In this week’s Pay it Forward, an Annville, Lebanon County man surprises a woman he considers a mother figure with $200.
“I think she deserves it, most of all!” said Ron Guringo, about his former mother-in-law, Dorothy Whorley.
Whorley still plays a major role in Guringo’s life, helping him care for his daughter and just being there for him and everyone else in her life when they need her.
“Over the past, 14-15 years, she’s been like my mother,” he said. “She scolds me when I do something wrong, when I say something wrong. But she’s my friend.”
“I’ve always wanted to do more for her and I think this is, this is that little boost that’ll make me feel better,” added Guringo. “That I could say, ‘Yeah, I did this for her.'”
“Hey Ma! I got a surprise for you,” Guringo said as he presented Whorley with the money.
“Oh my goodness! Thank you very much!” Whorley said.
Just like Guringo sees Whorley as a mom, she views him as a son.
“Yeah, he’s good to us. He’s good. Uh huh. He buys six loaves of bread and gives us three. He always does that!” she said.
Even now at 80, taking care of kids, biological or not, is what brings Whorley the most joy.
“I love ’em! Yup! I raised foster kids,” she said. “Yeah, any kids that come around I get all the hugs.”
As for how she plans to spend the money, Whorley said she recently lost 60 pounds and is going to buy new pants that actually fit her.