Pay It Forward celebrated its ninth anniversary June 13 by recognizing the work of Chattanooga State Community College barbering teacher Janaria McIntosh.
Pay It Forward is a neighbor-helping-neighbor feature that airs each Monday at 6 p.m. on WTVC NewsChannel 9.
McIntosh gives haircuts to children at Hardy Elementary School on the first and third Saturday of each month as part of her volunteer work with Grace Pointe Church.
She has been providing the free trims for three years. To meet the demand each week, McIntosh elicits the help of her students at Chattanooga State.
The McMahan Law Firm sponsors Pay It Forward to the tune of $500 per story. The firm has awarded local residents nearly $250,000 since WTVC began airing the feature nine years ago.
McMahan attorney Brent Burks says the firm enjoys being a part of Pay It Forward.
“We have been recognizing these quiet heroes for nine years and still have more stories to tell.”
McMahan attorney Jay Kennamer says sponsoring Pay It Forward is the firm’s way of highlighting the good things happening in Chattanooga.
“The people Pay It Forward honors get up each day with the thought of helping someone. Imagine if we all did that.”
Grace Pointe Church pastor Marcellus Barnes nominated McIntosh.
WTVC News Director Phil Buehler says the station is proud to partner with McMahan on Pay It Forward.
“We hope it encourages members of our community to keep giving back and ‘pay it forward’ in their own way to help those in need.”
Source: McMahan