Justin LeMoine, his wife, Lora, and his daughter, Kayleanne, deliver donations Thursday at Assistance League of Tulsa, where Justin received clothes as a foster child. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Carrying a box of books for donation to Assistance League, Justin LeMoine didn’t recognize the nonprofit until he reached the front door.
“I used to come here as a kid and get my clothes, but I didn’t know where it was,” he said.
The last time the 20-year-old was in the custody of his parents was on Mother’s Day when he was 2. Until age 18, he lived in foster care with his four siblings, bouncing around in placements and group homes.
But, there was one woman they lived with most consistently and is the one they call “mom.” Lemoine remembers being with her at Assistance League of Tulsa, 3408 E. 11th St.
“It didn’t look like this. There used to be all shelves back then,” he said while looking at the neat rows and racks of new youth clothing. “It was difficult going for my foster mom. She wanted us to have things but couldn’t get them.”
Occasionally, the state would provide a $75 allowance for clothes, but it wasn’t enough to outfit a growing boy.
It’s why nonprofits such as Assistance League of Tulsa become crucial, even if the clients don’t remember the name or location of where they got the help.
At this start of the year-end gift-giving season, it’s also a benevolent time filled with volunteerism and charity.
It was LeMoine’s wife, Lora, who prompted this generosity. While on a break from her job at the Wal-Mart in Skiatook, she saw an Assistance League children’s book drive and pledged to bring the donation to Tulsa the following week.
That’s what led them to that Assistance League door.
“I never knew about this time in his life. Now, I’m part of it,” she said.
The family is far from well off, but that doesn’t stop them from giving.
Justin recently left his job to get in shape to pass the military exam to enter the Marine Corps. For now, Lora is the sole income earner for the family, which includes 18-month-old Kayleanne.
Despite the rough economic patches, they view the blessings in their lives.
“I can’t go by a homeless person and not give $1 or food. It’s usually food,” she said. “If we see someone who does not have everything they need, we can’t not help.”
Lora has her own memories of relying on the kindness of family and strangers. Though her single mother worked, her pay could not keep up with bills. Meals came from donated cans and dried goods received from food pantries. Clothes were secondhand, at best.
“If my grandparents didn’t exist, we wouldn’t exist because they fed us,” she said, just before the tears started to flow. “For weeks, we would only have what was in those boxes from those food charities.”
Once, her family had $2 left for the week. They found a fast-food restaurant with receipts giving away a free burger for each survey completed. They completed several surveys.
“We got seven burgers from that and lived off that for days,” she said. “It’s only with places like these (Assistance League) where people can get through those kind of hard times.”
Her mother later married, which brought financial and emotional stability. She smiles wide when talking about the closeness and support of her family and stepfather.
“I know there are a lot of people who don’t have that,” she said. “Since we have enough, I like to give to others. If someone made an offer to us back then like what they do here, that would have meant a lot to my family.”
Assistance League President Marsha Darden met the LeMoines when they made the donation of books.
“When he said, ‘I recognize the door. I’ve been here before,’ I thought that’s great,” Darden said. “We do see a lot of people who got help from here.”
One regular donor to the nonprofit’s resale store, which supports the Operation School Bell children’s clothing program, was among the former clients.
“He brings his merchandise here and says he likes knowing it is used to buy clothes for kids,” Darden said.
Tulsa is unique in that nonprofits don’t compete. Several programs provide clothing for low-income children, and each is operated differently. Those differences allow for a greater reach to people in need with little overlap.
“We’re proud of what we do, and it’s important to connect with each other,” Darden said. “We support each other.”
The notion of giving was a bit foreign to Justin, who met and started dating Lora in high school at Sand Springs. They have been together four years.
He recalls driving home with her after eating at Olive Garden one evening. They saw a homeless person at an intersection, and Lora handed over their leftovers.
“That felt really good,” he said. “I used to think, ‘Why would I do that?’ I don’t do that anymore. It feels good.”
The LeMoines feel confident about their future and hope others will find a way to pay it forward.
“They don’t get public funding or attention for what they do here. But, someone is coming by and will have a good life because of them,” said Lora LeMoine.
