Thankful for community: This year's Pay It Forward a step forward for Angelica Figueroa Gonzalez and her children

Yahoo

22-03-2025

Mar. 21—The looks on the faces of siblings Ashley and Alex Lagunas Figueroa told the entire story when they walked into their home alongside their mom Angelica Figueroa Gonzalez Friday evening.
Their home was even more of one and thanks to this year's Pay It Forward effort they both now had bedrooms of their own.
"The kids had always wanted better things in their home and now that they have it. The feeling is unexplainable to see my kids happy and getting what they deserve," Gonzalez said. "How the community can come together and have it come out of their heart is that feeling of greatness of helping other people."
In previous projects the bathroom has traditionally been the focal point of any Pay It Forward project, and while that was again the case this year, it was also the case that the rest of the house and yard also saw a vast amount of work including replacing doors, windows, flooring, kitchen appliances and so much more in the house.
Outside the house, both the house and garage received new roofs and the yard and trees were groomed.
Unlike many of the years past, this particular week didn't do a lot to contribute to a smooth work flow, however. The scope of the work done was greater than it has been in years past and the midweek blizzard did nothing to make things easier. The entire thing led to volunteers shoring up some of the final touches in a flurry of work Friday as the limo carrying Gonzalez and her children pulled up outside of the home.
Still, it couldn't take away from the effort and the gratitude in the family's heart.
"I don't have any words," Gonzalez said. "I'm just thankful for everybody in this community."
The effect of the work was just as impactful for Mark Walski, who nominated the family for this year's project. What started with just an effort to get the family proper heating, grew to something more for Walski, who has known the family through Pacelli Catholic Schools.
Walski said that initially those with connections through the school were coming together to do what they could for the family by offering to do various jobs here and there, but eventually the scope of the work became too much.
It was then that Walski decided to nominate the family for this year's Pay It Forward project.
"It was fun to be able to see the kids have this redone," Walski said. "That's kind of why we did it."
As with previous years, this year's project left something for the volunteers as well. The happiness in the eyes of Alex and Ashley and how it affected Gonzalez was just as impactful.
"Every year people have gotten emotional, but watching her, and knowing she works and what she can't provide in doing that and making that work for her kids — It's not a simple task," said Pay It Forward's Gina Grundmeier. "It's not something on a single person's income where you can do all of the things that need to be done. I thought that was important to do for her and the kids."
There was also the added joy of seeing some of the past recipients on hand to help throughout the week.
"That's been great and it's been super important because it's been such an insanely busted week," Grundmeier said. "These have been some insanely long, agonizing nights."
Despite the week's hiccups, the challenges and strains, the reward of the Friday reveal was felt by everyone who helped in the effort.
Gonzalez summed up that gratitude by saying Pay It Forward will help her family take the next steps into the future.
"It's just the simple thing of being able to have people in my community close to me that can help me and know my past and my life and know this helps me move forward," she said. "I just want to thank everybody and I really appreciate everybody that is a part of this program."