Real Michiana: Fixing it forward

SOUTH BEND, Ind. –

It’s been just over a month since Wayne Hubbard created the Facebook group called “Fix it Forward.”

It started with a small mission: to fix fences to keep animals or small children from running away. But it has since grown into something so much more than that.

“There’s never anything better to do than the best thing to do,” said Wayne Hubbard, the creator of the organization. “Basically it’s a big educational thing. It’s a big protect each other, support each other, support everybody, protect everybody. You don’t have to be Fix it Forward for Fix it Forward to be there for you. That’s one of the main things I try to prove.”

In just 43 days that Facebook group has around 1,900 members. All of those members share the one goal of spreading kindness and help.

“If somebody needs food we’ll direct them to a place they can get it. If someone needs a job we’ll direct them to a place they can get it,” said Hubbard. ”We don’t want to do a hand out, we want to give a hand up. So the deal is you need money for food? We’ll get you food and get you a job. I prefer that instead of handing a man money.”

With the growth in the group, Hubbard says he’s lost count of how many families or individuals are being helped.

“I love loving people,” he said. “I don’t even know how many families have been helped anymore at this point because a lot of time when it comes to the group post I’m not even involved. I just get to get on and see people helping each other, and that’s what I wanted. I wanted to bring heaven to earth, where nobody’s in pain. This person has this advantage, this person has this advantage and they’re learning to connect it on their own.”

Aside from his day job as a contractor, Hubbard has dedicated his life to this.

“I sleep about two hours a day,” he said. “So although sometimes I get physically tired, after I get to see somebody’s reaction when they realize that I was really going to come and help them, I’m not tired anymore. I’m just excited.

Hubbard grew up in South Bend. But childhood is something he doesn’t want others to experience like he did.

“You never really forget where you came from. I just don’t want anybody else to come from there,” he said. “Not so much the town, but the corruption and the dangers.”

He hopes the Fix it Forward group will help to do just that.

“I’m pretty sure we have an average of four to five people getting help daily,” he said. ”I’ll never stop until every family on this planet feels what I feel. Then I can be happy.”

Hubbard says multiple of messages and requests for help come in every day.

“We’ve developed a system to prioritize; we’ve developed a system to make sure everyone was safe during the transactions. We’ve developed nothing but systems,” he said.

Right now they’re working to do some more research and reorganize.

“What we’re now encouraging people to do is if we help you, you have to help someone else in a different way,” said Hubbard.

And although he says his job is far from over, it’s a step in the right direction.

“We’ve not saved enough families yet,” he said. “Everywhere I go I still see pain. Hopefully one day I can walk in a world where everyone’s nice to each other. Where everybody cares for each other and is there for each other. So we’re fighting really hard. I believe in the group. And I believe that they’re not going to let anybody down.”

The group is planning a bike ride for memorial weekend to honor veterans. They’ll be selling their t-shirts at the event to raise money. Click here for more information on that event. Or click here to be directed to the Fix it Forward Facebook page.