‘Pay it Forward’ group bringing Christmas to families in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A woman is spreading the love this holiday season through a Facebook group all about paying it forward in Wilmington.

“People are willing to give,” Samantha Newport said. “You just have to put it out there.”

That is why Newport wanted to use the Wilmington Pay It Forward Facebook group she started for a special mission this holiday season.

“I posted a Christmas thread asking people what they are in need of,” Newport said. “A Christmas tree? A meal?”

As dozens of families began replying, she set out looking for another group of families.

“People to give and willing to sponsor families for Christmas,” Newport said.

That is when she got a special request.

“I had an elderly gentleman who said his children were out of the home,” Newport said. “They’re all adults, but he wanted to sponsor a girl maybe around 9.”

Newport said she started going through her list.

“I found exactly a girl that was 9-years-old,” Newport said. “She was the only one that had one child.”

Newport said she connected the two families and they were going to meet a few days later.

“But he said they met that day,” Newport said.

Then, Newport got this text.

“He said, ‘Mission accomplished,'” Newport said.

She said Christmas came early for that little girl.

“He filled up her trunk,” Newoprt said. “He says she couldn’t barely close it. He bought her lots of clothes, the little girl, and he said he filled up their gas tank, because she was running on fumes.”

Then, Newport got this text.

“She said, ‘Thank you. I found an angel in this group,'” Newport said. “She said, ‘Thank God for this group.'”

Newport said that is what paying it forward is all about.

“It’s not just about presents,” Newport said. “It’s about others helping others and God and family.”

This family’s angel wanted to remain anonymous.

Newport said she still has about four or five families that she needs to get sponsored. Click here to join the Facebook group and see how you can help.