Pay it Forward

Pay It Forward—

Cancer patient's wish for youth center at church is granted

There is no limit to how unselfish people can be. Suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Nick Reed of Salem was awarded $4,500 from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. His wish? To reward his friends from a church youth group who stuck by his side during three difficult years.

Volunteer construction workers built a new youth center at the Rogers Assembly of God Church in Columbiana County.

Contractor bids were too high, so the volunteer workers decided to fulfill Reed’s wish in collaboration with Make-A-Wish. The construction workers are part of the U.S. Mission America Placement Service that assists Assembly of God churches and ministry institutions with construction and evangelism projects. The 900-member organization of RVers is made up mostly of retirees who pay their own way.

The pastor of the Rogers church, the Rev. Paul Wright, contacted Lock 30 Woodlands, a camping resort in Lisbon, and asked if the campground could discount fees to make the effort more affordable for the five-person volunteer construction crew. Lock 30 Woodlands owner Karen Brucoli Anesi donated RV campsites for the two-week stay as part of the campground’s Pay It Forward program that rewards community volunteerism.

Nick’s father, Todd Reed, said his son wanted to use his wish to reward his friends in the church’s youth group for sticking by him during tough times. The senior Reed said the whole church rallied around the family, providing financial and emotional support along with food and prayers for his son.

The youth group that is benefiting from Reed’s wish includes about two dozen boys and girls who meet each Tuesday night for prayer and play, under the guidance of the minister’s son, Matthew Wright, a youth minister.

Lock 30 Woodlands RV Resort invites you to nominate a deserving family or non-profit organization who can benefit by having time in the woods, enjoying the solace and comfort of the sandstone hills and unsurpassed beauty of Wild & Scenic designated Beaver Creek.

We’re offering this to say thanks to the many people who have fallen on hard times in this economically depressed part of the rust belt.

In the late summer of 2004, Lisbon Ohio had many displaced residents whose homes and possessions were lost to a devastating flood. The torrential waters of Beaver Creek raged over its banks, washing front porches and foundations down stream. Lisbon residents were without water and electricity for nearly a week.

We were lucky at Lock 30 Woodlands that we never lost water, telephone or electric. Families camping with us generously agreed to share our clubhouse and showers, restrooms and the entire facility to anyone needing a place to stay until they got on their feet. We provided our “roof” at no cost to these local residents. The Lisbon newspaper, The Morning Journal said we “were open.”

Despite access being initially washed out to the campground, we were blessed to see the few who came by to “clean up for work” or just to sit by the campfire. Our spirits were lifted by their gratitude.

We’re continuing this tradition of public service and ask you to do the same. We’re nominating our local fire department to receive a $10,000 grant for equipment and training that is being offered by two insurance companies that serve the camping industry.

We know that you, too, have someone in mind who needs a break. Send a letter with your reason why a deserving family needs a weekend camp outing. Or maybe you know a teacher who needs a classroom field trip, a teacher who goes above and beyond for kids who seldom get to experience the great outdoors. Tell us.

Send your letter to Lock 30 Woodlands, 45529 Middle Beaver Road, Lisbon Ohio 44432. Attention: Karen. Or email under the subject heading “Pay It Forward” to kbanesi@frontier.net.

The late, great coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Woody Hayes (1913-1987) who led the Bucks to 5 national titles and 13 Big Ten championships said it best; “You can never pay back, but you can always pay forward.”

"Very quiet, very clean. Everyone was really nice. Thank you!"

- Christina Hamar, North Ridgeville, OH July 2010