Lubbock has a pay-it-forward group known as ‘Lubbock Helping Lubbock’ and they are inviting the rest of the community to join their Facebook page, and get active with helping one another. Whether it’s school supplies, food, or even a job, admin Natalie Martinez said this is a place for people to find refuge.
“It’s one of the hardest things when you need something and you feel like you have nowhere to go,” said Martinez. “We wanted to make it somewhere where people could feel warm and come to the page and ask.”
Martinez said the group page has a list of their rules, and it’s important to follow them but their main one is that there is no buying or selling through the page. She said you simply make a post, the admins will look it over, and then group members will start reaching out.
“We had a birthday party for a little girl one year, her mom couldn’t give her anything,” said Martinez. “She got on the page, and we had someone make a cake for her, and so many people brought her gifts.”
Brandy Elvers is also an admin and a mother of seven. She said that this group has helped her family when they were struggling, but she also loves the opportunity to give back.
“You know, there are times that we don’t have enough food, but when you see someone else is struggling,” said Elvers. “My heart just wants to give what we have.”
To join the page you can type ‘Lubbock helping Lubbock” into the search bar and the admins will approve you.