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Austintown couple helps others in free time
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Kristi Simms (left) and her husband, Patrick, created the organization Freetime to help their community and honor their friends who passed away in 2000 in a car accident.
By EARTHA TERRELL
Austintown residents Patrick and Kristi Simms are trying to make their community and the world a better place one good deed at a time.
The couple created the project titled “Freetime” to help promote acts of kindness in honor of their friends Samantha Mock and Renee Romito, who were killed in a car accident in 2000.
Though dealing with the loss of their friends was no an easy feat, the Simms are using their memories as motivation to become beacons of hope for others.
“The entire program was inspired by them. I felt like something above told me to do this. It’s so easy to get caught up in life and forget about the little things, but I’ve always supported Samantha and Renee. We want to be positive influences,” Patrick said.
The project allows people of all ages and from all over the Valley to volunteer their spare time to help others. Patrick, Kristi and their children have donated countless hours trying to encourage others to join.
“What do you do in your free time? You could do something for your neighbor. Freetime is an organization that is there for people who need assistance. We need to get back to the old times when you did something for a handshake and a smile. We’re trying to bring the community together. If you’re there and you have the free time, you can give – that’s why the more people, the better,” Kristi said.
The couple doesn’t want to limit the reach of their organization to just Austintown.
“We don’t just want it to be in Austintown. Anyone can do this. I grew up here and it’s what I call home. I don’t want to just pack up and leave because it’s easier. I want to contribute my part because there’s not enough good in the news,“ Patrick said.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.Freetime2012.com.