The Pay It Forward program, begun in 2015, was born out of a desire to continue the good work of the 75 Acts of Kindness community initiative.
Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds will come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.
Employees and the community will enable individual employees to help individuals in the community, and that’s a win-win situation.
Customer Service Representative Janet Fant paid forward $500 to help her church open its doors again after being closed during the Pandemic. Saint Matthew AME Zion Church in Whitmire has been closed since March of 2020 for the safety of its members. The church’s pastor, Reverend Edward J. Wilson, said, “This donation will assist us…
Marketing Specialist David Hammond paid forward $500 to Piedmont Agency on Aging, a private, non-profit, 501© 3 organization serving Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, and Saluda counties in upstate South Carolina. The agency offers services that assist seniors while preserving their independence and dignity. These services include meals on wheels, transportation, educational & recreational programs and telephone…
Manager of Distribution Services Jeff Knight paid forward $500 to Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries, headquartered in Greenwood, S.C. Connie Maxwell is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization established in 1892. Each year, more than 200 children and their families participate in one of the ministry’s core programs: residential care, crisis care, foster care and family…
Member Service Representative Cassandra Silvia paid forward $500 to a GoFundMe campaign to benefit a first responder family in Laurens County after a fire on New Year’s Day took everything from them. Cody Heithold is a Police Officer with the Clinton Police Department and his fiancé Mary Moss works for the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office….
Workflow Administrator Jeny Landrith paid forward $500 to Stop Soldier Suicide, an organization in pursuit of the goal to reduce the military suicide rate to the national average. The organization was founded by three U.S. Army veterans in 2010 amid the worst suicide crisis our military has ever seen. Through their experiences, they realized that…
Line Technician Aaron Dasher paid forward $500 to Laurens Electric’s Give 5 program,intended to help those faced with growing electricity bills as a result of economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The voluntary program, launched May 1, allows cooperative members to help fellow members as hundreds in our area have lost jobs or seen…
Customer Service Representative Edwenia Earle-Nelson paid forward $500 to Anderson Interfaith Ministries, or AIM. AIM is a non-profit organization founded by churches to meet the needs of struggling individuals and families in Anderson County through job, housing, hunger, and crisis programs. Their mission is “Connecting people with support, resources, and education so they can empower…
Financial Accountant Frank Harling paid forward $500 to the United Way of Greenville County COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. According to the web site unitedwaygc.org/response, United Way is coordinating services with local nonprofits and community leaders to provide support for Greenville County’s most vulnerable neighbors during this critical time, such as food, shelter and access to…
Service Technician Shane Wright paid forward $500 to 13 year old Fountain Inn resident Kieli and her mother Lisa Bukacek. Kieli has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer that requires aggressive treatments. Kieli’s oncologist said her case was one of just 3 in the nation that had presented with symptoms…
Information Technology Help Desk Technician Telly Williams paid forward $500 to the Happy Wheels program at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. Happy Wheels volunteers push a cart filled with new books and toys through the hallways of the Children’s Hospital to each inpatient room. Each child chooses a book or toy to keep every week for…
