Pay It Forward Box - Youngstown

05/15/2024

Update as of May 14th:

Hi friends! Things have been.... Slow.

However, we have really exciting news!

We are speaking at the city council meeting tomorrow {May 15th} about getting funds for a bigger box! We were encouraged to do so by a city official.

We promise that any funds we've already received will go directly towards filling the Box if we approved for funding for a bigger box!

More updates soon! 🤍

03/28/2024

Update as of March 28th:

We are still patiently waiting on the arrival of the box + supplies! Getting very antsy over here.

We will let everyone know as soon as it's here!

03/14/2024

We are still waiting on our new box! In the meantime we've been keeping the Box at the Roundabout on Mathews filled! 😊

03/08/2024

We know that we will be blessed with food once the Box is up + running again so we took a few items to another box in town! This one is at the Roundabout on Mathews; it's in that church parking lot. We love seeing different ones all over town to keep the community fed!

03/07/2024

Update: a new Pay It Forward Box has been ordered!

We are scouting out the perfect location but for now it will go back where the last one was. We are hopeful that this one won't be stolen + plan to put things in place to ensure that.

Thank you for everyone who's donated + shared our fundraiser! We appreciate all of the support from the community!

02/29/2024

Hi friends!

Sadly our search for the Pay It Forward Box - Youngstown has been unsuccessful. We aren't giving up, though! We have started a fundraiser for those who would like to help us rebuild! We appreciate every donation! If you would like to donate in a different way - please let us know.

Please share this post as well! Thank you!

"We are raising money to rebuild the Pay It Forward Box that was stolen from Youngstown, Ohio. Anything extra that is raised will go towards filling the Box; as all of its contents were stolen as well. The Box, sign, + shelves are around $300; plus we have to buy a sand bag to hold it down. It costs around $45 to fully stock it with food. We fully stock it 2-3 times a week + the other days we depend on donations of food or rely on those who drop items off."

We are raising money to rebuild the Pay It Forward Box that was stolen from Youngstown, Ohio. Anything extra that is raised will go towards filling the Box; as all of its contents were stolen...

02/20/2024

Update as of Tuesday afternoon - February 20th:

Police report has been filed.

No one has seen or heard anything. Which is just wild to me.

Still offering a CASH REWARD from my personal funds to anyone who gives us information that leads to finding the Box!!

The support the Box has received is amazing. I'm super grateful for EVERY SINGLE PERSON!

I hope that momentum continues + trickles back into the community!

Some form of a fundraiser will be started today so we can start to rebuild.

02/17/2024

Last night as I was driving home in the snow I was so sad knowing the Box isn't up.

This isn't about me being sad so please don't take it that way. It's not about me at all.

This is about all of the people going without since the Box is where they get their food + winter items.

I have a big bag filled with slipper socks + gloves in my suv. I have a thick quilt. I have bags of food. All ready to be put in the Box.

I'm deeply disappointed that someone would steal something that is doing good for others. It wasn't causing harm to anyone!

I hope that whoever stole it sees this + feels convicted to return it. Put it back where it belongs + walk away. At this point that is the very least you can do.

02/17/2024

I wanted to share this here as well for those in need!

Wahoo! Red Sauce, Alfredo, Salad, brownies! Come join us!

02/16/2024

Update as of Thursday evening - February 15th:

We DO plan to file a police report. We wanted to give it a few days to see if the person who stole it would simply return it + we'd let it go but sadly that's not been the case.

We have city officials involved. We are also in contact with a local business who has video footage. They've been super kind + have spent hours combing through looking for the person{s} who stole it.

The Box WILL be back!! We are planning to get a new one + if the old one comes back - we'll just have two. Which may be needed with all of the people who are now aware of it! 😊

I have been at peace since the moment I saw that empty parking lot. I knew that through tragedy something good would come of it. And to see so many wanting to donate makes it all worth it!

I'll update again soon! It's a slow process behind the scenes but we are working diligently daily for justice to be served.

Also - anyone who provides information that leads to the finding of the Box will get a cash reward from me personally; not from the Box donations.

02/12/2024

I can't express how devastated I was when I pulled into the parking lot + the Giving Box was gone. I passed it Saturday night at 10:30pm so I know it was taken yesterday. I had permission to have it there so I'm not sure who took it but last time it was a city official because I didn't have a permit. If it is on private property -like it is- I do not need a permit.

As we were there- a father and daughter came to get items. They get food from there regularly they let me know. They were very upset it was gone + kept saying "I don't know who would do this."

We have contacted several city officials + will go to the news if we need to. I can promise you it WILL be back.

02/07/2024

😍😍😍😍