Caregiver, teacher receive gifts

Paying it forward $100 at a time

Inspired by her humble beginning as a waitress and single mom, Carolyn Gable launched the Believe Project to give back during the holiday season.

For years, Gable has given away $100 to a deserving recipient each day of December with the Believe Project. She launched it in the Chicago suburbs, but in 2018, as a part-time resident, Gable brought it to the Phoenix area.

Now, with some help from The Arizona Republic, Gable is bringing the Believe Project back to the Valley this holiday season.

The goal of the project is to pay it forward: You tell us who could use an extra $100, Gable chooses the recipients and we provide some administrative help. Then, the recipients pass on the gift.

Gable, who provides all gifts herself, has been sorting through your submissions.

Here are this week’s recipients. Their nominees are not named by The Republic.

Stacey nominated a woman who unexpectedly lost her mother and sister in the past year.

The nominee was hit especially hard by the loss of her mother, who was also

Nominations welcome

If you know someone who could use $100, nominate them at her best friend, Stacey said.

The year was made even harder by the progression of her son’s MS. She’s had to move her son, once being cared for at home, into a group home to get the care he needs.

“She has an amazing beautiful heart and it has been hard to stand by and watch her go through the difficult times,” Stacey wrote.

Michele wrote to us about a fellow teacher who is trying to get back on her feet after battling breast cancer.

The nominee is working hard to recover mentally and physically from cancer, while trying to recover financially from the lost wages and insurance expenses she incurred during treatment, Michele said.

A lump found in the nominee’s uterus threatens to pile onto those aftereffects, Michele said. When she submitted the nomination, her colleague was scheduled to have surgery in a week.

“I would give her 100 dollars … to make her life a little bit easier,” Michele said. “She is a wonderful teacher that brightens the students and staff at Echo Canyon School.”

Rebecca nominated her two children, who both have PTSD after dealing with abuse.

She said that they both continue to see the good in others, despite what they’ve been through.

She wants to use this $100 to take them to their favorite store and see the “light in their eyes and joy in their faces.”

“These two both deserve a reward for being honest with the police and interviews, for being brave through the exams and (the nominee) for getting out of there and speaking up,” Rebecca said.

Mary Ann wrote to us about a friend whose husband was in an accident three years ago that left him with a hole in his leg.

The injury left him unable to work, making it difficult for the pair to provide for their two children, Mary Ann said.

“They need shoes and clothes,” she wrote. “This money would really help them.”

Monica nominated her friend, who relies on Social Security to make ends meet after she was diagnosed with breast and throat cancer.

The nominee has taken in others in their times of need, including Monica herself when she had nowhere else to go, she said.

“She is caring, young at heart, and always full of jokes to tell,” Monica said.

The nominee “struggles daily from her pain and sickness,” so she doesn’t get to leave her home much. Monica hopes the $100 gift will cheer her up.

“I want her to know that she is very appreciated and thought of too during these holidays,” she wrote.

Jennifer wrote to us about her daughter, who started having mysterious “seizure-like episodes” five years ago and lost her scholarship because of it.

When the episodes first started, Jennifer said her daughter was in a wheelchair and unable to speak because of them, but she has since recovered.

Jennifer said her daughter is able to work now, but she does not receive paid leave for the days she has to miss because of her episodes.

“She wants so bad to be a ‘normal’ 25 year old,” Jennifer wrote. “But with the unknown, she still lives at home with me.”

Jolan nominated a close friend whose husband recently passed away. Now, her friend is left to care for her five children alone while grieving her husband’s death.

Jolan said that while a GoFundMe was set up to help her friend, it didn’t garner many donations. She hopes the $100 can help her friend afford a nice Christmas dinner or a few gifts for her children.

“This gift will allow (her) to know someone is always there for her,” Jolan wrote. “We want to help in any way we can.”