About Us
Hello and thank you for visiting our website. I am Debbie Micola. My husband Simon and I are the founders of Santa's Pantry-Pay It Forward. I never in my life dreamed that we would start a 501C charity. But God had other plans for us.
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Many of you have heard "My story". But until now, I haven't shared everything. ...On December 1, 1991, my daughter and I were in a terrible car accident. She was only 7 years old at the time. It was a typical Indiana winter, the roads were icy. A deer ran out of no where. Hit the car in front of us then flipped over the car onto mine. I swerved, hit the guard rail and our car flipped over into the frigid water below. I looked for my daughter. The car was filled with water, mud and glass. I couldn't find her. I laid back in the car to die.. It was then that I saw "it". I beleive it was an angel. There was something in the car with me that day. They told me that if I didn't get out of the car, my daughter would die. I once again tried the doors but they had been caved in from the landing in the water. I tried the power windows again, they didn't work. I had tried hitting the drivers window before and it didn't break. This time I hit it and it broke. Medics later informed me that, that was "impossible" to do. I say, not with God and His angel helping me. I crawled out of the car and up the embankment all while screaming for help. Two strangers (young men) were running my direction. They jumped in the water. The "stocky" built one was able to pry open the passenger door just wide enough for the thinner one to slip in and hold my daughters head above water. To make a long story short, these two strangers saved my daughter's life. Later these two young men told me that it "was as if this accident was designed specifically for their rescue. A larger person wouldn't of been able to get inside. A smaller person wouldn't of been able to pry open the door".
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The two young men were given heroism awards for saving my daughter. They didn't want them. Fought it all the way. They told me "they weren't heroes", "they were just doing the right thing". They will always be heroes to me.
Of course I thanked them over and over. The one thing that stuck with me however is when I asked how I could ever re-pay them. They said to "help someone else when you can".
I promised them I would. A promise that I will keep for a lifetime.
The next few years were rough. I went through a divorce and was met with the challenges of being a single mother. I was back in the dating world and met with challenges there. I worked 3 jobs to make ends meet until I landed a full time job in 1993. I know now that this was God's plan. He wanted me to see and feel what these challenges were like so I could have compassion for others later in my life. During these times however, I helped others whenever I could. |
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In 1997 I met the love of my life. He loved Christmas as much as I did. We would go out to the mall and randomly hand out candy canes to make people smile. When my now husband, Simon has his beard, he looks like Santa Claus. One day while out giving out candy canes, a little one in a shopping cart pointed at him and said "Look mom, it's Santa". That innocent child's statement started a whole new chapter in our lives. We purchased a Santa suit and a elf costume and started making appearances for free to local charities to make the children and mentally challenged smile. The elf outfit was soon exchanged for a Mrs.Claus outfit and we began not only appearing at charities but collecting food and gifts and surprising families that were struggling. We loved bringing happiness to children and their families through our talent of being the "Clauses". During our surprise visits we would try to leave little notes saying "remember the reason for the season". |
| In December 2007 we started another new chapter in our lives. While volunteering at a food pantry, I had to refuse a father help with food to feed his children because the pantry had ran out. This broke my heart. I was reminded of the time with my accident that I needed help and someone helped me, only asking me to do the same for someone else some day. (Pay It Forward) It was at this point in our lives that we were about to learn God's plan for us. After discussing the situation, Simon and I decided to once again play the "Clauses" but this time to ask people to bring food donations to help our local pantries. We would plan to do this for Christmas 2008 |
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Before we got to December 2008, God showed us many needs in our community besides food. He showed us those suffering from addictions, fighting diseases, in abusive relationships and those without basic needs such as shelter and clothing. When we saw these needs we would jump in and start trying to raise goods and funds to meet these needs. We were trying our best but we were only two people. We asked God for help. He brought people to us that helped us and encouraged us to become an official charity ourselves. In 2009 we formed a board of directors with those God sent us and received our 501C license from the IRS. |
| In 2009 when my granddaughter Mariah started school, God showed us our true calling. We met some wonderful people but we saw one thing in common among a lot of children. They didn't know about Paying It Forward, giving back, helping others. God reminded me of my heroes that saved my daughter in 1991 and how if they hadn't, I wouldn't have her let alone my granddaughter. He showed me that this is our future generation and this is one of the areas He wants us to focus our efforts on. So in 2010 we started our first children's Pay It Forward club where we teach kids about kindness. We still raise funds and goods to help others but we do this while also teaching future generations. It is our goal now to make the world a better place for our children and their children. To form a community full of love for one another, one Pay It Forward deed at a time. |
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Several have asked us how we came about calling it "Santa's Pantry-Pay It Forward". Now I think everyone can understand better. Several have also questioned our faith over the year's because of having "Santa" in our name. Commercializing Christmas by using "Santa" is not our goal. We support the"concept" of Santa, and this concept supports showing love to others and encouraging others to show love the same. (Pay It Forward). We have a board of directors from various denominations. We have volunteers from almost every denomination I can think of. But we all have one thing in common, we are Christians and we are doing God's work. Personally I think that's pretty awesome that so many people from so many backgrounds and denominations have come together to do God's work and promote love and kindness. Simon and I may be the "Co-Founders" of Santa's Pantry-Pay It Forward but God is the one that runs it. We are only His hands and feet in the work He wants us to do. Over the last 9 years we have quietly done our work, tried to live by example hoping that others would see our faith. Now, I felt it was time to openly express it. God deserves all the glory. Won't you consider joining us?
Pay It Forward and God Bless,
Debbie |
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