Food insecurity, inflation, lack of job opportunities, and resources — the list of things we rural folk have to deal with goes on and on. Frankly, it’s sometimes difficult to make ends meet. But what if you’re a parent to young children? Maybe you have more than one in diapers. The bills keep adding up, and you have to decide what to pay and what to wait on. Trust me, I’ve been there.
This is where Pay It Forward comes in. Children’s clothes and shoes are expensive, as are other things such as highchairs, cribs, and bouncers. This is what motivated Laura Kellander to start Pay It Forward in Mill Hall. “When my daughter was a baby, we were very blessed by some family friends giving us baby clothes,” said Kellander. “It dawned on me that it would be great to have a Facebook marketplace for free kids’ clothes to pass along what our family doesn’t need and to get the next size up. Kids are in clothes sizes for such a short time, after all.”
The first Pay it Forward event was held in 2011. In the following years, Laura and her Cedar Heights Brethren In Christ church group hosted a harvest party on the same day as an additional outreach for those who attended Pay it Forward. Ultimately, this effort became too cumbersome, but they have kept the event in October to be ready for cold weather and Halloween in case a child needed a coat or costume.
“Pay it Forward has always been for kids of any age to help us as parents and caregivers come together and ultimately be the hands and feet of God,” said Kellander. She went on to say that her church family has been supportive from the beginning. “From the first time I talked to the pastor about doing it, the church helped sort through and organize donations as well as set up for the event. There is a core group of folks that have worked on it every year, with some additional people that have helped through the years.”
In the last four years, there has been a steady increase in participation. “Last year, we hosted about 200 families,” said Kellander. “We hope to continue the growth and serve as many families as possible.” I personally attended last year, just to see for myself the public need. Let me tell you, they were busy. Family after family came through the event and were able to pick out clothes, necessities, and even toys. On top of all of that, the amazing volunteers were very organized.
When asked about whether the community supported the event, Kellander said the community has responded very well, and they get many of their donations from area families. Many of those generous families are like-minded and want to pass along what their kids have outgrown. Most of them also attend the event. In addition, many area businesses have stepped up by donating various products or services.
Pay it Forward has no paid employees and runs completely on the generosity of volunteers and people providing donations. The group accepts donations of gently used kids’ clothing (maternity through teen), shoes, coats, and gear, including cribs, highchairs, etc, year-round. To set up a drop-off date/time, folks can send a message through the Pay It Forward Facebook page or by calling the Cedar Heights Brethren In Christ Church. The group has also partnered with area companies like Croda so that their employees are able to assist with the event. So, check with your employer to find out if your company is an event partner.
“When Pay it Forward started many years ago, it was laid on my heart to start something for parents and caregivers to come together to get what our kids need. The goal has always been for it to be free and without income guidelines. These days, no matter what your salary, everyone can use a little help providing for their kids,” said Kellander.
Pay It Forward Takes Place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9-11 a.m. and is located at the Cedar Heights Brethren in Christ Church, Mill Hall, PA (Rt 64). New this year is digital registration in addition to paper forms. For more information, contact the church office at 570-726-3490 or find them on Facebook.com/payitforwardexchange.
