The Heart Behind Pay It Forward Melton

After a cancer diagnosis, Sonyia Hofherr turned hardship into hope, creating Pay It Forward Melton to support those in need. What began with small donations has grown into a vital community initiative, proving that one act of kindness can spark a movement.

Story by  
April 17, 2025

“It started with buddy bags for foster kids... and then Pay It Forward Melton just took off"

Two and a half years ago, Kurunjang local Sonyia Hofherr found herself in a difficult position - forced to pause her caring for foster children due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

After more than two decades of fostering, stepping back was not something familiar to Sonyia. So she did what she knew best - finding a way to continue to help others.

“I’ve always fostered children and helped wherever I can,” she says.

“When I got cancer and couldn’t foster for a while, I still wanted to do something to keep my mind occupied and to help others.”

That drive to keep giving led Sonyia to create Pay It Forward Melton, an initiative that started with ‘buddy bags’ - packages of essentials for children entering emergency foster care.

“It started with buddy bags for foster kids,” she explains. 

Word spread quickly, and soon she was receiving referrals from charities, support services, and agencies like the Salvation Army.

“And then Pay It Forward Melton just took off and it’s just massive compared to where I started.”

As donations and requests poured in, Sonyia expanded the initiative to help anyone, of any age and any circumstance, in need. She transformed her garage into a storage hub for Pay It Forward, collecting everything from furniture and clothes to sports equipment, pet supplies and more. 

To manage the increasing demand, she launched a Facebook page to coordinate donations and connect with those needing support. The page quickly gained traction, with more people reaching out to offer help or ask for assistance.

What began as a personal project soon became an essential community resource, relied on by families and individuals facing hardship.

Pay It Forward Melton sign

“I put things out every day, and people can take whatever they need"

Building a Community of Support

Sonyia runs Pay It Forward Melton from her home, where donated items are placed outside on her front lawn 24/7, with signs inviting those who visit to take what they need.

“I put things out every day, and people can take whatever they need,” she says. 

“I’ve got a little donation box too, so if people want to give money, they can.”

This approach allows people to access support discreetly and without judgement. “I’m not out there watching, so no one feels embarrassed, no one has to feel any sort of stigma. They just take what they need,” she explains.

Sonyia also acts as the connection between donors with those in need. “When a family needs something, they contact me, and I post a request on Facebook,” she says. 

“I’m like the middleman - I arrange things between the person who wants to donate and the person who needs help.”

With a network of regular donors and ongoing community support, Pay It Forward Melton continues to grow.

“I receive donations of furniture, baby items, clothes, lots of different things through the Facebook group and word of mouth," she says.

"Regular item donors tell their friends, and it just keeps expanding."

Challenges Along the Way

Despite its success, running Pay It Forward Melton comes with its challenges. Since returning to foster care, Sonyia often feels the pressure of juggling her home life, fostering responsibilities, and the growing demands of the initiative.

More than anything, she struggles with the feeling that she isn’t able to help more people. 

"I feel like I let down a lot of people because I get so inundated with requests and I just can't respond to all of them," she admits.

Finding long-term volunteers has also been a struggle, and she often faces challenges with people taking advantage of the initiative. 

“Sadly, some people take things just because they can, rather than coming from a place of need, and others dump rubbish, which costs me a lot in tip fees,” she explains.

Still, Sonyia focuses on the positives and the generosity of her community. 

“I'd like to think that Pay It Forward has opened people’s eyes to how much kindness is out there,” she says.

Many of those who seek help are working families who fall outside government support thresholds. 

“Most people I help aren’t on a government benefit - they earn just a little too much to qualify but still struggle with rising costs of living,” she says.

One moment that stands out to her involves supporting a family escaping domestic violence. 

“A friend reached out on behalf of a woman who left a domestic violence relationship. She was too scared to ask for help, so her friend contacted me,” Sonyia recalls. 

“The kids had no toys. They only had what they could carry. We brought as much as we could to them.”

“They were so grateful for the help, It just melts your heart.”

Sonyia and her volunteer, Oscar

"Sonyia helped me when I needed it, so now I’m trying to give back"

The Power of Giving Back

Among those who have benefited from Pay It Forward Melton is Oscar, who experienced a tough situation last year. Sonyia’s support helped them get back on their feet, and now they give their time to help Sonyia and Pay It Forward Melton.

“Sonyia helped me when I needed it, so now I’m trying to give back,” Oscar says.

For the past few months, they have been helping to sort donations and organise what goes out on Sonyia's front lawn.

“It feels good to help, and it gives me a sense of purpose.”

Looking ahead, Sonyia dreams of expanding the initiative into a more structured operation. 

“I’d love to have a warehouse or a shop where people can come and take what they need,” she says. 

However, the complexity of registering an official charity has been a barrier. “I’ve tried, but the paperwork is overwhelming,” she admits.

For now, she hopes to inspire others to take action. “I just want more people to do the same. It doesn’t have to be on a big scale,” she says.

Helping others continues to bring her fulfillment. “I have a sick need to be needed,” she jokes. “My kids grew up and moved out, and I didn’t take that too well.”

Through it all, the support from her community keeps her going. 

“Sometimes people can be nasty, but then others step up and defend me,” she says

“It feels good to know how many people appreciate what I do.”

Despite the challenges, Sonyia remains dedicated to her mission. 

“If you see something you can change or help with, just do it. Don’t overthink it,” she says. 

And with Pay It Forward Melton, she continues to do just that.

For more information, head to Pay It Forward Melton’s Facebook page here.

If you’d like to make a monetary or item donation or would like to volunteer, contact Sonyia via her contact details found on her Facebook page.

Sonyia in her garage where she keeps all the donations provided by the community
Cathy is a passionate storyteller from Good News Melton, using writing to inspire change, amplify voices, and explore themes of mental health and resilience.

Two and a half years ago, Kurunjang local Sonyia Hofherr found herself in a difficult position - forced to pause her caring for foster children due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

After more than two decades of fostering, stepping back was not something familiar to Sonyia. So she did what she knew best - finding a way to continue to help others.

“I’ve always fostered children and helped wherever I can,” she says.

“When I got cancer and couldn’t foster for a while, I still wanted to do something to keep my mind occupied and to help others.”

That drive to keep giving led Sonyia to create Pay It Forward Melton, an initiative that started with ‘buddy bags’ - packages of essentials for children entering emergency foster care.

“It started with buddy bags for foster kids,” she explains. 

Word spread quickly, and soon she was receiving referrals from charities, support services, and agencies like the Salvation Army.

“And then Pay It Forward Melton just took off and it’s just massive compared to where I started.”

As donations and requests poured in, Sonyia expanded the initiative to help anyone, of any age and any circumstance, in need. She transformed her garage into a storage hub for Pay It Forward, collecting everything from furniture and clothes to sports equipment, pet supplies and more. 

To manage the increasing demand, she launched a Facebook page to coordinate donations and connect with those needing support. The page quickly gained traction, with more people reaching out to offer help or ask for assistance.

What began as a personal project soon became an essential community resource, relied on by families and individuals facing hardship.

Cathryn Langley
is a journalist at Good News Melton. She ipsum ultricies aptent sollicitudin est congue. You can find her stories here.

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