Two organizations celebrate spirit of giving

Published 10:41 am Saturday, January 6, 2018

Acts 20:35 in the King James Version reads: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Likewise, the Cynthia A. Guillory Foundation and Frontliners, two charitable organizations in Port Arthur, recently teamed up to give.

Co-organizer Tiffany Hamilton said the organizations played Santa and started raising money for a toy drive. The effort was expanded to friends from Port Arthur who moved away, but care about the city and wanted to help, particularly in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey.

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“We went to businesses to raise money and paid off layaways at Walmart on Twin City Highway for Christmas,” Hamilton said. “Some broke down in tears (from gratitude). We want to continue to do things like that.”

Khaliah Guillory, fellow co-organizer, said they brainstormed ideas, cultivated ideas and executed ideas.

“It couldn’t had gone better. This will be a tradition for our nonprofit,” Guillory said. “We paid off 77 layaways and spent $5,600.

“I can’t articulate their reaction. Many said they thought they would have to let their layaways go because they had to make a car payment or buy groceries instead. We eliminated the ‘or’ with an ‘and’ so they could have a Christmas.”

Walmart, likewise, helped by organizing the list for payoffs.

Some of the people were at the right place at the right time to have their layaways paid off. Guillory said the anonymous list allowed them not be biased.

Some of the layaways were for Walmart employees and the organizations gave back to them while they were working.

“It was a full circle experience and a sheer collaboration,” she said. “We reached out to people who were born and raised in Port Arthur and who love Port Arthur. These are the same people who filled up two trucks with supplies for Port Arthur after Harvey.”

Guillory said her mother, Cynthia, was the most giving person she knew. Their tradition of giving started in the 1980s when they picked a name on a Christmas ornament hanging on the Giving Tree and they bought gifts for that person in need.

Her mother later died from, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig Disease.

Guillory started the foundation in honor of her mother’s legacy and to help others. The foundation previously brought a truck to the emergency shelter established at Thomas Jefferson Middle School following Harvey.

Cynthia’s nickname was Woogie and a team has been formed named Woogie’s Warriors for the ALS Walk in Houston. Hopes are to establish a walk in the Golden Triangle.

Both organizations have more projects planned throughout the year and they hope the spirit of Christmas and giving will continue.