*State Coordinators for International Pay It Forward Day 		PAST "FUN"RAISER

Christmas in July brings in one ton of food


About Santa's Pantry




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 here in the Michiana area 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 Decmber, 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.

We ask children and their parents to become "Santa's Helpers" (volunteers) and help us to promote the Pay It Forward movement through activities, events and projects all during the year. We do not take children without their parents or an adult however.

Why do Parents have to Stay?
We beleive that the Pay it Forward lesson is a much deeper "life long lesson" then what we can teach during a couple hour event. We also beleive that family and doing things with your family are a top priority in life. So we ask parents to stay so they are involved with their children and can continue this lesson at home afterwards.

Why do you do this?

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?

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