving conditions, etc. Fuel is a major expense for me as well because of this, nearly $400/month in November.
Our two sons at home have not had the heart to put much of a Christmas list together, and so they are very short. They just want their mother home. ""
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from The Dozier Family Wishlist and items will be sent directly to them.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

Todd and the kids need monetary donations for gas, food, bills, etc. You can send them a monetary donation HERE.

If you would like to send a gift card or letter of encouragement please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line DOZIER1214

Thank you for paying it forward.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Pay it Forward- Tiana

This is Tiana's story.

Location: West Allis, WI

"I would like to nominate my student, Tiana, who is deserving of so much more than I can offer her.  
I have known Tiana since she was a freshman at the high school I teach in. 
She is now a senior, and she has experienced more hard times in the past 4 years than most ordinary people deal with in a lifetime.
In short, I teach in and she is from a very urban area. 
Without great detail, her home life was toxic and abusive. 
She has been living on her own for 3 years, since she was a sophomore, and she has had to juggle working full time to pay rent, pay for transportation and food, clothing, school supplies, drivers education, ACT, cell phone, and other necessities for a teenage girl. 
She recently had to save to buy a winter coat for our Wisconsin winter. 
She struggled hard in school her sophomore and junior years, and this year, she has worked extremely hard to achieve her goal of going to college.
It breaks my heart, and her other teachers, to see the responsibilities she faces alone, and we are so very proud of how dedicated she is to being successful despite her struggles.
Some things that would make the financial burden a little lighter for her, and give her the opportunity to enjoy things a teenage girl should be able to would be, gift cards for Uber/lyft to get from school/work/home, gift cards for grocery/fast food restaurants, Walmart/Target/Amazon gift cards for necessities, store gift cards for clothing, or letters of support.
I want Tiana to experience the love and support  of others to bring her hope for her future. 
She deserves the world! 

We were able to have her Personal Finance teacher create an extra credit "project" for her to do which included making a Wish List and planning a budget around it.  
I am trying to keep this a complete surprise for her so her teachers and I can set up a special Christmas celebration for her and deliver all the love before going on Christmas break.  
Most of our students, especially Tiana, struggle so much with long breaks from school because they are alone, have no love and support outside of school, and struggle to find their next meal, a safe place to sleep or just hang out, etc.  
I want her to go into this break feeling loved!"
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Tiana's Wish List and have it sent directly to the school in care of her teacher. 

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

You can send monetary to Tiana directly through PayPal HERE.
This will go toward food, bills, Uber/Lyfts to get to and from school.

If you would like to send a letter of encouragement, etc., please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line TIANA1213

Thank you for paying it forward.






Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Pay it Forward- The Purvis Family

This is the Purvis Family.


Location: Marietta, GA

"I would like to nominate a family I know from bible study.  
Their names are Justin and Marybeth and they have four young, sweet kiddos.  
Their youngest, Ansley, just turned six months old and has spent most of the last three months in a pediatric hospital due to extreme fussiness, throwing up, and stomach issues.  

They ran a bunch of tests to find out was going on and eventually had to place a feeding tube.

Marybeth spent much of this time away from her older children and Justin took unpaid time off of work to care for them so Marybeth could focus on the baby.  
This family is so giving of their time to others...case in point, Justin is involved with a homeless ministry and he serves meals every Thursday.  
He refused to miss a Thursday while this was going on because it was that important to him.  
Now that Christmas is upon us, they don't know how they are going to provide gifts for their kids because they are struggling to make ends meet as it is.  

They could really use things like Visa gift cards or gift cards to places where they can buy groceries and toiletries (Kroger, Target).  Medical bills are piling up and Justin has had to take unpaid time off of work.  Now he is working the graveyard shift so he can help with the kids during the day.

I would love for them to feel the support that they so willingly give to others!
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from the Purvis Family Wishlist and items will be sent directly to them.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

If you'd like to send monetary donations to help with bills and groceries, gift cards, or send a card or letter of encouragement, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line PURVIS1212


Thank you for paying it forward.



Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Pay it Forward- Sasha

This is the Sasha's story.
Sasha had her late husband added to the pic so the boys would always remember him.

Location: Buckeye, AZ

"I would like to nominate a childhood friend. Her name is Sasha. 
She lost her husband to cancer in August. They have four children. She is now left with thousands of dollars in hospital bills, a mortgage, and raising their four boys alone. She is a woman that never asks for anything. She stood by helplessly as her husband deteriorated and was there for countless surgeries and all the long nights. I feel she is so deserving of this precious nomination you are so kindly organizing. I have included a couple pictures of this amazing family she just had done. 
They have truly been through such a tragedy. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this blessing. 
With this being their first Christmas without Logan I know this one in particular will be difficult, not only emotionally, but financially. 
However, I know with your help and the help of your amazing followers we can make this Christmas a bit brighter for them. 
When Sasha heard that I had nominated her and that she was selected she was in tears. This woman never asks for anything and I know wouldn't have ever sought out any sort of assistance. 
She is unbelievably strong and has been a pillar of strength for her family. 
Her only wish is that her boys have the best Christmas as possible."
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WAYS TO HELP

You can purchase directly from Sasha & the Boys Wish List and it will be send directly to them.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

They could also benefit from gift cards to Walmart, Target and Home Depot to use for clothing, groceries and home maintenance. 
If you'd like to send anything to her, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line SASHA1211

Thank you for paying it forward.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Pay it Forward- Ms. Martin's Class

This is Ms. Martin's Kindergarten class


Location: Dorchester, MA

"I have been in tears of happiness watching your pay it forward stories. They have made me think of my amazing students and how much more I wish I could give them. Your friends have been so generous to so many so I thought I would submit my own request on behalf of my classroom.

I teach in a kindergarten autism classroom in the Boston Public Schools system. My school is a title 1 school with 100% of students living in poverty. The students in my classroom present with significant special needs, particularly with communication, social skills, and sensory regulation. On top of their diagnosis, half of my students live in shelters or transitional housing. All of my students come from single parent households, and many of these parents were teenagers when my students were born. Their lives are tough. However, the love big and make my life brighter every day. School for many is a safe haven, and the consistent puzzle piece in their sometimes hectic life.

As we work on building communication and behavior skills, I would love to have proactive strategies available for them that could help them remain calm while facing the world. I would love to get some weighted vests, blankets, and lap pads for my students to help them regulate their sensory systems which would help them participate with greater independence throughout the school day. 


Most of my students do not come to school with snacks so I buy them myself so they won’t go hungry during the school day. If we could get granola bars, crackers, or anything else that would keep for a while in a closet, I would be very grateful (as would their tummies!). 
Gift cards to target, CVS, stop& shop, or amazon that I could send home to their families to purchase food and basics would also be wonderful.
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Ms. Martin's Amazon Wishlist and the items will be sent directly to their school.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

Ms. Martin has a Donor's Choose site set up for some things for her classroom. You can donate directly to that HERE.

If you would like to send snacks, gift cards, etc. please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line CLASS1210

Thank you for paying it forward.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Pay it Forward- Bowman Family

This is Jennifer's story.


Location: Albany, TX

My friend, Jennifer Bowman of Albany, Texas is the sweetest soul I have ever met.  
She has two beautiful girls, Julia 16 and Jalea 12.  
She is a single mom who works as a Special Education aid but also works 3 extra jobs just to barely scrape by.  
She drives a school bus route, runs the church nursery and also works the gates for all the High School sports. 
She also takes care of her mother who has several health issues & has been hospitalized several times this year. 
Jennifer also took in two small children for a year until CPS could place them.  
She NEVER complains, she is the most positive, happy person you could meet.  
She goes out of her way to help others, without regard to herself.  
Jennifer has been overweight and was diabetic. She got motivated to get healthy and has been eating healthy and has lost 60 pounds since February.  
We all know how expensive it is to eat healthy but she has done it without medicine or fancy diets.  
She has been suffering from migraines, due to stress, yet NEVER complains or calls in sick.  
Her electric bill is sky high because the little house she lives in is so drafty.  
Her oldest daughter is in National Honor Society, FCCLA and FFA so the everyday fees from those things are high. Her kids never complain or ask for anything. They know how hard their mom works and never make her feel like she isn't doing what they need.  Her daughters are smart, sweet, hard working and positive just like their mother.  I have tried to help Jennifer any time I can but she just says "it's ok, God will provide."  
She wouldn't ask for help from our community Christmas program because she said she is blessed and there are so many others worse off than her.  
As hard as Jennifer works everyday without a single complaint or pity party, I want to bless her socks off!!! I know there are soooo many cases of people needing help.  Jennifer is just seriously an angel on Earth and deserves to see God manifest in a huge way in her life!! Her girls need to see that having a heart of gold will reap benefits if you just work hard and love others!!"
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WAYS TO HELP

You can purchase items directly from Jennifer's Wishlist and have them sent directly to her.


Julia loves photography, makeup & clothes like a typical teenager! Jalea wants to be a cosmetologist when she grows up & loves to cook! Jennifer needed new shoes & the men’s are wider so that’s why she chose men’s. 
They chose gift cards because they were unsure of sizes because they haven’t shopped recently. 
Jennifer said her biggest needs are Walmart gift cards for groceries & toiletries. 
She said she would love to be able to just go buy groceries without worrying about whether she has enough money. She also said gift cards for gas would be helpful.


OTHER WAYS TO HELP

If you'd like to send Jennifer monetary donations you can do so HERE.
These donations will go toward gas, groceries, bills and necessities for Jennifer and her two daughters.

If you would like to send Jennifer a card or letter of encouragement please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line JENNIFER129.

Thank you for Paying it Forward.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Pay it Forward- Gina

This is Gina's story.


Location: South Plainfield, NJ

"I would like to nominate a family friend of mine since I was a child. 
Her name is Gina. 
Gina is an amazing woman and her family is too.
Unfortunately, she lost her husband on June 30, 2018. 

They were out to dinner when he said they needed to leave ASAP because he wasn’t feeling well. He ended up having severe food poisoning from seafood and died within 48 hours. This death was completely unexpected and left the family in utter shock and hurt.
As if that wasn’t enough for her to go through, she hosted Thanksgiving for her children and family members at her home this year. They smoked a turkey and she dumped the ash into the outside garbage, which then caught the leaves and the house on fire. 
She had thought she had given them enough time to cool off and were not going to be an issue in the woods on the side of her home. 
Luckily she was able to safely get herself and her dog out in time, but her house is a complete loss. 
She lost EVERYTHING. 
All the memories and things that her and her husband made. Just EVERYTHING. 
As I write this I am so upset about it. I feel terrible and we are going to do our best to help her get through another rough time.
With that being said I truly feel as though she is deserving of the best Christmas that we can give her. I would love to be able to surprise her and put a smile on her face."
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase gift cards directly from Gina's Wishlist and have them sent to her daughter's home.


OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

Gina is in need of gift cards to rebuild her home. Kohl's, Target, ShopRite, Bed Bath & Beyond and Walmart.
If you'd like to send a letter of encouragement to Gina, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line GINA128.

Thank you for Paying it Forward.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Pay it Forward- Brave Grace

This is Grace's story.
 Get your tissues. 
This woman is BRAVE!!!





Location: Garden Grove, CA

"I would like to nominate a true GEM of a Momma. This gal is a single momma of four resilient kiddos who all have escaped a lifetime of watching their mom being abused and or being abused themselves. Her oldest is a freshman in high school and she has 3 little boys. Her youngest suffers from a rare genetic disease called: 

Tuberous sclerosis--also called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)1--is a rare, multi-system genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. It usually affects the central nervous system and results in a combination of symptoms including seizures, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities, and kidney disease.
 
It is just an awful sentence for her sweet Rocky boy. 

I actually went to high school with her and we reconnected over a blog she ran several years ago. I just loved all the things she had to say and all the positive energy she would put into the universe. Shortly after connecting the dots she started a handmade business making adorable moccasins to support her family. Lucky for me I just found out I was pregnant and was thrilled to support her and my little girls fashion! I followed her adventures and was devastated when one day her and her family vanished. From recent posts I just had the biggest pit in my stomach as I was terrified her safety. Months went by with no contact and then out of nowhere she appeared beaten and broken. Luckily her man messed up in public and the light at the end of the tunnel began to shine for her. It was no walk in the park, she and her children literally escaped with the clothes on there backs and nothing else. No clothed, food, money, car and her babies medication was left behind as well. As time went on she would begin to find herself again and start to rebuild, with each step forward life would drag her 50 steps backwards. The worst for me was when she went to use the money she received for her baby with needs her husband had taken the money and she had no way to pay for his medication. Her sweet boy suffers from daily multiple seizers and needs so much medical help. This monster was stealing all of this childs help !!! Seriously who does this?? 

This sweet mom had hustled from the beginning of her freedom. At one point she had 3, THREE jobs to make ends meet! One of her jobs was a night job cleaning a parking lot up after-hours in a not so great of town, but as a mom she did what she had to and was thankful to be doing it. She went on to get an apartment of her own for her and her kiddos and has not stopped hustling since. Besides giving life all its got I love that she has taken back one of her pride and joys and is starting up a new moccasin company. You see, this man stole her domain, her patents and her entire community of customers and destroyed it. I am beyond proud of what she is doing to prove to her children that they are now safe, loved and she will do all the things to provide for them. They live a life with zero luxuries. They could not afford new school clothes, school supplies or even halloween costumes. I can  not imagine what burden she is feeling this Holiday season as she can not give her children a Christmas they deserve. Her older daughter deserves so much as she has saved her mother life and has stood by her side as a solid rock. Her sweet boys don't ask for much as they no the answer will always be no. They don't complain when their mom is gone all day hustling so they can have a safe place to call home. I would love to rock their world this season and show them that the world is not evil like the once knew, that people are not monsters and that the world loves to give and encourage each and every one of us. 


ALSO! The other most amazing thing about her is she had helped around 75 other victims of domestic violence escape. She has called ubers for people, put people up in hotels, and given resources so that they no longer have to live like she did ! I mean seriously instead of focusing on her healing she is helping the world one person at a time.

Please read her blog www.shegotbrave.com as it only has a few entries and gives the full details of what happened to her as it is all too much for me to pit into words and she does an amazing job of telling her story. If she isn't a candidate maybe you can lead people to her mock business on IG called @anchoredsoleco"

This is a post taken directly from Grace's blog:

"When I was 8 months pregnant with Rocky, I locked myself in the bathroom to take a bath. I was upset over mean customers that had hurt my feelings at the time, and remember locking the door so that Franky wouldn't walk in and see me crying. A few minutes into my emotional break, my husband tried the handle to open the door. I called out to him that I would be out in just a minute and that I was having a bad day. He yelled, "You have no idea what a bad day is unless you don't unlock this door!" I told him I'd be right out, and he started cussing and calling me names. As he screamed at me, he suddenly broke through the bathroom door; sending pieces of wood and door jam in every direction. (Picture the Kool Aid man going through a wall, only not funny.) He grabbed a huge piece of wood and held it above his head and yelled, "You have 20 seconds to clean every single piece of dust in this room or this (motioning the wood in his hands) is going to go across your face!" I frantically climbed out of the tub and used my awaiting towel to scoop wood and debris into a pile. "ONE... TWO... THREE... FOUR..." and so on until he got to twenty. I did not clean up the broken door in time.

When I moved in with my parents last month, my stepmom told me to take a bath and have a glass of wine. I went upstairs and drew a bath, and stared at it until it was no longer warm enough to sit in. I pretended that I had relaxed, and left the bathroom wrapped in a towel- tears from that memory still falling from my eyes.

A few nights later, I decided that more than two years was far too long to go without a relaxing bath, and forced myself into the tub. I stared at the door the entire time.

Each time I attempt an unwinding bath, I make progress. It's so unfair that someone can take a normal activity and make you fear it.

Tonight I share a little more of my story from the tub. And this time, I'm not crying. And I haven't looked at the door once."

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What an incredibly brave mama! Let's help her have a Christmas to remember this year for her 4 children and their brand new life!

WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase items from their Amazon wishlist's and have them sent directly to Grace:


Family Wish list HERE

Taylor's Wish list HERE

Warner's Wish list HERE

Franky's Wish list HERE

Rocky's Wish List HERE (chosen by the kids collectively)

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

Grace has a new business where she sells adorable handmade moccasins. You can find her on Instagram at @shegotbrave and her business at @anchoredsoleco to purchase from her and support her small business

If you would like to send letters of encouragement, gift cards, etc. please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject GRACE127.


Thursday, December 6, 2018

Pay it Forward- Jamie

This is Jamie & her kids. 


Location: Wylie, TX

"I am writing to you about a coworker and very dear friend of mine, Jamie. 
We have grown close over our two years of working together. 
Being a very closed off and private person, she is still shedding layers daily, letting me into her personal life. 
Jamie is 28 years old and a single mother of two wonderful children- Maximus, 3 years old and Hailey, 9 years old. 
They are her world. 
Coming into the medical field as a Medical Assistant fresh from school with no experience, the pay she is given is not anywhere near what she deserves. 
Before starting with our company, she was allowed food stamps to help provide for her family; however, with even the small income she collects, the government took away this crucial benefit. 
The struggle I witness her experience daily brings tears to my eyes. 
Gas, food, day care, rent and utilities, etc... they are literally impossible for her single income to keep up with. 
As we have continued our friendship, I have learned of the severely difficult cards she has been dealt her entire life. Growing up with little to no family and witnessing things unthinkable, adulthood has proven nothing better for her. 
Her son's father is currently in prison, due for release in April. A man that deserves no place in their lives. 
Her last relationship of five years was extremely abusive- mentally and physically. 
I would cry seeing her come into work bleeding, bruised, and gashed- heavy makeup trying to cover a beating from the previous night. 
Always making sure her children got to school safely and she was on time for work. She and her family are still being harassed by this horrible man.
She works endless hours trying to provide for these precious kids, still never coming out on top. I try to provide and help where I can, but Christmas will be impossible for her. 
RENT is impossible for her, even in a low income, unsafe complex.
She has been exposed to pure toxicity and danger her entire life, yet her heart is so pure and she exudes positivity. Hopefulness. Optimism. For a better life for her children and herself.
These children will have nothing they NEED for Christmas, much less anything a child would actually WANT. 
Jamie as well. I love her dearly and admire her strength, courage, and dedication. 
Her family just deserves a break.. from the poisonous people and lack of happiness they should be allowed. 
Please consider this beautiful family of three as I know they are truly deserving of a truly fulfilled Christmas."
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase directly from Jamie's Wishlist and it will ship directly to her.  

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

You can PayPal Jamie directly HERE
This money will go to food, clothing, rent, and bills. 

Maximus and Hailey are in need of clothing, the most simple toys, gift cards for food (Walmart)... her daughter loves unicorns and her son loves Flash and the Power Rangers.

If you would like to send a gift card or a letter of encouragement to Jamie and her kids, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line JAMIE126.

Thank you for Paying it Forward. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Pay it Forward- The Cortez Family

This is the Cortez Family.

Location: Oceanside, CA


I am a 31 year old mother to 3 beautiful children (2 boys & 1 princess) & wife to a loving & hard working man!
It’s going to be a year this January since our lives changed forever! Holiday season 2017 we took our oldest son Isaac (now 6 years old) to the doctors for concerns about muscle pain in his legs. 
We had really high hopes that our son’s muscle enzyme count would come back normal! That evening the doctor called us to let us know his blood test results & his muscle enzyme count was VERY HIGH! 
As I was hearing this my son was sitting down in front of me playing with his toys. I tried sooo hard not to cry in front of him because I knew what the next step was. 
He was going to have to get tested for all the different types of muscular dystrophy. 

The waiting period to get the results was 3-4 weeks.
December was the longest month of our lives! During this time I was 3 months pregnant with our 3rd baby. 
I tried so hard not to stress myself out or the baby! 
January came along & I received the call I never wanted to get! It was the genetics counselor letting me know Isaac tested positive for Becker’s Muscular dystrophy (slow progressive muscle weakness-no cure).
Once again my son was with me at the time & I tried soo hard not to cry but couldn’t help myself with all my hormones being all over the place!  
By then we knew we were having a boy & him too would have to get tested for Becker’s!

Having to give my husband the news was the HARDEST thing I ever had to do! 
As I was standing in front of my husband about to tell him the words just  wouldn't come out!..only tears! 
That’s when he lost it!..he fell to his knees & started sobbing, crying like a little boy wanting to be held!..never have I ever seen him cry like he did that night! 
Our world had come tumbling down, all of our dreams & hopes we had for our little boy were gone! & to just think our baby on the way had a 50% chance of also having Becker’s we just couldn’t bare the pain! 
May 2018 came & our precious baby boy Liam was born..they tested him at birth & again we had to wait a month for the results! 
Once again I received that phone call I never wanted to hear..our newborn baby also tested positive for Becker’s. 
By now I was physically & emotionally drained! I couldn’t bear the pain anymore! I tried soo hard to be strong for my husband especially because he had fallen into some depression.

I had to quit my job & stay home & take care of our newborn baby because we can’t afford daycare! 
This holiday season we truly don’t know how we’re going to get presents underneath our Christmas tree for our little ones! Being a family of 5 with one income & going through with bankruptcy payments has been EXTREMELY DIFFICULT!!! 
My husband is a hard devoted working man! He brakes his back every day so that his children can have all their needs! 
He always places all of our needs first! We had to cut our cable to try & save a bit more for our utilities! Just this week I had to return a few items to the store & get the money back to use it for gas! 
I ask that you all keep us in your prayers so we can continue to have the strength & hope to carry on!πŸ™πŸΌπŸ’›
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WAYS TO HELP:

You can purchase items directly from the Cortez Family Amazon Wishlist   FULFILLED
and it will be sent directly to them. 

You can send them monetary donations HERE. The will go toward diapers, wipes, Christmas for their 3 children, groceries and bills.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

If you would like to send letters of encouragement, gift cards, etc. please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line CORTEZ125

Thank you for Paying it Forward.