Pay It Forward
There are so many ways to bring a community together to assist those in need. This can be in the form of fundraising, volunteering and in today’s world… the online community forums. I decided to interview a handful of women in our community who came together to start a Facebook group called “Pay It Forward FLOW Community”. This group of women embarked on a journey to create a platform that made a positive impact on other’s lives fueled by generosity.
What prompted the group?
As a healthcare professional, I was treating patients in their home in our community providing therapy. At the time I came across a client who had been living in a hotel. Unfortunately, I came to learn that this client had lost everything in her home and had only one set of clothing to wear. Her clothing had not been changed in months. I decided I wanted to help this client and utilize an online community forum to help her obtain some items that she needed. Thankfully, through many generous donations I was able to give to this individual items she needed and for that she was forever grateful.
During this time of my life, I was working with Alina Matusevich, another healthcare professional and resident of Oakland. Alina had the idea to create our own community group and give the group its own name. After much contemplation and collaboration we decided on the name “Pay It Forward FLOW Community”.
It was three years ago that we started the group with only the two of us, not knowing how large it would become and all the good that would come out of it. At the time in our attempts to grow the group and expand it to members of the FLOW community, Alina reached out to two other individuals in surrounding communities to assist with this, Negar Mohtashemi and Victoria Weiss. Their assistance has been invaluable and as a result of their efforts, today the group has nearly 2500 members.
To share the success story of the group, I wanted to hear the thoughts from not just the administrators but also some of the group members and how it has impacted them.
The Administrators.....
Alina shared that being one of the administrators “allows her to facilitate a community where members can freely share resources, while fostering a sense of generosity and connection.” She shared that she “appreciates how the role enables her to contribute to a sustainable and supportive environment.” She went on to explain how the group thrives on mutual assistance and well-being of its members.
Victoria stated, “I believe in the power of generosity with few restrictive rules. I wanted to create a space where people could help each other in a meaningful way. The group has allowed us to share resources, reduce waste, and support one another. It’s a small way I can contribute to making our community stronger, more connected and more sustainable. Plus, our page is a constant source of joy, with gratitude posts flowing in regularly. It’s not just about sharing resources but about building friendships and strengthening our community. We’ve seen many beautiful relationships blossom from these simple acts of kindness.”
Negar expressed that she “wanted to help create a group that feels like a big family where people could feel free to ask for whatever they need or want, a place where people could connect, share and just have fun. Being an administrator of the group has been fulfilling…. I have experienced incredible kindness from this community and received not only material items but made many friendships along the way. It’s a group for making friends, getting support, receiving love and helping each other out.”
The Community....
Loredana shared “This group has done so much for me. In the most difficult times I found this group gave me more than just gifts. It gave me the opportunity to give my children so many things I could not have gotten them. It helped me make friendships and connections with people that are long lasting. I laughed and even cried with people who showed up as strangers but left as friends. The group has inspired me to be a better person and know whatever I have, I love to give to my community because they are no longer strangers but an extended family.”
Denise shared “I moved here in 2020 and my mother turned 90 and I asked the group for cards. My mother received hundreds of cards as well as candy, flowers, lottery tickets, and someone even gave her a cake made of money. She was made to feel so special on her special day!”
Dorothy shared, “This group has made a big difference in my life. I found this after I was widowed. It has brought me more of a connection to my community. It has also helped me pass on items from my late husband and mother which gave me good feelings to be able to share with those around me. It also enabled me to change things in my home as I settled on my own.”
Laura shared “I love love love when this group posts for giving to families in need whether they are going through a tragedy, house fire, hard times… it is a strong community bond we have going here and people are so generous. I really love being able to give away items that can get a second life… it’s easier to let things go when you know they are not going to be in the trash somewhere and going to people who can really use them. I also got to know so many people in the area.”
The Outcome…
The responses I received were countless and I was not able to include all of them. The consensus was that the members not only received material items but also received the invaluable gift of friendship. Furthermore, as the stories unfolded, I came to realize that not only were the community members helping each other out but they were also helping our planet by reusing and repurposing items that may have otherwise ended up in a landfill. The administrators shared their sense of fulfillment and accomplishment with this platform that cultivated a community whose lives were positively impacted.
In the end, I was left with just one thought. To bring good to society only takes a single idea and that idea just needs to be put into motion by the right people inspired by a willingness to do good. Social media has it’s upsides and downsides but this community group “Pay It Forward FLOW Community” like many others, has undoubtedly proved to be beneficial to our community and continues to expand every passing day. Why not pay it forward and help someone out? It just may make their day.