Kimberly Bevel, Woman on a Mission

Image courtesy of www.flickr.com.

Washing housewares in the back room, stocking shelves, and helping at the counter never once distract Kimberly Bevel from greeting each customer that comes into her store with a warm, personal welcome.

"This is my mission," said Bevel, "to show every person walking into this store that they matter."

“I’m not above anything that needs to be done,” said Bevel. No job is too small for a woman with her vision. Her day is filled with cleaning, sorting, mending, picking up deliveries and lending a hand to anyone who needs her in the process.

Bevel is the driving force behind Lebanon's new store, Pay It Forward, where in the one year since the store has opened literally thousands of families have been blessed with food, clothing, pantry items, personal care items, and furniture.

Bevel cares for three special needs grandchildren. Several years ago she found out that one of them needed multiple brain surgeries. Bevel learned that her employer would not allow her the time off needed to care for the child and she lost her job, choosing to stay by her granddaughter’s side.

This decision was beautiful, but it came with a price. Without an income to care for the children Kim was stuck. After 14 days of eating nothing but beans, rice, and hot dogs Bevel prayed for help. She promised God that if He delivered them from this struggle that she would always strive to give back, and since that day this has become her mission.

Bevel recovered from her desperate financial situation.

Fueled by the compassion that she felt for others who needed help Bevel, and her friend Kathy Crewse, started using their homes to store items for people to come by and pick up whatever they had need of. Visitors were, at one point, averaging around 60 people per day.

“I was afraid that my neighbors were going to think I was dealing drugs,” said Bevel.

So they began to search for a building that would allow them to serve more people. On May 14, 2015, Pay It Forward had its grand opening.

In the true spirit of paying it forward, ALL of the merchandise in the store is free to whoever needs it.

In the nine months following the opening of her store, Pay It Forward recorded helping over 35,000 people.

The humble little store has since expanded to two locations, including a warehouse where Bevel spends countless hours in her office fielding phone calls and dealing with paperwork.

“My day starts at 4 a.m. and ends at midnight,” said Bevel. “I get the kids off to school and it’s off to work.”

Bevel had the help of her church and some community donations to get into the building, but she now works three jobs to pay the monthly rent for these buildings out of her own pocket.

Saturdays are often spent at the local park handing out “blessed bags” with her grandchildren, packed full of soap, toothpaste, socks, crackers, Ibuprofen, etc., to whoever has need.

Volunteer Marcy Murry was brought to tears recalling her experiences with Bevel. “She doesn’t take anything for herself. She goes over and above to help anybody with anything, anytime they need it. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

There are no paid positions at Bevel’s store, but not everyone is a volunteer, either. Bevel has opened her store to provide work for people serving community service, earning state cash assistance, and workers participating in the DHS Jobs program.

“I get to be a part of a team and be surrounded by supportive people,” said worker Zachary Wisterman.  “There is so much compassion in Pay It Forward and it roots from Kim’s heart in this place. You can call Kim day or night and she’ll be there.”

Bevel’s heart reaches far beyond her home and Pay It Forward. She sends every item that is donated that can’t be used to overseas charities that re-purpose them for use in less fortunate countries. “Nothing is wasted,” said Bevel.

Regardless of the daily heap of work on her plate Bevel holds great anticipation for her plans for the future.

“My goal is to have a Pay It Forward store in every town in Linn and Benton county. I would like to find a larger building where we could offer more services to the community here in Lebanon as well.”

On top of working three jobs Bevel is a full-time student working toward s a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in hopes of being able to get involved in helping troubled youth. “Someday I would love to have a big old house on a piece of property so that I could do foster care for kids who need help,” said Bevel.

Until that day, and imaginably every day after, Bevel plans to continue to put her motivation into action, living a life that breathes a remarkable love for the people around her. Her powerful and encouraging words echoing in all that she does:

“Everybody matters; I want them to know that.” 

At a Glance:

• Pay it Forward is located at 525 Main St. in Lebanon. 
• Store hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday 1-6 p.m., and Saturday 12-6 p.m. 

• The phone number for the store is 541-405-438

• Kimberly Bevel has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, an associate’s degree in chemistry, and a certificate for business law.

• Here is a link to an article printed by the Lebanon Express when the store opened in 2015 lebanon-express.com/news/local/pay-it-forward-business-gives-to-community/article_82ddec95-3b5c-5d39-bbb1-9819c20ab3af.html
• Here is a link to an article by the Fox 12 Oregon from Nov, 2015 www.kptv.com/Clip/11997546/pay-it-forward-store-helps-lebanon-community                                         

• Pay It Forward’s Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/PayItForwardLebanon

• Bevel has six children of her own and 17 grandchildren. She has also been a foster parent for 19 more children.