PAY IT FORWARD: The W.I.R.E. helps families of incarcerated women

WASHINGTON - A DC organization is helping to Pay It Forward by aiding the families and children of incarcerated women.

The W.I.R.E., which stands for Women Involved in Reentry Efforts, steps in to help children visit their mother when they are incarcerated and offer peer support for women returning from incarceration. The group provides financial assistance to children who not be able to afford to go see their mother by helping to secure charter buses and rides to jails.

For some growing up, such as Donnell Chapman Jr., the simple joy of a mother's love is harder to come by when mom is serving time.

"It's so much pain, I might smile every day but there's a lot. My mom didn't see me graduate, my first day of school, it's a lot," Chapman explained. "My family does support me, but there is no love like your mother's love. I don't have any pictures or memories with her."

The W.I.R.E. is led by women who were also previously incarcerated, like Tanisha Murden and Cheleta Tuckson. Their organization runs purely on donations made out of the goodness of people's hearts.

To help them in their mission, FOX 5 and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up to help The W.I.R.E. Pay It Forward. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented the group with a check for $2,000 to help them in their cause and also donated $250 in gift cards for Chapman.

If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them here. In your email, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.