Pay It 4ward: Local woman honored for dedication to helping homeless

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The folks at Family Promise believe no child should be sleeping on the streets. So they’re going above and beyond to make miracles happen – but that’s easier said than done.

This Pay It 4ward is to the woman putting in the hard work behind the scenes.

“They help them get jobs, they help them if they want to go back to school, they help their children in every possible way in their schooling, and they provide a safe space, to be able to get their lives back together,” said Lori Lodges, a Pay It 4ward nominee. 

For some families, their path goes even further.

“At the end they’re offered a home, and the home is complete. It has furniture, pots and pans, beds, linens, the things that are necessary in a home,” said Judy Ebbesen, a Pay It 4ward nominator.

Ebbesen knows assembling those furnished homes is a cumbersome task for anyone, that’s why Lodges has a special place in her heart.

“Lori is just so energetic and enthusiastic and moves so fast. She even carried heavy oak furniture,” said Ebbesen. “Big, heavy dining room tables, chairs. There was a big L-shaped couch that was broken. Her husband repaired it. They put it in a home with teenagers that needed something like that.” 

Lodges says she’s worked with Family Promise for nearly 15 years, and Ebbesen figured it was time to honor her hard work.

So, it was time to Pay It 4ward with $400.

Watch the video above for more.