Local Pay It Forward Story:
A woman went to a emergency care clinic for a drug test for work. While there she noticed a young lady with an infant at the counter. The lady had dumped her purse on the counter and was frantically looking for change. Her child was sick and she needed $10 to pay for the medicine. She didn't have the money. The woman seeing this went up, gave her the money for the medicine and a Pay It Forward bracelet. The young lady had tears of happiness and promised to Pay It Forward to someone else. The woman left with a smile and a wonderful feeling.... Pay It Forward!!
A woman went to a emergency care clinic for a drug test for work. While there she noticed a young lady with an infant at the counter. The lady had dumped her purse on the counter and was frantically looking for change. Her child was sick and she needed $10 to pay for the medicine. She didn't have the money. The woman seeing this went up, gave her the money for the medicine and a Pay It Forward bracelet. The young lady had tears of happiness and promised to Pay It Forward to someone else. The woman left with a smile and a wonderful feeling.... Pay It Forward!!
We make it Christmas every day by Paying It Forward
We rely on community donations to continue to hold events to raise funds and commodities for other nonprofits. All donations appreciated!
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Simon and Debbie Micola are the founders of Santa's Pantry. However, Santa's Pantry would not be possible without the help of numerous volunteers that are willing to "Pay It Forward". Santa's Pantry started in January 2008. The Micola's recognized that there is a real need for help and that many nonprofits do not have time to organize and hold fundraisers since they're busy helping those in the community. They also recognized the importance of teaching children about helping others and "Paying It Forward" so that we can make the world a better place for our children and their children in the future. Our name may be a little misleading, we are not a food pantry. However, we work closely with the local food pantries and try to help when we can. During the months of October, November, and December, the food pantries are our main focus. We try to help them get through the holiday season and to be able to help everyone that comes through their doors. The name "Santa's Pantry" came after a series of events. In 1991 Debbie had a car accident where her car flipped into the river. She credits others (that only asked her to help someone else in the future) with saving her daughters life that day. In December 2007 they were reminded of this experience and how everyone needs help once in awhile when they had to refuse someone help at a local pantry because they had ran out of food. With these experiences, they felt that they could use their "talent" of playing the "Clauses" for the good and thus came the name Santa's Pantry. Since the start in 2008, Santa's Pantry has grown from only 3 volunteers in Elkhart, Indiana to thousands of people participating in activities and events and Paying It Forward to others, not only in the Michiana area but all over Indiana and also worldwide. In 2010, Santa's Pantry was asked to be the "State Co-ordinator for International Pay It Forward Day" for Indiana. They joined forces with: Blake Beattie - Founder of International Pay It Forward day, Donovan Nichols - Co-ordinator of International Pay It Forward Day, Charlie Johnson - Utah State Co-ordinator and Surf Dog Ricochet - San Diego City Coordinatorand inspired over a half million people around the world to participate in Paying It Forward on April 29, 2010, International Pay It forward Day. On a local level, Santa's Pantry has helped over 50 nonprofit organizations ranging from food pantries to animal shelters to kids clubs and public schools. Over 23,550 pounds of food has been raised for pantires, 200 pounds of fresh vegetables grown for soup kitchens, over 1700 books donated to the unemployed, 1500 boxes of school supplies donated to public schools and hundreds of winter coats donated to clothing rooms. The board members of Santa's Pantry, Inc spend numerous hours each week working on things for Santa's Pantry. They all have other jobs and/or obligations but they genuinely care about the people in our community and want to make a difference. None of us get paid for what we do. At least not monetarily. We are paid from the smiles that we put on people's faces when they receive help. Many have asked us why we do all this if we are not paid. Well, open your mind for a minute. The Pay It Forward Movement involves one person helping three others, then those three each helping three more and so on. Picture what our world would be like if everyone was nice and helped each other. Thats the kind of world we want to leave for our children and grandchildren, don't you? Then won't you join us and....... 
Thank you for visiting our website and Pay It Forward!  Debbie and Simon Micola
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