When Alysha Anderton’s home was fortunate enough to keep electricity during last week’s winter storms, she says she could not remain idle while many in her community were not so fortunate and struggled through such difficult and dangerous circumstances. Though she couldn’t bring back electricity to the homes without, she realized there was one thing she and her husband, Chris, could do. They could deliver firewood.
The Andertons contacted a friend with acreage who said they could use the downed trees on his property. After also finding a great deal on a log splitter, the Andertons got to work. With the help of several other community members – namely Lesley and Amber Hargrove, Drew and Cydney Coleman, and Ashley and Ryan McClaskey – the Andertons began hauling trees to their home, splitting the wood, and delivering to local residents in need. Despite the risks associated with the below-freezing temperatures, the dangerous driving conditions, and the splitting of the wood itself, this act of goodwill was a no-brainer for Alysha. “I couldn’t bear the thought of people freezing when we had access to wood,” she says.
Over the course of the next three days, the group continued this process, sharing wood with an estimated 200 families. Alysha said she was amazed by the thoughtfulness of community members receiving the firewood. Many offered to pay for the wood, and everyone took only what was needed for their household. “It’s been very heartwarming,” comments Alysha, who took on this task not expecting any recognition. “Just seeing posts of people saying their house was warm that night because of us was so encouraging.”
The motivation behind Alysha’s good deed stretches beyond a simple desire to keep her community warm. In the midst of one of the most difficult years in recent history, Alysha suffered on another level with the tragic death of her daughter Jaylin in August 2020. “I see the whole world in a totally different way now,” Alysha ad mits. “Now I see things the way she would have seen them, and she would have wanted to help everyone.” Alysha’s goal is to honor the memory of Jaylin each day while also showing an example of love for her younger daughter Jayde to see.
Having witnessed the growth of the Forney community from its small-town days to its current state, another unexpected bonus brought by the firewood delivery is the new friendships she and her husband have made. “This has given us the opportunity to get to know people in our community, and it’s given us the time to build friendships with one another that we intend to keep.”
“I would like to see a chain reaction of good deeds start to happen here,” this longtime Forney resident implores. “That’s what Forney really needs right now.”
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