ASHEBORO, N.C. -
Laurie Welch, a medical assistance counselor at Randolph Hospital, became FOX8's first Pay It Forward participant after she e-mailed us about wanting to help Laura Whitman, a woman she had met a few months ago in the hospital's common area.
"I come across all kinds of folks here at the facility, but I knew there was something deeper," Welch told FOX8.
"She suffered an injury back in May and she had to have some surgery. Therefore, she lost her job. When she lost her job, she lost her income, then she lost her apartment," Welch said.
Whitman ended up in a homeless shelter in Asheboro, separated from her 14-year-old daughter, who suffered from bipolar disorder.
While Whitman was in the shelter, her daughter committed suicide.
"And the reason we chose Laura to nominate was because one of her goals was to get a headstone for her daughter," said Welch.
So FOX8 gave Welch eight $50 bills and told her to pay it forward to Whitman.
FOX8 tagged along as Welch drove to the home where Whitman is now living.
"Laura, you have been chosen for the Pay It Forward program," Welch told her friend. "From FOX8, here is $400 for you in hopes that you can give your daughter the headstone that you very much want to give her."
Whitman was overwhelmed by her friend's generosity.
"I never thought this," she stammered. "My daughter, she's 14. She was. She committed suicide September 26th. I'm trying to get the money up for a headstone."
"To simply be able to do a pay it forward is an amazing feeling," said Welch.
"I come across all kinds of folks here at the facility, but I knew there was something deeper," Welch told FOX8.
"She suffered an injury back in May and she had to have some surgery. Therefore, she lost her job. When she lost her job, she lost her income, then she lost her apartment," Welch said.
Whitman ended up in a homeless shelter in Asheboro, separated from her 14-year-old daughter, who suffered from bipolar disorder.
While Whitman was in the shelter, her daughter committed suicide.
"And the reason we chose Laura to nominate was because one of her goals was to get a headstone for her daughter," said Welch.
So FOX8 gave Welch eight $50 bills and told her to pay it forward to Whitman.
FOX8 tagged along as Welch drove to the home where Whitman is now living.
"Laura, you have been chosen for the Pay It Forward program," Welch told her friend. "From FOX8, here is $400 for you in hopes that you can give your daughter the headstone that you very much want to give her."
Whitman was overwhelmed by her friend's generosity.
"I never thought this," she stammered. "My daughter, she's 14. She was. She committed suicide September 26th. I'm trying to get the money up for a headstone."
"To simply be able to do a pay it forward is an amazing feeling," said Welch.
