By: Annette Hoyos
The first time I heard about Thriftsmart was when my oldest daughter, Keyla, was in school at New Hope Academy. Tito and I always wanted a good education for our daughters, and New Hope was the place we landed on, due to the mission and vision of the school. But as a middle-class family in need of a little financial help, we were always looking for ways to save a couple of dollars here and there. That’s when I learned about
Thriftsmart, and how they were funding scholarships at New Hope Academy so families like ours could afford it. A good friend of mine called me one morning, excited to tell me that a banner with Keyla’s picture was on display at Thriftsmart. I remember thinking, “How neat that out of so many students at NHA, they chose my daughter’s picture to show just who Thriftsmart is helping.” I knew then that I wanted to meet the founder.
Fast forward a few years to 2012. Our family had joined Fellowship, and Tito and I signed up for a mission trip to Peru as translators. When we got to the airport in Nashville to leave, I found myself quickly drawn to Dick and Bonnie Gygi. There was something about them. Their heart for people was made so apparent to us on that trip, and I watched as Dick taught Peruvians how to succeed with what they had in their hands. It was on that trip that I learned they were the ones behind Thriftsmart.
That trip started a beautiful friendship with the Gygi’s. The more time we spent learning who they are, the more it was abundantly clear that they wanted to help families that did not have many resources available to them. They wanted to be their resource. Being in Fellowship helped me see what was happening on the other end of things. For years we had been the recipients, not knowing who were the mysterious benefactors blessing our kids. And now, we are part of this wonderful community who joyfully gives every year, reaching so many families that they may never meet. That is the heart of ThriftSmart. It is not just about clearing your closet; it is about changing lives. Take it from someone whose life was impacted.
