‘Pay it Forward’ in Wilmington using social media

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One woman is using social media to give back to the Wilmington community.

Samantha Newport does it all from her phone.

“It takes anywhere from eight to ten hours of my personal time a day,” Newport said.

Samantha Newport spends those eight to ten hours a day running the Wilmington Pay It Forward (active) Facebook page. She started it last February.

“To just give without expecting anything in return,” Newport said.

Newport said it is not always easy, but she said Wilmington needed it.

“It keeps me satisfied knowing that somebody else is getting the help,” Newport said. “That somebody’s not going hungry, somebody’s not going with out clothes, somebody’s not going with out a bed. I’ve been there myself.”

The satisfaction comes from stories like this.

“A woman wanted people just to send cards to her autistic son for his birthday,” Newport said. “It was like 60 cards for her son. It just made his whole birthday.”

Newport said the woman then posted a video reaction of her son, but she said running the page is not always happy though.

“People will hoard items and sell them,” Newport said.

That is why she said there are rules.

“I didn’t want people to run a muck and take advantage of other people’s kindness,” Newport said.

Even through the long list of rules, Newport said the kindness is spreading fast, especially with the holidays approaching.

“One mother wanted her children to give back to the community,” Newport said. “She can put a post up there asking for a list of families.”

Newport said she hopes these posts continue.

“Everyone has been in need at one point in their life,” Newport said. “It doesn’t hurt to give.”

She hopes people continue just wanting to give without expecting anything in return.

“That’s what pay it forward is for,” Newport said.

Click here to join the Facebook group.