A lesson in giving

To call what happened between games two and three of the Highlands vs. Swain County volleyball match on Thursday, Sept. 26 a “Pay It Forward” moment is inaccurate.
Call it a “Give It Back” gesture by a longtime Highlands resident and Highlander diehard fan Kevin FitzPatrick.
FitzPatrick was enjoying an evening of Highlands volleyball and a bag-or-three of popcorn, what he called the best and least expensive mode of entertainment in town, when 50/50 Raffle organizer Dede Head called the winning ticket.
She called FitzPatrick’s number.
Now, to clarify, this wasn’t any ordinary school or Booster Club fundraiser. This was something more than that. This was a fundraiser to help provide funds for a family of Bahamian refugees left homeless by hurricane Dorian that devastated the Caribbean island chain on Sept. 2. The money raised would help go to provide the displaced family with clothing and other goods and to provide fare to bring the family of six to the U.S.
On his way out to get more popcorn when his number was called, FitzPatrick picked up his winnings, $163, on his way to the concession stand.
Except he didn’t go out to buy $163 in popcorn, which would have been a great way to spend the money as,“You can never have enough popcorn,” FitzPatrick said.
Instead, he turned on a dime and headed toward the scorer’s table, inquiring to the whereabouts of the woman who picked his winning ticket and made him $163 richer.
“I thought he was going to thank me,” Head said. “I never expected this.”
Head and FitzPatrick met between the free-throw line and center court as players stood around waiting for the start of game three.
“He stuck out his hand holding the envelope and said, ‘Here, take this.’” I couldn’t believe it.”
Seeing what he had done, everyone in the Highlands applauded, some even rising to a standing ovation.
“It’s not my money,” FitzPatrick said simply. “It belongs to that family.”
FitzPatrick, a long time Highlands resident and lifelong Highlander fan said, popcorn or no popcorn, “That family needs this money. It was the right thing to do.”
More than 20 years ago, Head befriended a young Bahamian woman LeQueshia Laing while on a mission trip to the Bahamas.
“LeQueshia worked in a shop and was just 16 years old at the time and was pregnant,” Head said. “I came home and we lost contact and went on with our lives.”
Fast forward 21 years later and Head found her friend on Facebook, now with four kids, two sons 21-year-old Sanchez and 16-year-old Jaheim, plus two young girls ages six and two.
“They lost everything when hurricane Dorian hit,” Head said. “They were on the east side of Grand Bahamas island and took the brunt of the storm head on. Their home was destroyed. They lost all their belongings. They lost everything.”
Head has already brought the two oldest Laing children to her home in Scaly. Sanchez is working and Jaheim just started 11th grade at Highlands High School.
“We hope to bring the rest of the family, LaQueashia and the two girls over next month,” Head said.
On top of the $326, which included FitzPatrick’s share, an unidentified Swain County fan donated $50.
“I never got his name, but I was sure I gave him a big hug before he left,” Head said. “We raised $375 that night. There are good people here. I see it every day.”
Coach Katy Postell told Head not to expect much thru the raffle, but every little bit helped. She was blown away by the amount of money raised.
“That is what we hoped to see, that kind of support,” Postell said. “We truly do live in the best community around.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the Laing family can make a check out to Deann Head and and mail it to P.O. Box 58 Highlands, or donations can be sent via PayPal to head819@yahoo.com.