Charitable organization founded by Huffman couple gives area residents a way to lend and receive a helping hand

Lisa and Chris Tony have lived in the Lake Houston area for more than 20 years. They grew up in Crosby and graduated in Crosby; they even married in Crosby. Then, a few years ago, the couple moved to Huffman.

The communities they've lived in have given them so much, Lisa said.

"We just wanted to give back to the community," she added.

So the couple formed Pay It Forward Assistance, a charitable organization that takes in donations and then disperses them to families in need throughout the area. Lisa said the group's original plan was to assist residents in the Huffman and Crosby areas, but in the six months since its founding, Pay It Forward's wealth has been spread from Baytown to Porter.

"We thought it was just going to be in the Huffman area," she said. "Instead, it's all around us.

" I think that's a blessing; it's God's work. He knows where people are in need."

The couple took the name of their organization from the movie "Pay It Forward," in which a teacher challenges his students to fix something they don't like in the world. One student comes up with the idea of "pay it forward."

The idea is to do something for someone that they can't do for themselves. If a person does that for three different people and the people they help each do it for three more people, it continues to grow. It goes from three people to nine people to 27 people and so on.

"There are so many people ready to help, but they just don't know how," Lisa said. "What we hope Pay It Forward does is provide those people with the avenue they need to help people."

The couple chose not to use the word "charity" in the name because there are people for whom charity holds a certain connotation.

"We didn't want anyone to feel like they're accepting charity and less than what they are just because they're having a hard time and need a little help," Lisa said. "We want to pay our blessings forward by (helping)."

Pay It Forward does not accept donations of food or money, but instead keeps their focus on furniture, clothing, appliances, and other household goods.

As donations come in they're stored at a self-storage facility in Huffman until Pay It Forward gets a call from someone needing a particular item.

"These are things that really help out," Lisa said. "Plus, they're things that won't spoil or get damaged while in storage."

She added that they're currently trying to get more donations of school clothing and uniforms, as well as backpacks and lunchboxes to provide to families with children about to start school.

Cheryl Kamen, a Houston resident, received help from Pay It Forward in the form of a couch.

"I never could have afforded to get one myself," she said.

Kamen added that she's seen the good Pay It Forward does outside just herself. A friend who didn't have any furniture at all in her apartment received a bed, living room furniture and a number of other items.

"I think it's awesome what Lisa and Chris are doing," Kamen added. "Most people only look out for themselves, so anybody who works to help someone else is amazing."

Lisa said Pay It Forward also keeps a "wish book" - a list of items people call and say they need, but that the group may not have at the time.

"We put their name down and what they need, and then when we get it, we call them," she said. "A lot of people don't think we'll follow up so when we do, they're so happy."

Items currently listed in the wish book include a refrigerator, an electric stove, a lift chair for an elderly woman and several request for chests of drawers.

"That (the drawers) is something we hardly ever have donated, but it's the one thing we get the most requests for," Lisa said. "One request is from lady who had all her clothes and her kids' clothes in boxes.

"I guess it's something people don't think about people needing."

For more information about Pay It Forward, contact Lisa or Chris Tony at 713-471-0392.