Laurens Electric Cooperative’s April recipient of the employee Pay it Forward funds is Cashier Gloria Campbell.
Gloria paid forward $500 to the Goodwin family in Greenwood.
“I introduced to them what Pay it Forward was all about, and after that Mrs. Goodwin began to tell me their story, because Mr. Goodwin has lost the use of his vocal chords,” said Gloria.
On June 4, 2014 Keele Goodwin received news that would change his life. After months of various treatments for unexplained weakness in his arms and hands, a neurologist diagnosed him with ALS (amyotrophic laterals sclerosis). ALS is a degenerative neurological disease in which all of the body’s muscles waste away. As his disease has progressed, Keele can no longer walk or use his hands.
Gloria said, “He does, however, continue to live life to the fullest along with his wife, Latasha, and his two rambunctious children, Isaiah, 9 and Gabby, 6. Keele and his family continue to trust God through his illness believing that God is in complete control of ALL things.”
The funds will be used for traveling for medical treatments, medicines, physical therapy and other medical expenses.
“Keele and Latasha greatly appreciate this gift and want Laurens Electric Co-op to know that they are so thankful for having programs like this in place,” said Gloria.
Laurens Electric’s Pay It Forward program, begun in 2015, was born out of a desire to continue the good work of the 75 Acts of Kindness community initiative.
Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds will come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.
Employees and the community will enable individual employees to help individuals in the community, and that’s a win-win situation.